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RV review: 2023 Cherokee Wolf Pack 27Pack10

Tony Barthel

Today’s RV review is of the 2023 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pack 27Pack10. While some RVs are easy to pigeonhole into categories or styles, this one is not. The closest I can come to describing it is to say that it has many aspects of a toy hauler.

In fact in the realm of toy haulers, there are a lot of similarities between this and a traditional toy hauler.

There’s a drop-down ramp in the back to load toys which can also serve as a patio deck. There is a Happijack power bed lift mechanism to raise the double-over-double beds so that you can load toys. And there are a dozen cargo tie-downs in the back of this trailer which has a beavertail design to facilitate loading wheeled toys.

So how is this not a toy hauler?

Okay. It’s a toy hauler. But a very different one.

Cherokee Wolf Pack

Forest River’s Cherokee Wolf Pack division specializes in toy haulers and these are rather traditional toy haulers in one sense. They are a wider format at 102” in width and also have taller ceilings. The idea behind the greater dimensions is to be able to more effectively haul things like side-by-sides or that sort of thing.

But this trailer is configured rather differently in that you won’t be bringing side-by-sides with you here. The reason for that is that the bathroom is located parallel to the toy garage. This makes the toy garage narrower at 56 inches in width.

Which brings up the question, what are you going to use this space for? I could see it being used for bicycles, kayaks or even motorcycles. With a 3,056 pound cargo carrying capacity this could even be used for motorcycles.

The configuration means that you have the weight capacity to haul these sorts of things without each section of the trailer taking up the full width. Sure, you’re not bringing side-by-sides but that may be just fine for a lot of people.

I also argue that toy haulers are often far superior to bunkhouse trailers for a lot of reasons. If you bring younger campers with you, or just other campers, they may want to bring their toys or other adventure-focused gear.

With the double-over-double beds in this being on that Happijack mechanism this enables you to have larger sleeping areas that can accommodate an actual adult but also raise up the beds so that the gear can be along for the ride when people aren’t back there.

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Further, I really like the outdoor patio arrangement that you’ll find in so many toy haulers. Using the ramp as a patio deck is really a great idea and I’ve gone camping with friends who have this type of RV and it works really, really well.

Of course there is a gate around the deck as well so you’re not falling off the side, nor are the kids.

In fact, on the subject of kids, if you have younger ones with you they can have an indoor/outdoor experience while still being effectively contained by the RV. I like it.

But another thing you could do is bring pets with you. They, too, could have that indoor/outdoor experience while being constrained by the fencing around the patio deck.

Unless they’re huskies. Having had one myself I know the husky would figure out how to jump over the fence and then go wreak havoc in the campground and get you thrown out. How do I know this? As mentioned, I’ve had a husky.

Another type of customer that this could serve really well is the one who would make particularly good use of that patio deck as a party deck. Since the bathroom is there along the side of the cargo bay they already have the plumbing in place. So, Cherokee put a sink that you can access from the deck.

You know what that means, right? Wet bar! And Cherokee trailers come with an ice machine so you’ve got most of the ingredients for making margaritas. The only thing missing is the blender but the Cuisinart Evolution X battery-powered blender is all you need to solve that issue. I still use the heck out of mine.

What’s inside

Compared to last year’s Cherokee offerings, I much prefer the interior of this trailer. Yep, it’s more neutral and that means brown but it’s nicer than the almost black cabinetry of last year. If you didn’t know, I really didn’t like that black cabinetry - dark colors in small spaces makes them feel smaller.

This does have a decent-sized kitchen, pantry and good seating space. You have the choice of either a trifold sofa or theater seats here and then there’s the dinette.

Cherokee doesn’t include TVs with their offerings which I think makes a lot of sense. You may have a TV that you want to use here already in the house or just go find something that suits your style. Or just have no TV for that matter.

Up front this sports a bedroom with a short queen bed. It’s an interesting size at 67” x 74”.

Boondocking and travel access

Cherokee products have, thus far, had a solar system that the company calls “Juice Pack.” Essential this has been a very small 50 watt solar panel that is nothing more than a battery tender. For 2023 they’ve doubled that as standard equipment which still won’t overcome the use of the 12 volt fridge if you want to go off grid camping, but it’s not intended to.

You can upgrade the solar if you do plan to go off-grid camping and they have provided the ability to increase the solar.

As for mid-trip access, the wider body of this trailer does mean more interior space, even with the slide room in. The only thing you’re blocked from accessing is the front bedroom but that’s okay.

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Tony’s observations

There are a few things I noticed in looking into this model. Cherokee is really good about including things you’d want anyway such as the aforementioned ice machine. But I do wish they’d either install the larger 22” oven or eliminate ovens altogether. This smaller model is worthless.

Also there is that nifty rear patio that even has a sink but then there’s also an outside kitchen on the side. That outside kitchen consists of a two-burner stove top, 120 volt bar-sized fridge and the ice machine.

Honestly, I’d much rather they offer the option not to have the kitchen and add more kitchen cabinets inside instead. Plus, you know I’m going to be on the back patio with the ice machine (which is located here, but I would totally move it) and the blender.

One more thing, this does still use carpeting in the slide room which is under the dinette and such. You know what’s going to happen here, unless you spend all your time on that nifty back patio which is exactly what I’d be doing.

Something to know, if you get the Platinum upgrade you do get a fiberglass exterior but the construction on this is different than it would be on a laminated trailer. This is a fiberglass exterior wall on a luan substrate so it’s essentially still a “stick and tin” trailer, but with a fiberglass skin.

See our explanation of how RV construction for more information about this.

I can see a lot of great use cases for this floor plan. For example, people who travel with pets or small humans. People who want to bring eBikes (they’re still an issue for us - a toy hauler would solve this) or other adventure gear.

The changes to the interior really do make it feel nicer than previous years to my eye.

One more thing that I was really surprised to see - there is an observation camera mount on the interior of this unit facing the cargo bay. This is brilliant as you can keep an eye on the cargo while shuttling down the road.

You can also use this as a parent to keep an eye on the younger campers as well, if that appeals to you.

On the subject of cameras, they’ve also now installed side view camera mounts on this model. Those are really useful.

There is also a fifth wheel version of this in the Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pack 310Pack10.

My question for you is, would this trailer make sense to your camping world? Would you prefer a larger cargo area, or can you see a use case for a cargo space like this?

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