Idle curiosity - cost of 5er vs TT?

[Maineiacs]

Just wondering if there is any rule of thumb to go by. For floorplans that are as close to identical as possible, is there a major or minor difference in the cost? Assume same year, same maker, etc.


Thanks!

[chuckster57]

Haven’t worked at a selling dealership for the last 2 years, but when I was the fiver was more due to the construction (frame) and finish. As a rule the fibers had better finish and weighed more.

[dutchmensport]

I just looked at the Keystone web site and just did a quick scan of trailers and fifth wheels. Now, the MSRP on the site is usually NOT what the actual cost of the camper is, but it does give some indication of the difference between a Fifth Wheel and a Travel Trailer.

A non-scientific approach to this, it looked like to me that a travel trailer listed on the Keystone Site ranges between $12,000 - $15,000 per 10 foot of trailer.

On the other hand, the fifth wheels, (Alpine and Montana) seem to run about $22,000 - $30,000 for 10 foot of trailer. Some of the Avalanche's are in the $24,000 per 10 foot of trailer range.

Hope this helps.

To answer your question, "Yes, Fifth Wheel campers cost more than travel trailers, even with similar floor plans."

[Maineiacs]

Thanks, kinda what I was expecting.

[JRTJH]

One of the major contributors to increased costs with a fifth wheel is the frame construction. It takes a lot more steel to create and brace the cantilevered "upper deck" than it does to build a flat frame. Add to that the heavier weight and the fifth wheel trailers require heavier suspension, heavier hitches, heavier towing vehicles... Even a comparable "XLite trailer" with similar floorplans will weigh 2000-4000 more when built as a fifth wheel...