Since we first started shopping for an RV in 2017, the small 5th wheel trailers have always been one of the designs that immediately caught my eye when we walked on an RV lot.
When I first spotted one of these rigs, I was honestly a bit confused by it. It looked so different from anything I had seen before from the outside…but I knew that I liked it as well. Sure, it had the same 5th wheel hitch design as usual, but at a size that didn’t completely dwarf me!
Immediately, I felt like it could have a lot of the benefits of a 5th wheel trailer without the tough-to-manage and intimidating-to-tow size that I had seen with so many others.
I think you are really going to like this lineup of small 5th wheels we’ve got for you here, and of course our hope is that it will help you get out there on the open road as soon as possible for some RVing adventures!
Top 7 Small 5th Wheel Trailers for Your RV Adventures
Before we jump straight into a close look at our top 5th wheel trailer picks, I want to point out a few things that you must be aware of going into this. After all, knowledge is power, right?
The Smallest 5th Wheel Trailers Still Far Outweigh Comparable Travel Trailers
If overall length and maneuverability of your RV is the top priority in your search, then every one of these trailers we cover will likely hold your attention and get you pretty excited.
However, if weight is also a major factor you should know right away that there is simply no comparison between even the smallest 5th wheel trailers and comparable length travel trailers. Let’s take our full-time RVing travel trailer as an example.
Our Keystone Passport Ultra Lite 2670BH travel trailer was 26 feet long (just over 30 feet with tongue) and weighed in just over 5,000 lbs empty. It had a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 7,000 lbs, meaning I could (supposedly) safely carry almost 2,000 lbs of cargo. (See my post about travel trailer tires for a full discussion of weight ratings on trailers vs. tires. Your safety could absolutely depend on it.)
Now, if you compare that 26-foot travel trailer weight to the weight of the 27-foot 5th wheel trailer we will cover first below, you will quickly see that there is a 5,000 lb difference in GVWR between these two rigs (12,000 lbs GVWR on 5th wheel). Despite the fact that their living space length is only a difference of one foot, the 5th wheel trailer clearly requires far more truck to tow it.
We towed our travel trailer with a RAM 2500 Long Bed w/5.7L Hemi engine. And we had no issues at all across 35,000+ miles. That truck would not come close to towing the 27-foot 5th wheel.
The takeaway is that as you shop for small 5th wheel trailers, be aware that it will require far more truck to safely tow many of these options (1 ton truck, most likely diesel). Know that going in and be prepared up front for that additional cost if you don’t already own a 1 ton truck. Smaller and lighter 5th wheels are out there, and we will cover some, but for larger living areas the above guidance holds very true.
Small 5th Wheel Trailers Will Likely Be Much Taller and Require Additional Time and Attention for Route Planning
If you will be doing most of your traveling in the western portion of the US, this may not be quite as much of a concern for you. Clearance issues didn’t seem to be a major factor in that region during our travels.
But we quickly discovered when we started exploring the eastern half of the US that clearance issues did become a major factor, specifically as we moved farther toward the Northeast.
Essentially, you should expect a small 5th wheel trailer to add approximately two feet to your overall height compared to comparable travel trailers. Our travel trailer stood about 10 feet 5 inches high, while our first option below has an exterior height of 12 feet 4 inches. Huge difference, and I guarantee you will feel it in your route planning.
Don’t be scared…
Please understand that none of this information is meant to dissuade you from purchasing a small 5th wheel trailer. Not at all, because I believe they offer some major advantages you should be aware of in terms of comfort, maneuverability and convenience.
But if you are wired anything like me, the weight and height factors covered above will definitely make you stop and at least seriously consider the pros and cons. I crave simplicity, and I also desire to control costs as much as possible. So I naturally lean toward the travel trailer side of the equation for my travels. But these factors may be very minor concerns for you, in which case a 5th wheel trailer could be exactly what you want and need.
And with that, we will move on to our first pick for small 5th wheel trailers! These picks are in no particular order; we are offering all of them to you as equally viable options.
