Fifth-wheel travel trailers reside in the gray area between travel trailer campers and the luxury of a motorhome. They tend to be as large as a Class A motorhome, but the tow vehicle can easily be detached to let you drive off and explore without having to break camp.
They also tend to be easier to maneuver than a cumbersome motorhome.
Of course, RV manufacturers have quickly caught on to the popularity of fifth-wheel campers and have rushed to flood the market with a wide array of options.
Some are stripped down bargain models, and others are true luxury fifth-wheel trailers. Regardless of the trim level, pretty much all fifth-wheel campers are a major investment.
If you want to travel with all the creature comforts of home, then you are likely going to lean toward a luxury fifth wheels.
Still, if you are new to the RV market, or you simply haven’t shopped for a fifth-wheel trailer before, you might be wary of overspending.
You might be wondering what is the best luxury fifth-wheel camper for you?
The answer can vary depending on the features you prioritize, the size of your family, and where you are going to most often use it. Some of the best luxury fifth-wheel campers include the DRV – Mobile Suites 40KSSB4 and the Heartland – Bighorn BH 3925 MLP. If you also like to do a little off the grid boondocking, you might also want to give a good hard look at the Grand Design – Solitude 385GK. If you happen to have a large family, you might also want to take a good hard look at the
Though these certainly aren’t the only options in this somewhat flooded field. Fortunately, we’ve taken a discerning eye to help you filter out some of the best options for various scenarios, to help you find the best luxury fifth-wheel campers that are worthy of your hard-earned dollars.
Top 6 Luxury Fifth Wheel Campers That Offer the Comforts of Home on the Road
In esthetic terms luxury is often defined by light and space. While this is a little bit of an artistic perspective, the concept still rings true with fifth wheel campers.
Though it’s not a specification that exactly jumps off the page. In truth, a lot of the best fifth-wheel campers are rife with creature comforts, like large beds, open concept kitchen, and living room combinations, as well as quality appliances.
Let’s not forget about the quality of the furniture, the bathrooms, or the water storage tanks to support a comfortable quality of life.
We tried to keep these things in mind throughout the review process. All the while keeping a discerning eye on the value compared to the cost.
While a lot of people lean toward new luxury fifth-wheel campers, there are a few gently used models on the market today that can be found at a great price for what you get in the total package.
Check out our picks for the best luxury 5th wheels available on the market today:
1. Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX Luxury Fifth Wheel
The Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX is one of the better value pre-owned luxury fifth-wheel campers on the market today.
It’s open concept living room and kitchen as well as the overall build quality help it retain its value.
Yet previous owners still suffer the initial depreciation cost of ownership, which means you might just be able to find it at a great price, in nearly new condition.
About The Fifth-Wheel Camper’s Specifications
With a hitch weight of just over 2,500 pounds, the 2018 Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX is going to need a robust tow vehicle.
Though the aluminum and fiberglass construction gives it the durability to handle life on the open road.
The 64-gallon fresh water storage tank and the dual gray water 80-gallon storage tanks also give you the ability to boondock with the 2018 Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX.
Though it’s also just as much at home if you prefer to let it live life at a high-end RV park. You also have to love the fact that it comes with a 12-gallon hot water heater.
If there is a minor complaint in the 2018 Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX’s specifics, it’s the 15,000 BTU air conditioner.
This might be a little weak in extremely hot and humid conditions. Though most of the windows have the framing to handle a window air conditioner.
Installing a small window air conditioner in the master suite might be a great way to ensure you have maximum comfort during the night.
Then you can set the rooftop air conditioner to keep the main living area comfortable, yet not waste a lot of power cooling the whole RV interior.
This air conditioning concern is offset by the robust heater. The Forest River Cardinal comes with an impressively toasty 42,000 BTU propane furnace.
This is about 7,000 BTUs per hour more than many of the competitors. So, if you frequently camp in cold weather areas, or at altitude, you might want to move this luxury fifth-wheel camper up your list!
About The Luxury Features Of The Fifth Wheel Camper
There are a lot of creature comforts and designs concepts woven into the 2018 Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX that speaks to its overall luxury.
Right off the bat, you are sure to appreciate the open concept that blends the living room and kitchen into one gigantic living space.
The kitchen is nicely appointed with a large two-door electric refrigerator and freezer combo. It cools just like the residential refrigerator you have at home.
There’s also a three-burner stove with an oven as well as an overhead microwave and a very large pantry.
The dual basin sink also has extra countertop space to layout things like snacks and serving platters.
The 2018 Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX has a free-standing dinette table and chairs, which is very reminiscent of the dining room table you likely have at home.
