What is the Lightest 5th Wheel? Solved

While you might think the lightest 5th wheel would be a Rockwood Ultra Lite or perhaps a Keystone Cougar Half-Ton, in reality, neither of these RV brands comes close to the weight of the lightest 5th wheel trailer.

So what is the lightest 5th wheel?

The lightest 5th wheel is the 19-foot Scamp 5th wheel trailer, which has a dry weight of 2,000 to 2,400 pounds for the standard version and a dry weight of 2,400 to 2,900 pounds for the deluxe version.

Making the 19′ Scamp 5th wheel not only the lightest 5th wheel but the lightest by a long shot.

As even the lightest of 5th wheels from other brands will usually have a dry weight between 7,000 and 8,000 pounds.  

To learn more about the ultra-lightweight 5th wheel from Scamp, keeping reading, as we provide a full and in-depth review of the trailer.

The Lightest 5th Wheel Trailer:  19-Foot Scamp 5th Wheel Trailer

Quick Specs

• Cost:  Starting at $20,000
• Dry Weight:  2,000 to 2,900 (Depending on Version and Options)
• Length:  19 Feet
• Slide-Outs:  0
• Sleeping Capacity:  4

As you might expect from the lightest 5th wheel, there is nothing overly spacious or roomy about the inside of the 19′ Scamp 5th wheel trailer, due to its small exterior size and ultra-lightweight design.

However, this small 5th wheel from Scamp does have everything you would need for a quick weekend getaway or even an extended trip as it is a fully self-contained trailer.

But the best thing about this lightweight 5th wheel is the fact that it can be easily towed by a half-ton truck, which is a real rarity with 5th wheel trailers.  

Why the 19-Foot Scamp 5th Wheel is So Light

There are two main reasons why the 19-foot Scamp 5th wheel is so much lighter compared to any other 5th wheel currently on the market, which its small and compact size and its fiberglass hull construction.

Compact Size

To begin with, the most visibly obvious reason why the Scamp 5th wheel is so much lighter compared to even other lightweight 5th wheels is due to how small and compact the trailer is.

As the Scamp 5th wheel is only about half the size compared to other lightweight 5th wheels.

To illustrate this point take a look at the 19′ Scamp 5th wheel dimensions compared to a more normal size lightweight 5th wheel trailer, like the Forest River Rockwood Ultra Lite 2621WS.

19-Foot Scamp 5th Wheel Dimensions

• Length:  19 Feet
• Height:  8 Feet 10 Inches
• Width:  6 Feet  8 Inches
• Dry Weight:  2,000 to 2,900 Pounds

Forest River Rockwood Ultra Lite 2621WS Dimensions

• Length:  30 Feet 5 Inches
• Height:  13 Feet 1 Inch
• Width:  8 Feet
• Dry Weight:  8,289 Pounds

Scamp Fiberglass Hull Construction

The other reason why the 19′ Scamp 5th wheel is so much lighter compared to other lightweight 5th wheels is due to its unique fiberglass hull construction.

Because while most 5th wheels, even lightweights ones, use standard stick frame construction for their builds much like a house, with multiple layers of material with an internal framework made from either wood or aluminum.

Scamp trailers including the 19-foot 5th wheel model use a double fiberglass hull construction where there is no internal frame or multiple layers of building materials and instead consist only of a fiberglass hull and what Scamp refers to as their super insulation.

Which is a headliner that is applied to the ceilings and walls that provide an R-15 insulation value.

19-Foot Scamp 5th Wheel Floorplans

There are three main floorplans to choose from on the 19′ Scamp including one standard floorplan and two deluxe floorplans 

But regardless of which floorplan or layout you choose, all 19-foot Scamp trailers have a 4 person sleeping capacity, a small kitchenette that includes a two-burner propane cooktop, a decent amount of counter space, sink, and fridge, as well as a small wet bath with a combined shower and toilet.  

Standard Layout

Deluxe Layouts

19-Foot Scamp 5th Wheel Bathroom

Like everything else on the 19-foot Scamp 5th wheel, the bathroom inside the trailer is very compact and small, providing just enough room to stand up inside and not much else.

So if your looking for a large spacious dry bath, which is usually customary on 5th wheels, this is not going to be the 5th wheel for you.

As the wet bath inside this camper really feels more like a closet lined in fiberglass than an actual bathroom.

With that being said though the bathroom does have everything you would need to get ready while camping, including a shower as well as a toilet that’s tied to a 9-gallon black water tank.  

Standard VS Deluxe Version

Every Scamp trailer is available in two different versions including a standard as well as a deluxe version, with the biggest difference between the two being the floorplans available, the standard features that are included, and the interior finishes and decor.

