5th wheel camper with front living room

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You may be looking for some of the shortest front living room fifth wheels on the market today, and the good news is, you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best fifth wheels available without them getting too long, and with all of them having front living rooms! 

But why might you be interested in a fifth wheel floor plan with a front living room in the first place? What are the pros and cons to having an RV with this type of way out, and what might you not have considered yet in terms of what this floor plan has to offer?

In this article, we will address all of your questions and concerns regarding the front living room fifth wheels and why they may or may not work well for you. Then, we will go over some of our top picks for the shortest front living room fifth wheels on the market in 2022.

If however, you are only interested in finding out which front living room fifth wheels made it, then click here to jump ahead to our list and discover the six best options available to you now! 

Why Might You Want a Front Living Room on a Fifth Wheel?

There’s a reason why you might be interested in owning a fifth wheel with a front living room, especially a fifth wheel that is beneath 45 feet in length. You may be seeking an RV with a dedicated living area, but a living area that doesn’t take up too much square footage within your RV. 

What does this mean exactly? When you choose a front living room on a fifth wheel, it is always in the front nose piece of your rig. This essentially means that the area where you hitch your fifth wheel to your tow vehicle is your entertainment center and living space. 

You may enjoy this utilization of space, as it feels particularly cozy and homey. In addition, your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen area will also be more spacious, given that these rooms take up the majority of your interior square footage. 

However, it is also important to note that front living room fifth wheels do not work well for everyone. They may be exactly what you were looking for, or they may be an absolute disaster for your desired floor plan layout. Let’s take a look at some additional considerations before you make your final decision. 

What to Consider in a Short Front Living Room Fifth Wheel?

No matter what you’re looking for in a compact fifth wheel with a front living room, there are plenty of things you need to consider before you even start shopping, so let’s get started now! 

Overall Length and Width

While you are already looking for a smaller fifth wheel compared to a great number of these giants on the road today, the overall length and width of your RV matter in this context. You should always make sure you have enough interior living space without getting something too big, but this can be difficult to figure out.

When considering some of the shortest front living room fifth wheels on the market today, you should definitely pay special attention to the layout of the living area itself.

You should make sure that you have enough room to stand and walk about especially if you’re a tall individual, and you should definitely make sure that the bedroom and kitchen are to your specifications. 

Budget

While fifth wheels aren’t as expensive as a number of high-end motorhome options on the market today, you should still keep your budget in mind when shopping for some of the shortest front living room fifth wheels.

This is because you will be looking at specific floor plans that only come at specific prices, so you may find that you need to budget either more or less, depending. 

Layout or Floor Plan

You already know where you want your living room to be in terms of your RV layout or floor plan. But this is only a quarter of the amount of living space inside of your RV. Even if you get some of the shortest front living room fifth wheels, you still need to take a look at the rest of the layout to make sure that it works for you. 

For example, do you want the bathroom located closer to your bedroom, or closer to the living area? Do you want a large kitchen or a spacious master suite? Do you want two bathrooms, or is there even room on board your short fifth wheel for this option?

These are all important questions for you to consider as you shop! 

Stairs and Other Placements

Given the fact that front living room fifth wheels are lofted or otherwise elevated using stairs, you should think about the placement of these items when looking at the overall floor plan of your RV. While RV manufacturers try to build things as practically as possible, there are still certain floor plans that just don’t fit the bill. 

You should also pay special attention to the heating and air conditioning options for your fifth wheel. Even if you were looking at a particularly compact fifth wheel, you may have trouble adequately heating and cooling your front living room.

So, make sure to get a secondary air conditioner if need be, and always keep your comfort in mind. You’re getting a front living room fifth-wheel because you want to hang out in it, after all! 

Sleeping Arrangements

Since you already know that you have a front living room onboard the fifth wheel, you should make sure that this works for the rest of your guests.

You will likely have a dedicated master bedroom, but the rest of your sleeping arrangements will likely be in the lofted living space. You should make sure that there are enough beds and sleeping arrangements for all of the guests that you anticipate camping with. 

Ready to check out some of the shortest front living room fifth wheels available in 2022? Here’s our top list of these unique floor plan fifth wheels! 

Best Overall: Keystone Cougar

• Small price tag and small length 
• Luxurious in its finishes 
• Perfect for full-timing with laundry and large kitchen 
• Bathroom may be too far away from the living space 

Coming in just under 40 feet in length, the Keystone Cougar is a fantastic choice for those of you seeking a front living room fifth wheel floor plan without it being too long. This RV has a lot to offer in terms of its luxury as well as its price point, with a fair starting offer of $87k. Let’s check it out in more detail now. 

The front living room of this RV has an entertainment center with an electric fireplace, with two fold-out sofas, and a third loveseat option. You can get a full size residential kitchen and fridge in this RV, as well as a luxurious king bed master suite. While the bathroom may be farther away than you like if you’re hanging out in the living room, it’s a great option for a compact fifth wheel.

With the entire back wall dedicated to your kitchen countertop space, this option works well for Weekend Warriors just as well as it works for full-timers. Additionally, you’ll find that this fifth wheel offers ample storage and a truly luxurious bathroom.