#1 – Coachmen Chaparral Lite 25MKS
Coachmen is synonymous with RVing. They have been putting quality RV products on the US road since 1964, and even though they are now a brand under the Forest River, Inc. umbrella, they don’t seem to have lost a step.
A very lightweight 5th wheel option, the 25MKS can boast the following specs:
- GVWR: 9,800 lbs
- Empty Weight (UVW): 7,549 lbs
- Cargo Capacity: 2,251 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 1,307 lbs
- Exterior Length: 29′ 3″
- Exterior Height: 11′ 10″
- Fresh water capacity: 40 gal
- Gray water capacity: 33 gal
- Black water capacity: 33 gal
I have to say I was a little surprised by the smaller capacities on the holding tanks. I guess I naturally expect any 5th wheel to outdo travel trailers on their tank capacities, but this model actually has a smaller gray tank than my 26-foot travel trailer had with the other two tanks very close in size. May not be ideal for everybody.
If you don’t plan on doing any extensive boondocking, then this may be no issue for you at all. Obviously, this is really only a factor when you do not have full hookups for your rig. So if you are more of a “RV resorts and full hookups every night” type of traveler, then there is no cause for concern here.
The Chaparral Lite lineup actually offers 8 different floorplans from 25 feet up to 30 feet in length, with the heaviest model (30 BHS) coming in with a GVWR of 11,500 lbs, a full 1,700 lbs over the 25MKS mark.
This option deserves a solid look, in my opinion, with floorplans to suit just about every situation and preference.
#2 – Winnebago Micro Minnie
If Coachmen is synonymous with RVing, you certainly can’t say anything less about this trusted household name: Winnebago.
And I was absolutely shocked to see all of the details of this “tiny wonder”, the Winnebago Micro Minnie. Let me show you what I’m talking about using the 2405BH floorplan as our example (although all floorplans have very similar specs that are identical in many categories):
- GVWR: 7,700 lbs
- Dry Weight: 5,740 lbs
- Hitch Weight (Dry): 1,140 lbs
- Exterior Length: 26′ 9″
- Exterior Height: 11′ 5″
- Fresh water capacity: 31 gal
- Gray water capacity: 25 gal
- Black water capacity: 25 gal
Two things shocked me about these specs: The very low dry weight (only about 700 lbs more than my travel trailer, which I think is awesome), and the small holding tank capacities (again…all of them smaller than my travel trailer). I’m not faulting the manufacturer for the tank capacities, because the reality is that there may not be a market demand for higher capacities. I just know that these tanks would not work for me, because when we hit the road again I will be fully prepared to boondock until my heart is content, hitting every single Harvest Hosts location I can possibly find.
Note: They do have other floorplans in this series with 50 gal gray water capacities…and that could possibly make this a contender for me, all things considered.
But I really do love the super lightweight options that Winnebago offers with this lineup. And with their solid name backing it up, the Micro Minnie should not be ruled out lightly (no pun intended).
#3 – Escape 5.0TA
It’s time to leave the “mainstream” RV pack and head north of the border for the next option in our rundown of small 5th wheel trailers: The Escape 5.0TA Fifth Wheel takes small to a whole new level.
You can tell immediately that this is a trailer of a different sort. From the fiberglass shell to the reduced height, it’s obvious we are heading into a different realm altogether here. Let’s take a closer look at this tiny beauty from Canadian manufacturer Escape Trailer Industries.
- GVWR: 5,500 lbs
- Dry Weight: 3,810 lbs
- Hitch Weight (Dry): 630 lbs
- Exterior Length: 21′ 2″
- Exterior Height: 9′ 7″
- Fresh water capacity: 28 gal
- Gray Water Capacity: 28 gal
- Black Water Capacity: 30 gal
While this small 5th wheel trailer might not be ideal for many folks who are interested in the full-time RV lifestyle, it would certainly be an ideal escape pod for a couple looking to get away and soak in more of the natural world for a weekend or a week.
I do find it pretty odd, because it defies practical use, that they made the black tank capacity higher than the gray tank capacity. But hey, maybe there is a logical explanation for it that you can determine with additional digging if this one ticks all of the other boxes for you.
