Palomino’s Fifth Wheel With Head Room

Palomino Columbus sets itself apart by consistently delivering fifth wheels that embody quality, safety and innovation.

Jack Plummer, sales manager for Palomino, predicts this fifth wheel will be highly sought after by RV enthusiasts in 2024 because of its innovative construction, advanced safety features, elevated comfort and convenience, and fresh floorplans.

“Consumers want a unit that’s going to last, that has nice eye appeal, and offers outstanding features,” Plummer says. “That’s what we feel the Columbus does. My motto with the Columbus is dollar for dollar, and pound for pound, this is the best fifth wheel on the market.”

He notes both dealers and customers seem in agreement with this sentiment. Everyone’s been buzzing about the Columbus at RV shows this year, he says.

“They really liked its fit and finish, the features and the price, which MSRP around $100,000,” he says. “The Columbus offers great value.”

Innovative Construction

“We focus on construction and quality,” Plummer says. “We will not build 25 of these a day. We’re going to build six to 10 a day and do it right, so we can give the customers a solid unit that is very well constructed.”

The company’s focus on construction isn’t new. He states that the brand has been committed to this mission since it was launched in 2012.

“We have a quality control person go through every unit to make sure the fit and finish looks good,” he says. “We come as close as possible to building a perfect unit. That is accomplished by slowing down construction and taking our time, and through innovation.”

Inventive construction is a priority for the Palomino Columbus, he adds. By beefing up the foundation of the chassis with C channels for additional strength and adding corner welds, Plummer says the company achieved a “superstructure chassis.”

This change enabled Palomino to have a 7-foot upper deck on its 101-inch-wide fifth wheels. “We’re one of the first companies to have a 7-foot upper deck,” he says. “This provides customers with extra headroom and spaciousness inside, especially for those customers who are over 6 feet tall.”

To top it off, everything is built on a 5/8-inch tongue-and-groove plywood floor, a 2-inch double-sided Azdel sidewall with foam insulation, and a residential-style 5-inch by 2 1/2-inch-wide wood radius roof truss with Alpha ply membrane.

Enhanced Safety Features

Safety is also of paramount importance to the Colon, Michigan, company, according to Plummer.

“We are trying to become one of the safest fifth wheels on the market,” he says.

Columbus fifth wheels come standard with a MORryde CRE3000 suspension system, for a smooth towing experience. The system provides over 3 inches of suspension travel to protect the unit from road shock, improving towing capability and deliver a smoother ride, he says.

The fifth wheels also feature a MORryde rubber pin box to reduce back-and-forth chucking during towing. The pin box’s back-and-forth and side-to-side movement absorbs energy from the trailer and improves the comfort of the ride in the truck, he explains.

The units also have anti-lock brakes, upgraded Goodyear tires and a TST monitoring system. Using sensors, the TST system keeps track of tire pressure and heat on the road. Drivers are alerted through a display in the cab if these values exceed recommended thresholds, Plummer says.

“These things combine to create one of the safest towing fifth wheels on the market,” he says. “An anti-lock brake system should be standard on all units. You need it if you have to make a hard stop. It’s just such a wonderful safety feature.”

Elevated Comfort & Convenience

In response to consumer demand, the Columbus has raised the bar in terms of comfort and convenience, according to Plummer.

Palomino raised the unit’s slider box from 78 inches to 83 inches to add 5 inches to the slideout height. “This change allowed us to put in larger, frameless, tinted windows that provide a nice panoramic view when sitting inside the unit,” he says. “It also allows us to create a slideout that is 3 to 5 inches taller than most of our competitors.”

While larger panoramic windows meet customer demands for ample natural light and breathtaking views, MCD Innovations’ UV-reflective shades help maintain a cool interior temperature. Palomino also included three 15,000-Btu air conditioners on the Columbus to ensure optimal comfort even in extreme heat, he adds.

“With the larger windows, you’re going to let in more sun,” he says. “On hot summer days, you’re going to need to keep the unit cool. You can pull down the UV reflective shades, and the sun will not warm up the coach. You still have the view, but you can keep the unit cool. The three air conditioners do the rest.”

Plummer explains two air conditioning units come standard, but customers can add a third. “Our neighbors in the north or the Midwest do not have a need for three units,” he says. “But I handle Texas and Florida, and our dealers here all want three air conditioners.”

Ample air conditioning has increased in importance over the last several years, Plummer adds. “Last year in Texas, they had so many 100-plus degree days,” he said. “When it’s that hot, it gets hard to keep things cool. But with three air conditioners, you can run them and keep the camper cool.”

LED light fixtures brighten the interior on cloudy days or in the evening, he adds.

New Floorplans & Design Elements

Palomino has introduced a new floorplan to the Columbus line, which has seven floorplans and new designs for 2024, says Plummer.

The new 376DS has a double suite layout with two bedrooms and two baths, addressing the needs of diverse demographics, from couples to families. The new floorplan replaces the 375DS, which had a full loft design.

Incorporating a half-loft design into the 376DS enhances airflow and spaciousness in the rear bedroom, providing a more comfortable living experience, according to Plummer.

“When the loft is all the way across the unit, it’s hard to push cool air down to that second bedroom to keep it cool,” he says. “By doing a half loft, we could put vents off the air conditioners that blow into the room. It also gives more headspace in the second bedroom, which is at 84 inches, so that it doesn’t feel tight in there.”

Palomino also has a rear-kitchen floorplan with two doors, allowing people to enter the RV through a bathroom or a kitchen door. “You can pull over and use the bathroom or kitchen without opening a slideout,” he says.

The bathroom features a large Signature Spa shower surround with a fiberglass base, an undermount stainless steel sink and a porcelain toilet. Things are kept light and airy inside with a shower skylight, he adds.

There has been little change to the unit’s appliances, which currently come in stainless steel, for 2024. The fifth wheels come standard with the Insignia 24-inch residential-style oven, four burner cooktop, 30-inch residential microwave, and a Norcold 12-volt, 18-cubic-foot refrigerator or 20-cubic-feet LG residential refrigerator.

The Columbus also has a 50-inch Smart TV with Bluetooth audio and exterior speakers, a 12-gallon water heater with quick recovery, a 35,000-Btu furnace and a 5,000-Btu fireplace (on some models).

Solar comes standard with a 260-watt solar panel and 1,800-watt inverter. “There are five to six receptacles dedicated to that inverter, so you can run power off those, depending on the floorplan you choose,” Plummer says.

A washer/dryer prep is available, as are stackable washers and dryers, should they be desired, he adds.

Interior & Exterior Updates

Palomino fifth wheels feature a painted fiberglass front cap, which the company introduced in 2023. The redesigned front cap was necessary to move to a 7-foot upper deck, Plummer explains.

Exterior highlights include graphics with a five-year warranty against peeling, fading and cracking, as well as metal-wrapped awning covers to safeguard awning fabric.

The combination of lighter and darker tones creates a noticeably brighter look inside, which consumers will appreciate, Plummer adds. “The combination gives the unit a nice bright, open feeling,” he says.

Power theater seating with USB charging and storage comes standard. Some models have a 50/50 split 88-inch sleeper sofa, he adds.

Looking ahead, Plummer says the Palomino Columbus remains dedicated to providing exceptional value and quality. The company’s dedication to continuous improvement, innovation and style will help it meet the needs of RVers for years to come, he concludes.