Why are fifth wheels more expensive than travel trailers?

Maybe just because the market will bear it. FW buying are willing to pay more?

As said before, looking at the two, some things are obvious. Weight, more complex interior. Not necessarily better, only curved walls etc.
Layouts can be the same, interior quality but the frame and hitch adds weight and extra weight must mean extra $$$.
I disagree with the comment that they are geared to " higher end clients".
That comment is stereotyping people by their wallets. I happen to know the CEO of a very lucrative gold mine and his choice was a TT and not one with a high price tag....he just liked the look of the TT.

For the same reason the 5th wheel is 30% heavier. That much more goes into building the 5'r. And that is going to cost.

I agree that 5ers are more expensive than TT (even from the same manufacturer and same brand). Floor plans are almost identical. I know we just purchased a new Outback and toiled with 5er over TT, and TT won.

I think 5er cost more because they really are bigger, higher, and have more storage in the basement. They are designed for 2 floors, more involved frame, and construction for an identical TT floor model (except for the multi floors).

I think you're paying more for the huge basement storage that does not exist on TT's.

dub- That 40G in your sig has got to be the loooongest one I've ever seen!!! Is that a strech version? :)
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dubdub07 wrote:

mleekamp wrote:
I've had both. I personally don't consider them any "better" per se; true they can have a few more plush goodines (ceiling fan for example), but anymore we prefer a TT. Honestly, I like having a topper on my truck to store grill, kids toys, many other things that we take along. Boils down to personal preference. "More Solid" is very subjective way to describe a 5 vs TT...WoodGlue is right....also depends upon mfgr.

There are comparable FWs to a TT, the superlite FWs are about the same as a TT. The biggest issue is weight. The heavier you can be, the more "goodies". This is why a FW can be so much nicer. Even at 10K for a TT, with a 7 ft ceiling you limit the TT on how many goodies it can have. FWs, generally, are much nicer. And I never put my grill and the kids stuff in the truck; there was always plenty of room in the FW.

WW07

Fifth wheels require a more complex frame and sidewall design. A TT can pretty much be made out of rectangular panels on flat frame rails, whereas a fifth wheel requires the sidewalls to be step cut with sloping roof angles etc and a reinforced step-up frame to accommodate the pinbox.. 5th wheels are much more stable when towing, hence more popular for those who spend a lot of time on the road. Some of us feel claustrophobic in a TT but the 5th has more of a percieved roominess. At least that's what my DW thinks.....

W&H,....

I think that ol' chestnut still applies...

Supply and demand.

Charles

What about manufactures who produce the same floorplan in both TT and 5'er? Inside the two are nearly identical. Same furnishings, decor, options, length etc. Yet the 5'er will be quite a bit more expensive. In our case we opted to go with the 5'er because of increased outside storage and better towing but the cost difference was substantial.

mleekamp wrote:
I've had both. I personally don't consider them any "better" per se; true they can have a few more plush goodines (ceiling fan for example), but anymore we prefer a TT. Honestly, I like having a topper on my truck to store grill, kids toys, many other things that we take along. Boils down to personal preference. "More Solid" is very subjective way to describe a 5 vs TT...WoodGlue is right....also depends upon mfgr.

There are comparable FWs to a TT, the superlite FWs are about the same as a TT. The biggest issue is weight. The heavier you can be, the more "goodies". This is why a FW can be so much nicer. Even at 10K for a TT, with a 7 ft ceiling you limit the TT on how many goodies it can have. FWs, generally, are much nicer. And I never put my grill and the kids stuff in the truck; there was always plenty of room in the FW.

WW07

I've had both. I personally don't consider them any "better" per se; true they can have a few more plush goodines (ceiling fan for example), but anymore we prefer a TT. Honestly, I like having a topper on my truck to store grill, kids toys, many other things that we take along. Boils down to personal preference. "More Solid" is very subjective way to describe a 5 vs TT...WoodGlue is right....also depends upon mfgr.