Travel Trailer vs Fifth Wheel: Which RV is Right for You?
Have you decided to buy an RV but not sure if you should go with a travel trailer or a fifth wheel? Motorhomes are definitely not for everyone, so a towable RV is a much more popular choice for RVers.
They have a lot in common. But when it comes to travel trailer vs fifth wheel, there are a few key differences that separate those who prefer one over the other. When it comes to towing, layout, affordability, and more, we’ve laid out the pros and cons of each to help you decide which towable is right for you.
Why a towable?
First, let’s quickly discuss the pros of a towable trailer over a motorhome. The biggest reason we love our fifth wheel is because we can detach it from our truck! This means we can park our home, set up our site, and then go explore. We weren’t interested in having to bring our entire home with us just to get groceries!
There is also less risk and maintenance by having our engine separate from our living space. If the truck needs repairs, we don’t have to worry about finding a place to sleep that night.
Here’s a story that really drives home why we love having a towable. A few years ago, we had to drive across Canada in February. Yes, Canada in February. It was a difficult week, made incredibly difficult when one of the axles of our fifth wheel bent! We lost a tire mid-tow and, long story short, had to leave our fifth wheel (our full time home!) 16 hours away in snowy, cold (-40 celsius) Kenora, Ontario.
If we were driving a motorhome and we lost a tire and needed an axle replaced, we would have been trapped in rural northern Ontario with no options to get home (aside from perhaps renting a car). We think we’ll stick with the fifth wheel.
Travel Trailer: Pros
Towing
Travel trailers often offer lighter towing than even your lightest fifth wheel. Because of this, you don’t need as much tow vehicle to safely tow them.
Where you would need at least a ¾ tonne truck to pull a fifth wheel, you can get away with towing a travel trailer with some ½ tonne trucks or SUVs.
No matter how lightweight your RV is, it’s always important to ensure you’re towing safely and within the limits of your vehicle!
Affordability
In general, travel trailers tend to be more budget-friendly compared to fifth wheels. The starting cost of a small travel trailer is typically less than that of a small fifth wheel.
If you’re looking to dip your toes into RVing without blowing your budget, a small travel trailer might be the way to go.
Living Space and Layout
While travel trailers come in various sizes, they generally offer a more compact living space compared to fifth wheels. This can be both an advantage and a limitation, depending on your preferences. Smaller trailers are easier to tow and maneuver, but larger ones can provide ample room for families or travelers who desire more space and amenities.
If you’re a family needing a bunk room for kids, travel trailers typically have more layout options for you. We find that fifth wheels are usually geared towards couples, with just one bedroom (though there are more bunk room fifth wheel models these days).
Maneuverability
Travel trailers offer greater flexibility in terms of where you can go. Often, they aren’t a whole lot taller than a large truck, so you can fit under low bridges more often than a fifth wheel.
It’s always important to know the height of your trailer, but a travel trailer takes a bit of stress out of approaching those low bridges up ahead.
Travel Trailer: Cons
Higher Potential for Sway
Travel trailers are more prone to sway and instability on the road, especially in windy conditions or when passing large vehicles. If you opt for a travel trailer, we recommend investing in sway control or weight distribution hitches to improve towing stability and safety.
Fifth Wheel: Pros
Stability and Towing
Fifth wheels are known for their stability and ease of towing, especially over long distances. The unique hitching system, which connects to the bed of a pickup truck, provides a secure and stable connection, reducing sway and improving overall control.
This makes them an excellent choice for travelers planning extended journeys or full-time living on the road. This is a big reason why we love our fifth wheel so much.
Spaciousness
One of the standout features of fifth wheels is their spacious interiors. With high ceilings, they often feel more like a home than an RV.
This extra space allows for larger living areas and bedrooms, as well as additional amenities such as residential-style appliances and multiple bathrooms, though these aren’t exclusive to fifth wheels.
Storage Capacity
Fifth wheels typically offer generous storage space both inside and outside the rig. Basement storage compartments and pass-through storage areas make it easy to stow away camping gear, outdoor equipment, and personal belongings. This extra storage is particularly handy if you’re a full time RVer.
Fifth Wheel: Cons
Accessibility
Fifth wheels tend to be on the larger side, and all of them sit higher than a travel trailer due to being hitched into the bed of a truck. Size and height may pose challenges when navigating narrow roads, low bridges, or tight camping spots.
Hitching Up
It can be a bit more challenging hitching up a fifth wheel, as a specialized hitch is required to be installed in the bed of a truck. Learning to back up and hitch to a fifth wheel has a learning curve, but it gets easy with practice.
The downside to hitching up in the bed of your truck is that you will lose the storage space that your truck bed offers. While you’ll still have some space for things while towing, you won’t be able to use your tonneau cover. So, if it rains… everything gets wet.
This is the biggest thing we dislike about our fifth wheel; we are jealous of those with all of that extra storage space!
Making the Decision
Ultimately, the choice between a travel trailer and a fifth wheel boils down to your individual preferences, travel style, and budget. Consider factors such as maneuverability, living space, and towing capability before making your decision.
Whichever option you choose, remember that the journey is what truly matters. Whether you’re exploring national parks, driving scenic highways, or simply relaxing by the campfire, the experiences you create along the way will be what you remember.
Discovering RVing and deciding to just go for it completely changed our life! We hope this guide helped you get a little closer to getting out and exploring in your own rig. Let us know in the comments which is your perfect rig!
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