Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2024 Forest River Cherokee Black Label 256RRBL fifth wheel. This is an unusual floor plan in that it’s a fifth wheel trailer at the more affordable end of the price spectrum and one that does not have any slide whatsoever.
What is the Forest River Cherokee Black Label 256RRBL fifth wheel
What you have here is technically another toy hauler, and I know some of you will stop reading at this point. You shouldn’t. This fifth wheel has a pretty significant cargo carrying capacity as you’d want in a toy hauler, along with cargo tie-downs and the ability to sleep up to four people.
While Cherokee’s Black Label series has a fiberglass skin, this is not a laminated trailer as you might expect. Instead, this is traditionally built with wood framing and then the fiberglass skin is hung to that framing. For those of you who value the laminated build features including Azdel substrate, this isn’t that.
The advantage of a wood-framed trailer is that they’re just less expensive to build, and that’s part of the appeal of this model. I saw one listed where the MSRP was $55,866 but the selling price was under $34,000. For a fifth wheel.
Quite honestly, I put a lot of value in high-quality build and features but I also put about 12,000–15,000 miles on an RV in a year traveling around this beautiful land. There are a lot of owners who might take their RVs out a few times a year and, quite frankly, there isn’t as much emphasis on having premium build features because it simply doesn’t pay off with such little use.
Another thing—This has the basic inexpensive leaf spring suspension and low-end tires, although they are aggressive-looking off-road-style tires. If you’re towing a lot, this type of setup could be worth upgrading. But, again, go out a few times a year and perhaps the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
My job is to just point out the various features and your job, as buyers, is to evaluate how much value you place in those features and make a buying decision.
Best features in the Cherokee Black Label 246RRBL
Now that all that’s out of the way, there are some features in this trailer absolutely worth noting. Part of Cherokee’s “Black Label” series includes that fiberglass skin and frameless windows, and I really like those frameless windows. Further, there are a lot of them on the camp side—where you’d want them. Nice.
Storage is a real strong suit for this trailer, with a halo of cabinets on the main deck along with storage cubbies that run up and down the sides of the main interior. There’s also a fairly large pantry here.
No worries about carrying stuff from a weight standpoint. This rig has more than 4,500 pounds of cargo carrying capacity. Nice. There are also tie-downs in the floor of the RV if you do use this as a toy hauler.
On the subject of the floor, there are no cutouts here for the furnace. Those are in the cabinets instead, so you’re not kicking dirt into them all summer.
Sticking with heat, this also provides a tankless water heater. What is your opinion of those? I like the endless hot water, but they only operate on propane—no electric side to these.
Kitchen features
Apparently my predictions for 2024 were a big hit with readers. One of those predictions was the beginning of the end for propane RV ovens. In some ways this is a bummer, but many of them have proven unusable, so it’s not that sad.
Anyhow, this has a combination convection air fryer microwave instead of a propane oven. There is still a three-burner propane cooktop, though. There’s also a really large sink, which I like quite a bit. Drawers and cabinets are plentiful in this kitchen, and we’ve already talked about the pantry and overhead storage.
Living space
Adjacent to the kitchen are two facing fold-down couches that can serve as your seating or sleeping space, but also work as the dining room. But like many RVs, this comes with the super-budget-focused folding table.
Don’t worry, you’ll get sick of that table soon enough and you can substitute a plastic folding table at a pretty reasonable price. Many of those plastic folding tables can also move up to be counter height. So that’s how you could solve the lack of counter space in the kitchen of this rig. Plus you’d have a better table.
Those couches can fold up against the wall if you do use this for toys or a workshop or hobby room. They can also fold down to be individual beds or one big bed.
Since this is a toy hauler, that means there is that ramp door in the back that can also be a patio deck. That really opens up the space in here. However, there is no patio door, so you might want to flip the deck up when the weather’s less than pleasant.
