Where are all the short fifth wheels?

comfun1 · 08-20-2019, 10:18 AM

I have been trying to find a used fifth wheel in the 25-26 foot range and they are scarcer than hens teeth. Is it because there were never many made or they were unpopular or what gives? I primarily search craigslist and facebook market place. The few I have found are higher than the NADA value.

SeaDog · 08-20-2019, 10:20 AM

They seem to be popular here in Idaho with the hunters and are not on the list long.

frank4711 · 08-20-2019, 10:38 AM

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/trave...te/2441WS/4384 .... https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/fifth...bre/261RK/4671 .... hard to find under 27' ...

5picker · 08-20-2019, 10:43 AM

Used do not last long here.
Seems newbies getting into the 1st time 5th wheel market grab them up quickly.
I had a dealer tell me he'd trade/buy any less than 30' regardless of condition.

KeithInUpstateNY · 08-20-2019, 11:58 AM

I had an 89 19' Nomad and a 92 24' Prowler fifth wheel, but there are very few made in that size range today, probably for the last 15/20 years. If they aren't made to begin with then even fewer are going to hit the used market. Most of the ones I've seen that are still being made are fiberglass shell trailers, kind of a niche market.

It's unfortunate, because they were awesome to tow and were truly half ton towable.

aceinspp · 08-20-2019, 12:20 PM

I remember when I had a 1999 26ft Golden Falcon 5th wheel. Dealers back then would give you nothing for trade in as they said no market for small trailer. Boy which I had it now. Later RJD

rlh1957 · 08-20-2019, 12:39 PM

With all the 1/2 ton towable hype and so many people that don't want to or can't afford to upgrade their TV but can budget a used 5th wheel that is truly 1/2 ton towable without serious math or concerns about weights... It is a fresh market that could really sell some units. Wouldn't be hard to shrink a trailer frame and walls. They do it all the time to arrive at the 'Lite' in Lite rigs. Maybe that's why I'm not in manufacturing.

**bikendan** · 08-20-2019, 12:42 PM

Yea, more were built back in the day but manufacturers stopped making them. Now you don't find them.
I assume that the public wanted more space and amenities in a 5th wheel, so the manufacturers focused on bigger ones.

Mad Cow · 08-20-2019, 01:02 PM

Yeah, seems that the manufacturers are only interested in sizes that rival the trailer I pull behind my class 8 semi tractor. Even as tall. Oh for the days of a low / mid profile 5W. Closest thing I have seen recently is the 2020 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2405RG 5W.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R_-YVuFx-BU&t=776s

BigRockr · 08-20-2019, 01:58 PM

Agreed. They are rare. We've looked. Seems like the industry is pretty devoid of creativity unless you are talking small trailers. Seems like they are more focused on giving us the feel of luxury at the cheapest price point. Hence the lack of quality and the abundance of cheap materials.

rlh1957 · 08-20-2019, 02:02 PM

Same here my wife has been looking for 30 ft. fifth wheels to occupy us until we pull the trigger and are ready for the 40' monster home.
She's disappointed at the selection, or non selection of much in the way of new or slightly used recent.
I guess a business goes where the customer leads them.

Palinduff · 08-20-2019, 02:34 PM

Puma has a couple, Sporstsmen has a couple, Grand Design has a 28 footer.

Bose04 · 08-20-2019, 02:39 PM

Surprised to see this post. We have a 2017 27 ft Rockwood 2440Ws we were just thinking about selling. We wondered if it would sell as there don’t seem to be many out there. It is a great RV and have been towing it for 3 years now with a 1/2 ton Tundra no problems. In the hills of western MA and the white mountains. Guess we should go ahead. Any advice on selling a RV?

Photo Lab · 08-20-2019, 03:52 PM

Try looking at the Hitchiker II. We had one of these several years ago, about 20' as I remember. Beautiful rig, and towed like a dream behind an F-150 with nothing special added. Only thing I ever had to do was replace the Dexter brake backing plates/shoes. Easily done, too! Also went with a pair of golf cart batteries.

richp · 08-20-2019, 04:45 PM

Hi,

My first fiver was a 1997 27' Aerolite. Not a particularly luxurious rig -- no slides and only 7.5' wide. But it worked for us in those years.

FWIW.

Rich Phillips

kittlecat · 08-20-2019, 10:20 PM

My friends just traded in a 20+ year old 25 ft. 5th wheel less than a year ago when they purchased a new, larger 5th wheel. They bought it new all those years ago and got several decades of great service out of it, having taken it around the U.S. Everyone else I know has a 30+ foot 5th wheel. There don't seem to be many of the shorter 5th wheels on the road, so good luck finding one in decent condition.