#4 – KZ Sportsmen 231RK
Ladies and gentlemen, this one really has my attention. I’m seeing quite a few things to love about this unique rig, including the tank capacities and rear storage rack!
There are several key points in the specs below that really make this a contender in my book…and one puzzling number. Let’s see if you can spot the one that’s throwing me off:
- GVWR: 7,000 lbs
- Dry Weight: 6,100 lbs
- Cargo Capacity: 900 lbs
- Hitch Weight (Dry): 840 lbs
- Exterior Length: 25′ 3″
- Exterior Height: 11′ 11″
- Fresh water capacity: 38 gal
- Gray Water Capacity: 93 gal
- Black Water Capacity: 53 gal
While I love the fact that it has about the same GVWR as my 26-foot travel trailer did and a surprisingly low hitch weight, it’s very curious that they only equipped it to carry 900 lbs in cargo. For a full-timing couple, that is going to be pretty tough to manage, based on our experience. I’m sure it is doable, but it could give you some headaches along the way since most rigs this size have cargo capacities at or near 2,000 lbs (like my travel trailer did).
Having said that, I LOVE the tank capacities they have equipped her with! The 38 gal fresh water capacity is respectable, but 93 gal and 53 gal respectively for gray and black water capacities are among the highest I have come across for this size rig. A couple could probably boondock pretty comfortably with those numbers for a decent amount of time. Yes please!
And clearance? Another big plus here at just under 12 feet, because some comparable models from competing brands will rise to 13 feet (like our next option below in the lineup). Of course, you should be aware that what you gain on the exterior in terms of manageable height you also give up on the interior height. Always give and take…
Overall, I see plenty to love and plenty of reasons to dive deeper into this small 5th wheel trailer option. And I should mention that they have 25-foot and 26-foot floorplans available to explore on the site as well, so go take a closer look before you rule this one out.
#5 – Forest River Rockwood Ultra Lite 2441WS
Forest River Inc. boasts one of the broadest lineups of RVs in the industry, with a total of 7 RV brands under its corporate umbrella (including Coachmen that we covered above). They know the game well and their Rockwood designs seem to reflect that.
Let’s examine the specs on this solid option so that we can compare apples to apples in this quest for the “perfect” small 5th wheel trailer:
- GVWR: 9,165 lbs
- Dry Weight: 7,149 lbs
- Cargo Capacity: 2,016 lbs
- Hitch Weight (Dry): 1,165 lbs
- Exterior Length: 28′ 5″
- Exterior Height: 13′ 0″
- Fresh water capacity: 60 gal
- Gray Water Capacity: 45 gal
- Black Water Capacity: 45 gal
As you can see, this rig starts out about 1,000 lbs heavier than the KZ Sportsmen we just looked at…but it also has a more reasonable cargo capacity of just over 2,000 lbs. So full-timing seems to definitely be a viable possibility for this rig.
I mentioned above that you have to really decide what is more important to you in terms of vehicle height: Exterior height or interior height. If you are exceptionally tall, you will probably have to give more weight to interior height (so you have livable space) and then deal with the added exterior height and the potential stresses it can introduce to your route planning and overall driving experience.
But overall, I feel like this 24-foot RV offers a very livable space for a couple, with additional convertible bed options for others along for the ride. That 18-foot awning and exterior gas grill they included doesn’t hurt either, because we all know it’s really nice to have an enjoyable outdoor space while living the RV lifestyle.
#6 – Keystone Springdale 253FWRE
Here’s something interesting: Even though I owned a Keystone travel trailer and looked pretty extensively at their lineup before purchasing, I did not know until very recently that they offered a small fifth wheel trailer in this series!
We even conducted a video tour recently of a smaller Springdale travel trailer, but somehow I never realized that fifth wheels were also an option here.