Being able to pull out the four chairs as far as you see fit is also a lot more comfortable than a lot of other bench-style RV dinettes, that you have to squeeze into.
It truly is a place where you can get comfortable, sit back, and enjoy a cup of coffee or a long evening meal.
The theatre seating recliners and the large sofa are made from leather, which always imparts a feel of luxury.
The entertainment center is expansive, with a flat-screen smart TV as well as tasteful storage for keeping movies and gaming consoles.
The master suite in the 2018 Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX is large and comes with a king-size bed.
Though if you like there are some models with an optional queen-size bed, which will give you even more square footage for walking around.
Forest River also made it a point to provide lots of storage in the master suite. You also shouldn’t overlook the fact that the master suite has a tasteful entertainment center included as standard.
One other thing you might like in the master suite is that it comes prepared with all the hookups for a stackable, efficient washer and dryer combo.
This gives you the ability to do your own laundry, without having to deal with the wasted time and expense of going to the nearest laundromat.
The bathroom in the 2018 Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX is a little bit small when it comes to overall square footage.
Though this is due to how much is sacrificed by the large shower stall with its privacy glass door.
2. Grand Design Solitude 385GK Four Slide Luxury Fifth Wheel
The Grand Design Solitude with the 385GK floor plan carries a somewhat hefty price tag.
Still, if you’re shopping in the luxury fifth wheel market, you have to be prepared for a little bit of sticker shock.
When you take a closer look at this particular model, I think you’ll find it’s got a lot of what you want to live in comfort and style.
About The Fifth-Wheel Camper’s Specifications
With a hitch weight of 2,724, you are going to need at least a one-ton pickup truck with a diesel engine to truly be able to tow the Grand Design Solitude 385GK safely.
It’s built largely out of aluminum framing and heavy-duty fiberglass, which gives it a lot of long-term durability.
The Grand Design Solitude 385GK has the water storage capacity to handle a fair amount of boondocking.
The 93-gallon fresh water storage tank, compared to the 106-gallon gray water and the 53-gallon black water tanks, meaning you can bring additional freshwater stores with you for additional time camping off the grid.
The 30,000 BTU air conditioning system is strong enough to handle the hottest and humid days.
On the other end of the spectrum, the 35,000 BTU per hour rating of the propane furnace will also keep you toasty warm on even cold winter nights.
This makes the Grand Design Solitude 385GK a great option as a luxury base camp for fall hunting trips.
It’s also worth noting that there is a fair amount of pass-through storage built-in.
It’s a great place for stowing your outdoor gear when traveling or just giving you somewhere to keep dirty shoes and sundry items.
About The Luxury Features Of The Fifth Wheel Camper
Here again, the interior of the Grand Design Solitude 385GK employs an open living room and kitchen concept to maximize the use of light and space.
The layout is also thoughtful to limit the amount of crossover between the two areas. Though there isn’t necessarily a great view of the flat-screen TV from most of the kitchen.
The kitchen itself has a large 18 cubic foot residential refrigerator as well as a three-burner propane stove with a large oven built-in.
There’s also convenient pull-out trash cans and an enormous pantry, right next to the closet with copious shoe storage.
The Grand Design Solitude 385GK also has an external pull out kitchen.
It can be used to support a grill station, or just giving you someplace to cook on a hot day, so the 30,000 BTU air conditioner doesn’t have to compete with the formal kitchen.
In the living room rear section of the Grand Design Solitude 385GK, there is leather theater recliners as well as a large sofa that pulls out into a queen-size bed.
It’s a nice option for times when you have overnight guests. Across from the theater seating, there is a large LED flat-screen TV with a fireplace for warming the room on a cool evening, without having to fire up the furnace.
The single bathroom in the Grand Design Solitude 385GK is large. It includes a toilet a sink, a large linen closet, and a large shower.
It’s also worth noting that the shower has a skylight in the ceiling. Not only does it add additional light to the room, but it adds to the ambiance of luxury.
The master suite in this fifth-wheel luxury camper comes with a queen-size bed that gives you a little more floor space for walking around.
Though, if you prefer there is a king-size option available. The entire from nose cap of the Grand Design Solitude 385GK is a large step-in wardrobe closet, with more than enough room for two people to keep their things.
On the wall across from the bed, there’s also a dresser with a flat-screen TV.
3. Jayco North Point 387RDFS Luxury Fifth Wheel
Jayco is an RV industry leader with a wide range of travel trailers, toy haulers, and a fifth-wheel trailer.
The Jayco North Point with the 387RDFS floor plan is meant to bring a touch of luxury while still ringing in at an affordable price point.
