cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Smaller Fifth Wheel

hankandlisa
Explorer
Explorer
I am looking for a smaller rear living fifth wheel. My last was 36.5 and very hard to get into campgrounds that we like. It had three slides. We hardly ever stay more than 4 nights and don't travel very far from home. Rear living would be great. Slide in bedroom would be good too but not a necessity. 28 to 30 feet overall would be ideal. I have a F250 diesel so pulling won't be a problem. I am not gonna buy new ever again so I am gonna look for one less than 7 years old. I want a good quality camper but will take any suggestions. Thx.
20 REPLIES 20

htowners
Explorer
Explorer
We have the KZ Durango 275 RE with opposing slides in the rear and TV / Ent. center on the rear wall and love it. It's almost 4 years old and have only had minimal issues, but nothing to take to a dealer to fix.
My one gripe was the sofa bed was horrible in either function so we bought 2 wall hugger recliners and what a difference it makes.
The main selling point, beyond the layout was the amount of storage for the 2 of us, so many light weight, smaller units have almost no basement storage.
2008 Tiffin Allegro Bay 38TGB
2005 Saturn Vue
Stella and Luna, our 2 shelter rescues

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
n7bsn wrote:
goducks10 wrote:
FWIW the 27-5L Foxes didn't gain weight until the current style.


Em, I know you are wrong

The first models had no bedroom slide and were lighter then the later models with a slide.

Just the weight of the slide added weight to the rig


That's why the earlier models were lighter. Dry pin weight was in the 1500lb range vs 2000+lb weight of the current model.

Bamabound
Explorer
Explorer
After 10 years we just traded our 35ft 5th for a 26 ft. Holiday Rambler Alumilite 5th wheel. It was just too much of a strain on our 2500 Duramax Diesel truck, plus it was a pain to get in and out of the state parks most of the time.

I hope we like the 26ft cause I loved the room, but it was a little bit of an overkill for weekend camping for 2 people. We still have room for 2 guests, more than that they need to bring a tent..;)

Parrothead_Mike
Explorer
Explorer
Hope to see manufacturers start making more mid to higher end 5th wheels that are in the 25'-30' range. I like my Cardinal, but they don't make them as small as mine anymore.

Two years ago we attended an RV show down in Elkhart, IN at the RV museum. They had plenty of nice 5th wheels, but they were all 35' and up. One salesman asked me, "How do you like our 5th wheels?", I replied that they were too big. He laughed and said that "people want elbow room so we make them big". I told him we wouldn't be buying any of his "elbow room" RV's.

Grand Design is going in the right direction with some of their smaller units. A friend of mine works in Bristol, IN in the RV industry. He told me that the guys that created Grand Design previously worked for Keystone and are getting a lot of praise from fellow manufacturers. They are making lighter weight well thought out floor plans. I checked their website out and really liked what I saw. Now if I could just find a nice used one.....
2018 Chevy 2500HD Duramax - 2015 Cedar Creek Silverback 29RE
16K Huskey EZ Roller Hitch - EU2000i Honda Generator

n7bsn
Explorer
Explorer
goducks10 wrote:
FWIW the 27-5L Foxes didn't gain weight until the current style.


Em, I know you are wrong

The first models had no bedroom slide and were lighter then the later models with a slide.

Just the weight of the slide added weight to the rig
2008 F350SD V10 with an 2012 Arctic Fox 29-5E
When someone tells you to buy the same rig they own, listen, they might be right. When they tell you to buy a different rig then they own, really pay attention, they probably know something you don't.