At 25 feet in length (well, almost 33 feet total length), the Springdale 253FWRE may be a bit beefier than you would expect. Given the lightweight options that Keystone offers in the travel trailer category, I guess I was hoping to see something close to 7,000 lbs GVWR in the fifth wheels. But that is not in the cards. Here are the specs you desire:
- GVWR: 10,300 lbs
- Dry Weight: 8,615 lbs
- Cargo Capacity: 1,685 lbs
- Hitch Weight (Dry): 1,500 lbs
- Exterior Length: 32′ 10″
- Exterior Height: 12′ 4″
- Fresh water capacity: 52 gal
- Gray Water Capacity: 39 gal
- Black Water Capacity: 39 gal
So as you can see, after moving to the lighter end of the spectrum with our previous picks, this option does take us back to where we started in the 10,000 lb GVWR range (like the Coachmen). This is definitely still considered small by fifth wheel standards, but it’s nothing like the Winnebago or KZ options we covered above.
Having said that, it does have a respectable cargo capacity and a lower profile than the Rockwood (by about 8 inches), so it might be a great fit for your needs.
On tank capacities, it clearly doesn’t WOW me like the KZ, but it has definitely still got the Winnebago and Escape options beat. And for a couple, these capacities are still very doable for extensive boondocking options (with some reasonable measures in place to minimize tank usage).
#7 – Jayco Eagle HT 25.5REOK
Last but not least, for our final slot in this fine group of small 5th wheel trailers, let’s take a look at another industry leader: Jayco. With a GVWR staying just a hair under 10,000 lbs, this option has plenty to get your attention.
Let’s be honest: This option isn’t likely to win any awards for style or colors. Nope, this one is built to kind of blend in with the grasslands of the Midwest. But my guess is this is not your first concern as you shop for a fifth wheel. So let’s see what those all-important specs look like on this well-equipped rig:
- GVWR: 9,995 lbs
- Dry Weight: 7,775 lbs
- Cargo Capacity: 1,405 lbs
- Hitch Weight (Dry): 2,220 lbs
- Exterior Length: 28′ 8″
- Exterior Height: 12′ 8″
- Fresh water capacity: 42 gal
- Gray Water Capacity: 32.5 + 32.5 gal
- Black Water Capacity: 32.5 gal
A couple of things really jump out at me here that we can take a closer look at. First, you’ll notice that the Jayco has the highest hitch weight of this entire group…a full 700+ lbs heavier than the next heaviest option (Keystone)! I’m not sure what specifically has caused this situation, but it’s something you need to be aware since it can significantly impact your choice of tow vehicles. Equally important, if you already have your tow vehicle, you need to be sure it can safely handle that full hitch weight.
Second, this model is the only one to offer a secondary gray tank of 32.5 gal, giving it a total capacity of 65 gal. While this still doesn’t outdo the KZ Sportsmen at 93 gal, it comes in a very respectable second and gets high marks from me for opening up boondocking options.
Be advised also that this is the second tallest option in our lineup at 12′ 8″, coming in second only to the Forest River Rockwood. I’ll say it again: this would be a factor for this simple-loving guy to consider before making a purchase, but it may not even make you bat an eyelash. Either way, it’s best to be completely aware of it ahead of time and prepared to handle it appropriately.
Which of these Small 5th Wheel Trailers Is Going to Get You On the Road?
We’ve pretty much seen it all here, friend. With options ranging from 3,810 lbs to 8,615 lbs in dry weight, from 9′ 7″ to 13′ 0″ in height and from 21′ 2″ and 32′ 10″ in total length, it’s now up to you to decide which factors are the most important to you and which ones you can just live with.
As we’ve said before, there is no perfect RV out there; it’s always a game of give and take, pros and cons. My goal is to help you most effectively and efficiently weigh those pros and cons, comparing apples to apples, so that you can locate and purchase the rig that is best for you and your family.
At the end of the day, you can make fantastic memories in any of these small 5th wheel trailers…and we truly hope that you do! But let us know which one of these is the right fit for you, or if you’ve found another option that you can share with us and add to the list.
Now enough reading. Let’s go RVing!
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Todd Bonner is the quieter half of the dynamic TREKKN duo. He spends most of his time sharing information about RV travel and safety, RV accessories and tips, and the National Parks he has visited and still desperately craves. When he’s not busy working on TREKKN, you will often find him staring at breathtaking pictures of Glacier National Park, his favorite spot on earth.