It’s meant to accommodate a couple or a small family comfortably, with enough additional sleeping space for hosting overnight guests when necessary.
About The Fifth-Wheel Camper’s Specifications
The five slide-out sections of the Jayco North Point 387RDFS means that it’s sleek and aerodynamic when you’re towing it down the road.
Then you can expand it out to maximize the interior space. There’s also an astonishing number of skylights throughout the camper to let in a lot of natural light.
The fresh and waste-water storage tanks on the Jayco North Point 387RDFS are large enough to let you boondock for some off the grid “Glamping.”
Yet it’ just as comfortable sitting in a slip at an RV park connected to shore power and municipal water lines.
The 30,000 BTU air conditioner and the insulative quality of the fiberglass shell do a good job of keeping you cool even on hot and humid summer days.
There’s also a fireplace built into the living room area for warming things up on a cool summer evening.
If things do truly turn cold or you want to take a fall vacation, the 40,000 BTU per hour propane furnace does a great job of keeping things warm and cozy.
About The Luxury Features Of The Fifth Wheel Camper
The Jayco North Point 387RDFS doesn’t technically have an open concept like many other “Luxury” fifth-wheel campers.
The living room and kitchen are certainly separate rooms, and they feel that way.
Yet the windows and skylights flood rooms with natural light to make it feel more open. At the same time, the décor is tasteful and adds a touch of elegance.
In the kitchen, you will find a full size residential electric refrigerator and a microwave.
The stove has three propane burners as well as a large oven that’s capable of baking two pizzas at a time.
The pantry, hutch, and overhead storage cabinets give you more than enough space to keep all your plates and kitchen equipment.
The living room as a pair of tri-fold hide-a-bed couches as well as theater seating recliners to let you watch the large flat-screen TV.
They are upholstered in leather for an added touch of elegance and match nicely with the decorative ceiling treatments.
The master suite is in the front of the Jayco North Point 387RDFS and combined with the bathroom it is large, with plenty of walking space.
It comes with a queen-size bed. There’s also a wardrobe with a flat-screen TV and the entire nose of the fifth-wheel trailer camper serves as a large closet.
4. DRV Mobile Suites 40KSSB4 Fifth Wheel RV
The DRV Mobile Suites 40KSSB4 was designed to cater to couples and small families that want to travel in luxury and comfort.
Here again, we see an open concept interior as well as a large master suite.
Though this luxury fifth wheel camper is a little bit on the heavy side weighing in at a hefty 21,500-pounds gross vehicle weight rating.
About The Fifth-Wheel Camper’s Specifications
With four slide-out sections, the DRV Mobile Suites 40KSSB4 is the veritable definition of the word expansive.
The living room and kitchen blend together seamlessly for an open concept feeling and a fair amount of space for just stretching your legs.
The 30,000 BTU rooftop air conditioner does a very good job of keeping the interior cool when the mercury rises.
The open interior and the fiberglass shell construction help hold the cool air in.
Though a small fan to help circulate the air when you’re cooking in the kitchen will also help keep the living room evenly cool.
When the mercury starts to dip the 40,000 BTU per hour propane furnace can kick into warm the DRV Mobile Suites 40KSSB4 nicely.
The freshwater, gray water, and black water storage tanks are all large enough to support you when boondocking off the grid.
Which is a nice option if you want to stray away from the resources of an RV park for more than a day or two.
About The Luxury Features Of The Fifth Wheel Camper
The kitchen in the DRV Mobile Suites 40KSSB4 has a large residential electric refrigerator.
There’s also a three-burner propane stovetop and a large oven that’s just big enough to cook a broiler-fryer chicken.
The central island can serve as an additional eating space, or just somewhere to lay out snacks for when you’re on the go.
It doesn’t sacrifice space for a sink, which is tucked into a corner of the kitchen countertops.
The living room has theater seating recliners, as well as a tri-fold sofa. Both are positioned to make it easy to lounge around and watch the large flat-screen TV.
There’s also a nice amount of storage to let you keep your favorite movies and perhaps a gaming console close at hand. Yet they can just as easily be tucked away out of sight.
You step up to the front bathroom and large master suite. The bathroom has it’s own separate door just off the hallway that leads to the master bedroom. It has a large shower, toilet, and a sink with a vanity mirror.
The master suite bedroom has two slide-out sections and comes with a king-size bed.
If you prefer some RV dealers can downsize to a queen bed for a little extra square footage of floor space.
The entertainment center and dresser combo are built into a small slide-out which gives you a little more floor space for walking around or getting dressed.
The front nose cap of the DRV Mobile Suites 40KSSB4 is one large wardrobe closet.