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
FWIW the 27-5L Foxes didn't gain weight until the current style.
Folks the OP is looking at used. Some of the suggested units are too new to even be on the used market.

bobx2
Explorer
Explorer
I'll throw out the Heartland Sundance line in case you haven't heard of them. My XLT is a rear living room with one slide, and an overall length of 26.5 feet. Very comparable to the Jayco HT series in floor plans, weights and quality. (I've owned 2 Jayco TT's previously) When I purchased, the XLT was around $8000 cheaper than what Jayco could do for me. Very happy with the Heartland.
Becky, Bob, Taylie and Bode
2009 Silverado Duramax/Allison
2014 Heartland Sundance XLT 245RL
2015 Polaris Sportsman 570 Touring - Mine
2015 Polaris Sportsman 570 Touring - Wifes

n7bsn
Explorer
Explorer
hankandlisa

Arctic Foxes are rare out your way, friends in Texas drove to Florida to get their used Fox.

They also don't build "small" rigs any more, the smallest (27-5L) is nearly 30 ft long and weighs 12,000 (loaded)

NOTE:
The 27-5L has been made three ways.
Introduction to 2001. Single slide, lightest
2002 to mid-year 2012, Two slides, with the bedroom slide on the door (passenger) side
mid 2012 to date, two slides, bedroom slide on the same side as the main, 2 ft longer and weighs 2000 lbs more.

Also, check out the 24-5N. Downside, only short people can stand in the bedroom, but it has a huge closet and the most storage of any rig that size (we owned one for a decade)

They also used to make a 19-5, 21-5, 23-5, 25-5 (bunkhouse) and 26-5.
2008 F350SD V10 with an 2012 Arctic Fox 29-5E
When someone tells you to buy the same rig they own, listen, they might be right. When they tell you to buy a different rig then they own, really pay attention, they probably know something you don't.

Scott16
Explorer
Explorer
Check out some of the Jayco Eagle HT Fifth Wheels.
23.5RBS 25' or 26.5 RKS or RLS 29'.
Believe were the same lengths in past years also.
Per looking for a used Fifth Wheel.
US Navy Retired IC1(SW)USS Fletcher DD-992

hankandlisa
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the quick replies to my quest. I think this is the way to go vs the larger campers. Especially since we only camp weekends but still want some room if it does rain. The Arctic Fox is nice. I haven't heard of the Grand Design until now. I still want to stay under 30 overall length though. Keep em coming.

Second_Chance
Explorer II
Explorer II
We've had our eyes on two models by Grand Design (Reflection series). At 31'9" and 32'11", the 293RES and 303 RLS (our favorite) are both modest in size and weights (truly 3/4 ton material). We've looked at the 303 at our local dealer and are impressed.

Grand Design floor plans

Rob
U.S. Army retired
2020 Solitude 310GK-R
MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
(Previously in a Reflection 337RLS)
2012 F350 CC DRW Lariat 6.7
Full-time since 8/2015

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
Since you're looking for used 5'ers you might look at older Arctic Foxes like this onehttp://www.rvsnorthwest.com/new_vehicle_detail.asp?veh=232994

korbe
Explorer
Explorer
hankandlisa wrote:
Crossroads Cruiser is one of the ones that I am looking at. Seems to be a good camper. How many slides is yours? We do want enough room for hanging clothes and drawers for shorts, shirts, socks, etc.

Ours has one slide. And has a closet for hanging clothes. I did make shelves for either side of the bed for folded clothes.
.

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
hankandlisa wrote:
I am looking for a smaller rear living fifth wheel. My last was 36.5 and very hard to get into campgrounds that we like. It had three slides. We hardly ever stay more than 4 nights and don't travel very far from home. Rear living would be great. Slide in bedroom would be good too but not a necessity. 28 to 30 feet overall would be ideal. I have a F250 diesel so pulling won't be a problem. I am not gonna buy new ever again so I am gonna look for one less than 7 years old. I want a good quality camper but will take any suggestions. Thx.


I'm considering the Cruiser Aire CAF27RL. Doesn't have a full BR slide, but has a wardrobe slide. Helps with pin wt for my '02 D'max and is about 200 lbs lighter at GVW than my current Komfort, with similar cargo capacity.

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 64 Year Member