Heartland·Fifth Wheel·2025

Heartland Bighorn Traveler 32CK

Name: Heartland Bighorn Traveler 32CK
Brand: Heartland
Price: 75000 USD

4.3across 2,800 reviews on retail listings

|36 ft|11,800 lbs|Sleeps 4

The Heartland Bighorn Traveler 32CK is a luxury fifth wheel designed for full-timing couples. Center kitchen layout provides a natural flow between living spaces.

Full-TimeCouplesSnowbirds4-Season

MSRP from

$75,000

$$$ Premium

Solar200W

Slide-Outs3

Specifications

Length

36 ft

Weight

11,800 lbs

Sleeps

Fresh Water

60 gal

Gray Water

76 gal

Black Water

40 gal

Features

Triple Slides

Center Kitchen

King Bed

Residential Fridge

Fireplace

Theater Seating

Washer/Dryer Prep

Highlights

Center kitchen layout creates natural separation between rooms

Road Armor suspension delivers a smooth towing experience

Large gray tank at 76 gallons supports extended dry camping

What owners report

Summarized from Reddit and owner forums — not a first-hand test.

The Heartland Bighorn Traveler 32CK is a mid-tier, near-luxury fifth wheel whose calling card is its rear-kitchen floorplan. Owners specifically praise the 32CK because it's the one Traveler layout without a kitchen island, which opens up the cook space and makes the galley genuinely pleasant to use. As a full-profile fifth wheel it delivers the residential feel buyers come to the segment for — a separate bedroom, a roomy living area, and the elevated, apartment-like layout — and owners report it tows well and looks good for the money.

The ownership story is one of solid value tempered by water-intrusion vigilance. The recurring complaints cluster around sealing and leaks: slides that don't seal tightly when retracted (the bedroom slide leaking onto the floor is specifically cited), and basement storage bays — particularly driver-side — leaking and rotting the floor if not caught early. Owners also flag a faulty water-inlet system, cheap interior furniture and trim that works loose or scratches, and small component defects like broken refrigerator-door and microwave-shelf tabs. The Heartland Owners Forum even has dedicated quality-concern threads. Yet plenty of owners report the opposite experience — buying well, using the rig 9-10 months a year, and having no major issues — so build consistency and a careful inspection matter a great deal.

The Bighorn Traveler 32CK is for the buyer who wants a spacious, rear-kitchen fifth wheel with near-luxury features at a mid-tier price, and who is willing to stay on top of seals and leaks to protect the structure. At $75k it undercuts premium fifth wheels while offering more upscale touches than entry-level rigs. Within Heartland's own lineup it sits as the value step below the flagship Bighorn and Landmark; against comparable mid-tier fifth wheels like Grand Design Reflection or Forest River, owners consider it competitive on layout and value, with the caveat that Grand Design in particular tends to earn higher marks for consistent quality control — so the Heartland's edge is the floorplan and price rather than top-of-class build.

What owners like

+The 32CK's rear-kitchen layout is a standout — owners love the spacious cook space, and the 32CK is the only floorplan without an island, which frees up room to actually move and cook
+Tows well and looks good — owners report a stable, good-towing fifth wheel with attractive curb appeal for the price class
+Full-profile fifth-wheel living gives residential-style space — a real bedroom, a roomy living area, and the elevated, separated layout that makes fifth wheels feel like an apartment on wheels
+Strong value when bought right — multiple owners report getting a good purchase price and having no regrets, even using the unit nearly year-round
+The Bighorn Traveler is positioned as Heartland's near-luxury line, so owners get upgraded features and finishes versus entry-level fifth wheels at a mid-tier price

Common complaints

−Slide seals are a recurring complaint — owners report slides that don't seal tightly when retracted, with the bedroom slide leaking water onto the floor
−Basement/storage leaks have rotted floors — owners report the driver-side basement bays leaking and causing floor rot, a serious structural concern if missed
−Cheap interior furniture and trim — owners describe flimsy wood trim falling off and finishes that scratch easily, calling some construction details shoddy
−Component-level defects are common — broken tabs on the refrigerator door bottom and broken plastic tabs on the microwave shelf are specifically reported
−Faulty water-inlet system was a notable manufacturing problem for many owners, a frustrating defect on a system that should just work
−Water intrusion in multiple areas (slides, basement, inlet) is the throughline of complaints, meaning vigilant seal and leak inspection is essential to avoid costly damage

Questions owners ask

What's special about the 32CK floorplan?

It's a rear-kitchen layout, and notably the only Bighorn Traveler floorplan without a kitchen island. Owners love it because removing the island opens up the cook space and gives you more room to move around while preparing meals.

What problems are common on the Bighorn Traveler 32CK?

Water intrusion is the throughline — slides that don't seal tightly (the bedroom slide leaking onto the floor especially), basement storage bays leaking and rotting the floor, and a faulty water-inlet system. Owners also report cheap interior trim and small broken plastic tabs on the fridge and microwave.

Is the Heartland Bighorn Traveler good for full-time living?

Many owners use it 9-10 months a year and report no major issues, so it can work for extended or full-time use. The key is staying vigilant about slide and basement seals, since the most serious complaints involve water leaks that can cause floor rot if neglected.

How does the Bighorn Traveler compare to a Grand Design Reflection?

They're close competitors in the mid-tier fifth-wheel space, and owners consider the Heartland competitive on layout and value. Grand Design, particularly the Reflection, tends to earn higher marks for consistent quality control, so the Heartland's advantages are its floorplan and price rather than top-of-class build quality.

Is the Bighorn Traveler 32CK worth the price?

Owners who buy it at a good price generally report no regrets, since at around $75k it offers near-luxury fifth-wheel features below premium-brand money. Just budget your inspection and maintenance time around the known leak points, because catching seal and basement issues early is what separates the happy owners from the frustrated ones.