Five for the Road

When selecting a new fifth wheel, weight is always the top concern. Unless you plan to plunk down even more hard-earned money for a larger, more capable tow vehicle with a higher tow rating and payload, the truck in your driveway will dictate exactly how much trailer you can tow. 

That can mean sacrificing what you want because your tow vehicle can’t handle the weight of everything you had hoped for. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With just a little research, you’ll discover a number of fully equipped and downright luxurious options that can be towed by your current truck. To help you on your way, we’ve selected some of the best models out there. 

Jayco Eagle HT 24RE

Chances are you’ve seen a Jayco fifth-wheel during your RV travels. The popular RV manufacturer has been making fivers for nearly 50 years. And you’ve probably seen an Eagle fifth-wheel at the campsite, as they are consistently one of the top-selling brands on the market. With all that history, it’s no wonder we’ve selected the HT (half-ton) Eagle as one of our featured trailers.

All told, there are 10 Eagle HT models to choose from, each with a long list of quality appointments to include everything you need … and just about everything you’d want. The 24RE is the shortest of the bunch, so it’s designed to be easily maneuvered in most state and national parks. The 4 Star Handling Package with Dexter axles and MORryde rubberized suspension add to that ease of handling, while aluminum-framed gel-coated walls and painted fiberglass front cap make the Eagle built to last.

Inside, residential appointments include vinyl flooring, carpeting, bathroom backsplash, 12-volt charging stations, C-PAP prep, and a sizable walk-in pantry. The walkaround queen bed is flanked by dual nightstands, and the trifold sofa bed is located at the rear of the trailer, offering two distinct sleeping areas. Options include a 10-cubic-foot 12-volt refrigerator, electric fireplace, and theater seating. Base MSRP: $59,619.

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Outdoors RV Glacier Peak F26RKS

It’s easy to get caught up in the warm weather of summer. The sun is shining, shorts and tank tops are the uniform, and the grill outside is running nearly 24/7. But you want to use your trailer year-round, don’t you? That means you’ll need additional protection from the elements, both cold AND warm. Designed in eastern Oregon for RVers in mountainous states, Alaska, and even western Canada, Outdoors RV’s trailers are built to withstand the harshest elements, from freezing cold to stifling hot, and they perform with aplomb when the conditions get severe. 

The Climate Designed Four Seasons package includes things like thermal-pane windows and 1-inch-thick external luggage doors, which help when temperatures drop, but also when the mercury rises. Better insulation means a more comfortable interior in any weather. 

ORV ups the mountaineer feeling by including a custom off-road chassis, heavy-duty axles, and off-road suspension, making even the most remote campsites within reach wherever you travel.

But it’s not all about construction with the trailers. The Glacier Peak F26RKS fifth-wheel, available in trims of Mountain Series and Titanium Series (featured here), packs a whole lotta luxury in its sub-10,000-pound dry weight frame. The raised-panel roto-torqued cabinetry, solid-surface LG countertops, upgraded appliances, and ultra-leather furniture combine with a mountain-lodge feel for a unique RV experience.

More than 80 gallons of freshwater extend camping trips, and LED lighting, the vaulted ceiling, and the large kitchen area all add up for a residential vibe, which is only furthered by the large linen/wardrobe slide in the main bedroom. The interior is rustic in feel, but cutting-edge in technology. That’s something we can get behind no matter the weather. Base MSRP: $75,500.

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Keystone Sprinter 30RL

An island kitchen. A coffee bar and hutch, plus a large pantry. A full-length wardrobe. A residential-sized shower. No, this isn’t a listing for a two-bedroom apartment downtown, these are just a few of the highlights of the Keystone Sprinter 30RL, a sub-34-foot fifth-wheel that lives oh so much larger than that.

The key is the massive open living area in the rear of the trailer. So massive, in fact, that even with a queen-size trifold sofa, fully reclining theater seating, optional freestanding dinette, an entertainment center, and an electric fireplace, you never feel crowded … even though the kitchen area is located in the large streetside slideout as well. 

That kitchen continues the “go big” attitude with large 22-inch deep drawers, deep-basin stainless-steel sink, optional 10-cubic-foot 12-volt refrigerator, and 21-inch stainless-steel oven with a three-burner range. The XL 30-inch entry door and 80-inch interior height certainly help as well. The residential queen bed in the main bedroom is of the walk-around variety, and a closet on each side, plus overhead storage, reduces clutter to, you guessed it, make the area feel larger. Vinyl flooring, pine cabinetry, and solid-surface countertops keep the feel residential, and MORryde entry steps make it easy to access the wide-open spaces inside.  

Keystone offers a three-year limited structural/one-year limited base warranty, and even includes Wi-Fi prep, central hookup station, outdoor TV prep, and XL pass-through storage on the Sprinter. Base MSRP: $47,347.

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Dutchmen Astoria 1500 2993RLF

Dutchmen’s Astoria 1500 Series offers four distinct floorplans with dry weights of less than 11,000 pounds. But, we’re suckers for island-kitchen configurations, so we’ve selected the 29993RLF for this roundup, and it’s easy to see why.

The rear living area takes full advantage of the opposing slides to offer a premier location for entertaining, including niceties like a 50-inch TV in the entertainment center, a 40-inch electric fireplace, theater seating, a tri-fold sofa, and available freestanding dinette. It flows seamlessly into the kitchen, with the sink in the aforementioned island, plus the stainless-steel appliances, pantry, glass-top three-burner range, hutch, acrylic backsplash … the list goes on.

Hyperdeck linoleum flooring can be found on the “lower deck,” with residential carpeting upstairs. The 70-by-80-inch queen bed is also of the residential variety, as are the solid-surface countertops. LED lighting is throughout. Outside, a power awning with LED lights, exterior speakers, a black-tank flush, and painted fiberglass front cap with LEDs all delight. Most of the appointments on the Astoria come standard (as “Mandatory Options,” if you will), which makes the selection process easier than ever. Base MSRP: $58,850. Learn More 

Forest River Impression 240RE

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Though that quote has been attributed to multiple people, including Will Rogers, Oscar Wilde, and even Andrew Grant, the sentiment is the same: The first look at something generally sets the tone for how you feel about it. Forest River has apparently taken that to heart, and its Impression fifth-wheel is proof.

The exterior is downright striking, with its smooth lines, tasteful Custom Exterior Graphics package, gel-coat fiberglass front cap, and an adjustable power awning with LED lights. But it brings to light yet another adage: It’s what’s on the inside that counts. There again, the Impression shines. 

The Impression 240RE is a single-slide floorplan with all the bells and whistles, from the 39-inch Furrion TV with soundbar and UniSmart remote above the fireplace in the living area, to the 12-volt heat pads for the holding tanks, to the centralized command center with built-in tank monitoring, to USB charging stations, Wi-Fi prep, and digital antenna.

Buyers can opt for even more with an Off Grid Solar/Inverter Package. The large rear window affords a great view of the surrounding area, as does the large windshield in the main bedroom (which offers up to 6 feet, 3 inches of headroom). The huge hidden pantry/storage area off the kitchen is a rather welcome touch, and standards like washer/dryer prep, Goodyear tires, electric auto-leveling, and the exterior kitchen make quite the impression, indeed. Base MSRP: $56,594. Learn More