But the most noticeable difference between the standard and deluxe versions has to be how the interior is finished out.

As the standard version of the 19′ foot Scamp trailer uses primarily molded fiberglass for the cabinetry with basic wood doors, while the deluxe version of the Scamp features upgraded wood cabinetry throughout and has actual countertops as opposed to just molded fiberglass.

Optional Equipment

One of the reasons why Scamp is able to keep their trailers so light and why there can be such a wide range in dry weight even on the same trailer, is that features that are often standard on other 5th wheels are optional on the Scamp.

Because every 5th wheel that Scamp makes is built to order direct from the factory for each specific customer.

Allowing the customer to choose what options they want or don’t want on their specific Scamp.

Optional equipment on the 19-Foot Scamp 5th Wheel Include:

• Roof Air Conditioner
• Heatstrip for Air Conditioner
• 16,000 BTU Furnace
• Front and Rear Roof Vent Fans
• Gas and Electric Water Heater Upgrade
• 6.7 Cubic Foot Refrigerator Upgrade
• Microwave Oven
• Conventional Oven Upgrade
• 12-foot Awning
• Glass Stove Top
• Backup Camera
• TV Package
• Tank Monitors

Other Small Lightweight Fifth Wheel Campers

While the 19-foot Scamp trailer is the smallest and lightest 5th wheel you can buy, due to how small and compact it is on the inside, it will probably not be a good fit for most campers.

So we thought we should provide a list of more traditional 5th wheel campers that offer much more interior space but are still considered lightweight 5th wheels.

Lightweight Fifth Wheel Campers (Lightest to Heaviest)

• Escape 5.0 – Dry Weight 3,910 Pounds
• CrossRoads Volante VL25RL – Dry Weight 5,538 Pounds
• Palomino Puma 253FBS – Dry Weight 6,788 Pounds
• Dutchmen Astoria 1500 2503REF – Dry Weight 7,700 Pounds
• Forest River Arctic Wolf 271RK – Dry Weight 7808 Pounds
• Jayco Eagle HT 24RE – Dry Weight 7,980 Pounds
• Keystone RV Cougar Half-Ton 27SGS – Dry Weight 8,101 Pounds
• Forest River Rockwood Ultra Lite 2621WS – Dry Weight 8,289 Pounds
• Grand Design Reflection 28BH – Dry Weight 8,997 Pounds

For even more lightweight 5th wheels, check out our article “10 Amazing 5th Wheels Under 10,000 Pounds“.

How Much Does a Small 5th Wheel Weigh?

Small 5th wheels can weigh as little as 2,000 pounds to more than 10,000 pounds, as many things can affect the weight of a small 5th wheel.

Including its overall length and dimensions, the amount of insulation and its seasonal rating, and how well equipped the 5th wheel is.

However, most small lightweight 5th wheels will usually have a dry weight between 6,000 and 9,000 pounds.  

How Big of a Truck Do I Need to Pull a 5th Wheel?

While some ultra-lightweight 5th wheels can be towed by a half-ton truck like a Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado 1500, most 5th wheels will require either a 3/4 ton or 1-ton truck to tow them.

As most 5th wheels will have a fully-loaded weight of well over 10,000 pounds, which will greatly exceed the max tow capacity of most half-ton trucks.  

Half-Ton Towable Fifth Wheels

There are, however, a few fifth wheels that can actually be towed by a half-ton truck, which are listed below.

However, before towing anything with a half-ton truck, you always want to make sure you know the specific towing capacity of your particular truck, as there is a wide range of towing capacities when it comes to half-ton trucks even in the same make and model.

For example, the Ford F-150 has a max tow capacity that ranges from 5,000 to 11,300 pounds depending on its trim package and how it’s equipped.  

So keep in mind that even if an RV manufactuer advertises that their 5th wheel is half-ton towable, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your particular half-ton truck could tow it.  

• 19′ Scamp Fifth Wheel – Dry Weight 2,000 to 2,900 Pounds
• Escape 5.0 – Dry Weight 3,910 Pounds
• CrossRoads Volante VL25RL – Dry Weight 5,538 Pounds
• Palomino Puma 253FBS – Dry Weight 6,788 Pounds
• KZ RV Durango Half-Ton D230RKD – Dry Weight 7,250
• Grand Design Reflection 150 Series 268BH – Dry Weight 7,791 Pounds
• Keystone RV Cougar Half-Ton 27SGS – Dry Weight 8,101 Pounds

To see what the lightest travel trailer is, check out our article “What is the Lightest Travel Trailer on the Road Today“.