I highly recommend touring the Keystone Cougar if you get a chance, just to get a sense of how the living space feels to you. 

Best on a Budget: Coachmen Chaparral 

• Budget-friendly price points 
• Theater seating in your living space 
• Open and welcoming floor plan for multiple guests 
• Fairly long, and the bathroom is very far away 

While the fifth wheel is over 42 feet in length, there is still a lot to love about the Coachmen Chaparral. It has a fair price point as well as comfortable living areas, including a large master bedroom with a bathroom attached. 

While the living area is lofted into the nose of the RV, it still feels open and welcoming to the kitchen area. It has a low wall with storage compartments included, which means you can still look into the rest of the RV if you stand up. There may not be a fireplace on board this RV, but the entertainment system is top-notch. 

You can get a residential fridge and pantry in the kitchen, all surrounding a central island. Plus, the master suite can be upgraded from a queen bed to a king bed. There’s also Theater seating included standard in the living area, making your home theater dream on the road a reality. 

The main drawback to this floor plan is the fact that the bathroom is at the opposite end of the rig, and you have to walk through the bedroom in order to access it. However, if you are looking for an RV on a budget, and aren’t worried about that sort of thing, this is a great option for you! 

Most Luxurious: Grand Design Solitude

• The short length makes this RV easier to drive 
• Luxurious touches throughout
• Bathroom is more convenient than in other models 
• High price tag 

Grand Design makes a number of outstanding 5th wheel RVs, and they are a favorite among full-timers and casual RVers alike. You can expect the Solitude to feel incredibly luxurious upon walking into it, thanks to the rich wood and upholstery finishes. 

The front living room in this shortest front living room fifth wheel has the entertainment center toward the kitchen rather than in the nose. This may lead to more noise happening in the rest of the RV rather than just in the front, which may not be something you’re looking for. 

However, you can easily look into the kitchen and feel welcome in this floor plan. Additionally, a bathroom is at the midway point in the RV rather than at the very back, creating an extremely private and spacious master bedroom in the rear perfect for couples.

For luxury alone, I highly recommend checking this fifth wheel out, especially because it is only 37 feet long! 

Best for Families: Forest River Arctic Wolf

• Open and spacious floor plan for all 
• Luxury touches throughout 
• Unique lofted area perfect for kids 
• Very long and likely expensive 

If you are planning on bringing the whole family with you, check out the Arctic Wolf from Forest River. This RV reaches 43 feet in length, making it one of the longer fifth wheels on our list of the shortest front living room fifth wheels. However, it has a lot to offer, including a lofted bunk bed area for the kiddos. 

Not only does this RV have open pass-thru storage on the exterior, but it also has Theater seating in the living area and an electric fireplace. You can reach the area by taking the stairs over to the master suite, located at the rear of the RV. Additionally, the bathroom is located at the Midway point of the RV, making it more accessible to the living space. 

Again, this fifth wheel is quite large for our list, and the kitchen is one of the smaller locations on this RV. However, if you need space to spread out for the whole family, check out this fifth wheel now!

Largest Option: Jayco Pinnacle 

• Additional half bath makes it easy to stay 
• Large master bedroom with en-suite 
• Practical touches throughout, such as washer and dryer
• Kitchen is odd and the rig is very large 

Speaking of large fifth wheels, the Jayco Pinnacle is the largest of the shortest front living room fifth wheels on our list. It comes in at 44 feet long, which hardly means it is small. However, it is the only option on this list with a half bath that is far more convenient for the living area, leaving you with a luxurious master bathroom in the rear of the RV. 

The living space is fairly standard, with an electric fireplace and Theater seating. The kitchen is not my favorite, as the counter space is completely separate from the fridge and stove. However, the half-bath is a huge bonus for those of you seeking an additional bathroom, should you be traveling with multiple people. Plus, the rear master suite with the bathroom is truly stunning and a joy to spend time in! 

The Pinnacle is also backed by Jayco’s fantastic industry-leading warranty, as well as their high-quality building materials and supplies. While the price point may be high on this one, it is a large and in charge fifth wheel, should the short ones not be cutting it for you. 

Best for Senior Couples: Heartland Bighorn Traveler

• All 1 level floor plan 
• Luxurious master suite
• Plenty of storage in the kitchen 
• Very long and fairly expensive 

The main perk of purchasing the Heartland Bighorn Traveler is the fact that it is all one level, making it perfect for senior couples. You still have your front living room, but you also have the option to spend time in the spacious rear master suites. Let’s check out some other cool features about this RV now. 

The kitchen is full of storage, and you can get washer and dryer prep in the bathroom. The living area has plenty of seating, should you want to host guests. Plus, this RV has an outdoor kitchen along with many other countless features and amenities for you to check out! While it is 42 feet long and starts at over $125k, it still has plenty to offer.

Final Thoughts

Finding some of the shortest front living room fifth wheels on the market today can be more difficult than you think. However, any one of these six options should work well for you, even if it isn’t quite as small as you want it to be.

Having a front living room can be a fantastic option for you and your family, so you should go for it and enjoy your camping experiences!