This gives you more than enough space to keep clothing and personal items for two people. It even has enough space to hold a fair amount of shoes.
5. Heartland Bighorn BH 3925 MLP
There are 11 different floor plans of the Heartland Bighorn to consider. Of them the 42-foot, 16,500-pound GVWR BH 3925 MLP is thought by many to be one of the most luxurious.
It has an open concept interior, a massive bathroom, and a very comfortable master suite.
The large outdoor awning also gives you a lot of space to stretch out or enjoy an afternoon of entertaining.
While it can technically sleep up to 4 people, the Heartland Bighorn BH 3925 MLP seems designed to cater to couples or perhaps a small family.
About The Fifth-Wheel Camper’s Specifications
The Heartland Bighorn BH 3925 MLP has four power-retractable slide-out sections to help maximize the interior space.
It also features a very large 20-foot power retractable awning. It’s aluminum and fiberglass construction also helps keep the towing weight down, without having to compromise on durability.
The freshwater and wastewater storage tanks are a little smaller than you find on some other luxury fifth-wheel campers.
It’s arguably intended to spend more of its life with the resources of an RV park close at hand. Still, that’s not to say it can’t handle a little off the grid boondocking.
When water use it handled wisely the 65-gallon freshwater storage tank, the 90-gallon gray water tank, and the 45-gallon black water tank can support a couple or a family of three for several days.
The 30,000 BTU air conditioner is more than capable of fending off the heat and humidity of summer.
While the 40,000 BTU per hour rated propane furnace should keep you toasty warm in all but the deepest of winter conditions.
About The Luxury Features Of The Fifth Wheel Camper
The kitchen in the Heartland Bighorn BH 3925 MLP you will find a large residential electric refrigerator, as well as a three-burner stove and oven.
The dual basin sink is on a pedestal with a little extra countertop space surrounding it for serving platters, dishes, and some on-the-go snacks.
It flows seamlessly into the living room, which has a leather love seat, as well as a tri-fold sofa bed.
Both are positioned for easy view of the flat-screen TV that is mounted along the same wall as the Heartland Bighorn BH 3925 MLP’s kitchen.
The living room also has a lot of windows, to let you enjoy the view or simply to let a lot of natural light in.
You set up to the bathroom which is enormous for a fifth-wheel camper. There is a very large shower with privacy glass, as well as a toilet and a sink with dual countertops.
Storage is also impressive in the bathroom. There’s a modest linen closet for towels and washcloths as well as a large overhead storage area that is built into the master bedroom’s slide out.
You can access the bathroom from the front hallway or a pass-thru door to the master bedroom.
In the master bedroom, there’s a king-size bed, as well as a dresser with a second flat-screen television.
Much of the front nose cap of the Heartland Bighorn BH 3925 MLP is used as wardrobe storage.
Though there is an area that is prepped with hookups for a stackable washer dryer combo, that is available through the RV dealership.
It’s also worth noting that the window placement in the master suite is thoughtfully laid out.
It lets you nearly black out the room for a good night’s sleep, or let in natural light for the times when you just want to enjoy the view.
6. Keystone Avalanche 378BH 5th Wheel
Keystone understands that just because you have a large family or group of friends, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice luxury or creature comforts.
You see this shine through in the Keystone Avalanche 378BH. It can sleep up to 12-people, while still give the master suite plenty of privacy. There are even two separate bathrooms.
About The Fifth-Wheel Camper’s Specifications
Based largely on aluminum and fiberglass construction, the Keystone Avalanche 378BH weighs in with a 16,500-pound gross vehicle weight rating.
There’s also a two-inch receiver hitch on the back. This lets you do things like flat tow a second vehicle or perhaps bring the family boat along with you on your RV vacation.
Just make sure you have a robust tow vehicle with the ability to handle pulling that much weight.
On paper, the Keystone Avalanche 378BH has a 66-gallon freshwater storage tank and an 83-gallon gray water storage tank and a large 83-gallon blackwater storage tank.
Now, if you are traveling as a couple, this is more than enough capacity to support you for multiple days of off the grid boondocking.
If you are traveling with a large group of people, you might want to look for an RV campground that has a dump station and access to additional freshwater supplies.
The heating and air conditioning ratings for the Keystone Avalanche 378BH are enough to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Though if you do have a lot of hot bodies staying in this luxury fifth-wheel camper, then you might want to think about installing a window air conditioner to compensate on hot humid days.
The Keystone Avalanche 378BH was designed with a fair amount of external storage.
It also has an extern kitchen and entertainment center, as well as a 16-foot awning. For convenience, there is even a second access door to the rear bathroom.