Top deck features
Upstairs, the bathroom in this is rather nice, all things considered. What’s particularly fancy is the shower head, which has a bunch of side sprayers and a hand-held wand. Having worked on a number of warranty claims of glass shower doors that just shattered because, I guess, they’ve given up on life and wanted to end it all, I like that this has a shower curtain instead. In fact, my own RV was designed with glass shower doors and we have curtains instead as a preventive measure.
There’s also one of those bowl-style sinks. So this doesn’t feel like a total bargain basement camper.
I really like the bedroom arrangement—with one very big exception. The queen-size bed has a drawer on either side along with a bedside table. There’s also a shelf that extends across the front of the bedroom. Finally, there are cabinets over the bed.
Something I really like is the single-outlet inverter right by the bed upstairs. Rather than a large whole-RV inverter, this simple piece might be all you need if you’re operating a CPAP machine or something of that sort. Yes, a whole-house inverter is nice but this could be more than enough for many people.
For hanging storage, you’ll see that if you’re in bed. A larger closet is on the back wall of the bedroom. This space is plumbed for a washer-dryer, if that’s your desire.
Boondocking and travel access
Since there is no slide in this trailer, it’s fully usable all the time. Many of you have written to me expressing that you like RVs with no slide and, I believe, the RV industry is listening. Now, I know a lot of you also like the additional space that slide rooms provide. But choice is good, and not all RVs need a slide room.
I’m a believer in simpler is better in every case. So, you no slide people, I’m with you.
As for boondocking, there is a 100-watt solar panel on the roof here which, quite honestly, wouldn’t even compensate for the 12-volt fridge in most cases. However, a lot of RVers just stay in parks, so this could be fine. There is also a 30-amp charge controller, so you could add more solar if that’s something you need.
Conclusions on the Cherokee Black Label 256RRBL
Cherokee is one of the more affordable brands under the Forest River umbrella. I used to sell quite a few of these for that reason, along with the value that they put into their offerings. I do feel that for many RVers, this may be a more-than-capable RV for them.
I’m also a big fan of toy haulers as it gives you a more flexible space for hobbies, work, toys, whatever. But, based on how many people read reviews of toy haulers compared to other types of RVs, I’m thinking that more of you are not big fans of this configuration.
One thing I really do not like is the carpeting upstairs in the bedroom—but at least you’re not eating over it. Well, you might not be. That also covers a step right at the foot of the bed. I would strongly recommend putting in motion-sensing night lights to remind you to step down on your way to the bathroom. I can see this going very badly.
I like this package overall, especially for the money. Depending on your style of travel, it may be a great choice. What features matter to you in how an RV is built? Would this work in your travels?
More about these RV reviews
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.
You can also check out his RV podcast with his wife, Peggy.
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I am a huge fan of hung sidewalls vs laminated. Zero delamination risk…and I seem to be seeing more RVs in camp with anything from minor to major delams. Would rather see aluminum framing though, even if costs more.
This is an intriguing unit that I can see a lot of people liking. I’m not a Forest River fan anymore…liked the brand decades ago but it seems like I read more FR horror stories than Thor lately…and that’s pretty bad.
Great review. Thank you. If more hung walls are introduced, let us know. 🙂
I think you’re also seeing a lot of issues just because people don’t inspect the seals around the various openings in their RVs. This is a routine maintenance point that, I’m going to speculate, the vast majority of RVers don’t do until it becomes a problem.
As for Forest River, they’re a company that encourages competition among their various brands and, as such, have brands all over the spectrum in terms of quality and features.
Tony,
We’ve owned three rv’s that all had gas ovens and we had no issues with any of them. I’m against removing them- especially if you’re going to use an air fryer to replace it. They all draw at least seven to fifteen amps of current.- Not a desirable appliance for a thirty amp rig.
I use the heck out of my propane oven BUT we have the 22″ oven. We even made a prime rib for Christmas which turned out beautifully. I don’t have any issue with propane ovens, per se, but rather with 17″ propane ovens which really don’t have the space to actually work well.