About The Fifth-Wheel Camper’s Luxury Features
The Keystone Avalanche 378BH, employs a flow-through open concept that blends the living room and kitchen into one single living space.
Yet the rear bunkhouse area and bathroom also have a little bit of privacy to them, as does the front master suite.
This is nice for times when some members of the family want to sleep in, while others prepare an early morning breakfast.
The kitchen area has a large panty as well as a fair amount of overhead storage. The central island houses the dual basin sink.
There’s also enough countertop space to lay out some quick snacks or a serving platter for a family-style meal.
It also comes with an RV absorption refrigerator that can run on electricity or propane. There’s a three-burner stove with a large oven and an overhead residential microwave.
The trade-off with all this space is that there isn’t a formal dinette or kitchen table. Though there is a removable table that can be placed in front of the large tri-fold couch.
The rear bunkhouse area has a pair of bunk beds as well as a loft bunk and a sofa. There’s a fair amount of floor space, and room for TV.
It gives teenagers and visiting friends a place to hangout without crowding the main living room area.
The rear bathroom has a toilet and a sink. There’s also a secondary access door to the outside.
The front of the Keystone Avalanche 378BH luxury fifth-wheel has a large master bathroom.
It includes a large shower with a seat, as well as a toilet, vanity mirror, medicine cabinet, and a modest linen closet.
The master bedroom can be accessed via a hallway or the pass-through door from the master bathroom.
It has a king-size bed, with thoughtful underneath storage. There’s also a dresser and TV stand to house the master suite entertainment center.
The front nose cap of the Keystone Avalanche 378BH houses the master closet and also has hookups for a stackable washer and dryer combo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes A Fifth-Wheel Trailer A “Luxury” Camper?
In terms of esthetics and interior space, “Luxury” is most often defined by light and space.
Though when it comes to a luxury fifth-wheel camper, there are also other factors like creature comforts and convenience features that are important factors.
The little things also matter, like a large refrigerator that you’d be proud to have in your own home, a large shower, and if possible hookups for a washer and dryer.
For some, it means leather furniture in the living room, an open concept layout, or even the priority of a king-size bed in the master suite.
Though in the end, you could argue that it’s a matter of personal opinion.
Does The Size Of The Storage Tanks Matter?
For the most part, you want freshwater storage tanks, gray water storage, and black water storage to be sufficient for the number of people you are sleeping.
If you are going to give priority to something it would be large gray and black water storage tanks.
After all, the concept of “Luxury” and making frequent trips to the RV dump station don’t go together.
What Size Air Conditioner And Furnace Do I Need?
Luxury and comfort tend to go hand in hand. There are very few luxury experiences that evoke images of sweating through the couch cushions or shivering under a pile of blankets.
When it comes to heating, you want to look for a propane furnace that is rated to produce at least 30,000 BTUs of heat per hour.
Though 40,000 BTUs would be even better. You might want to also keep your eye out for a luxury fifth-wheel camper that has some sort of fireplace built into the entertainment center or the master bedroom. This lets you warm up the room a little bit on a cool summer evening.
When it comes to an RV rooftop air conditioner the bench for a luxury fifth-wheel camper, tends to be a BTU rating of around 30,000.
Though some fifth-wheel campers have a 15,000 BTU or 20,000 BTU rooftop air conditioner.
Then they build the window frames strong enough to hold a window-mounted residential AC unit.
This lets you specifically cool down certain rooms like the master bedroom, without having to crank the rooftop air conditioner to cool the empty living room in the middle of the night.
Conclusion
There certainly are a lot of luxury fifth-wheel campers on the market today.
Finding the best luxury fifth-wheel camper for you likely starts with evaluating how you’ll be using it, as well as the kind of creature comforts your prioritize.
If you are the kind of person who wants to go “Glamping” but also enjoys a little boondocking, the best luxury fifth-wheel camper for you might be the Grand Design Solitude 385GK or the DRV – Mobile Suites 40KSSB4.
Both of these models certainly have freshwater, gray water, and black water storage tanks to support you for days of comfortable living off the grid.
If you are working with a little bit of a limited budget, but you still want all the comforts of home, then you might want to look for a high-quality, gently pre-owned luxury fifth-wheel camper like the 2018 Forest River Cardinal 3850RLX.
If you have a large family, or you just like to travel with a large group of friends then the best luxury fifth-wheel camper for you might be the Keystone Avalanche 378BH.
Not only does it have a bunkhouse in the rear section, but it also has two bathrooms, and a touch of privacy for the master bedroom.
Whatever your preferences and needs, chances are the best luxury fifth-wheel camper for you is somewhere on this list.
