Owner guides
Fifth wheel vs motorhome: which should you buy in NZ?
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Choosing whether to buy a fifth wheel versus a motorhome is an important decision, as it might be the best investment you ever make. Suddenly, your family can enjoy a quick getaway at any time of the year.
But besides being great for family bonding, a fifth wheel or a motorhome can also provide you with an additional income stream. Every year, thousands of New Zealanders earn up to $10,000 by hiring out their camper vehicles.
If you are interested in investing in one of these recreational vehicles, this article will help you decide which is best for your family and for hiring out to potential customers. Below, we discuss:
The advantages of buying a fifth wheel
The advantages of buying a motorhome
Fifth Wheel vs Motorhome: which is better for hiring out in NZ?
How to choose between a fifth wheel vs a motorhome
Fifth Wheel vs Motorhome
Advantages of Buying a Fifth Wheel
Comfort and Spaciousness:
Fifth wheels tend to be larger than motorhomes, especially when you consider that many of them have oversized pop-out features. Generally, the extra space in the fifth wheeler means that people find them more spacious and therefore more comfortable.
Why the Fifth Wheel Wins:
Multi-level design helps to separate spaces throughout the fifth wheel. Perfect for families with kids (the back of the fifth wheel tends to be for adults whilst the front is for children).
Extra space means that you can fit residential-style furniture (i.e. large sofas), which people find more homely.
More floor space means that multiple people can move around the kitchen. More bench space for added kitchen features.
Higher ceiling heights are more comfortable for tall people and those sleeping in bunk beds.
Driving
When comparing fifth wheels vs motorhomes, driving and maneuvering is a tough category to judge. Both fifth wheels and motorhomes have their advantages and disadvantages.
The biggest advantages of driving a fifth wheel are:
You can detach the fifth wheel from the towing vehicle. This means that your hirers can park the fifth wheeler at their campsite, detach the tow vehicle and use it as a means of getting around town. This is perhaps the single largest advantage of a fifth wheel.
The fifth wheel technically has a smaller turning radius due to the pivot point on the tow ball. However, if your hirers aren’t used to towing a trailer, this may be of little significance (we all know how hard it can be learning to tow and reverse a trailer for the first time).
Some people argue that it is safer to tow a fifth wheel than it is to drive a motorhome. This is because the vehicles you use to tow a fifth wheel (4WD’s or trucks) generally have higher safety ratings than motorhomes (which can sometimes lack a crumple zone).
Heating and Cooling
These days, almost all modern fifth wheels and motorhomes will be sold with reverse-cycle air conditioning and some other form of heating (probably gas or diesel). There is very little difference in heating and cooling technology when it comes to fifth wheel vs motorhome. However, there is one significant structural difference: the fifth wheel doesn’t have a massive windshield which acts as a magnifying glass on hot summer days.
Maintenance
Fifth wheelers are generally cheaper to own and maintain than motorhomes. This is because a fifth wheeler is essentially just a large trailer. With a motorhome, however, the mechanic has to service both the trailer and the vehicular component.
The price of servicing a new fifth wheel in New Zealand is about $400-$550. Comparatively, the cost of servicing a new motorhome can run anywhere from $700-$1500. However, you should not forget to also consider the cost of servicing your fifth wheel’s tow vehicle.
Price
Fifth wheels are normally better value for money compared to motorhomes. In New Zealand, you can purchase a very nice fifth wheel for just over $100,000 (brand new). A much smaller motorhome in comparison might cost you anywhere from $120,000 - $180,000 (brand new). However, you must also take into consideration the cost of purchasing a tow vehicle for your fifth wheel.
Advantages of Buying a Motorhome
Driving
There are advantages and disadvantages when it comes to driving a motorhome vs a fifth wheel.
The biggest advantages of driving a motorhome are:
Motorhomes tend to be smaller and lighter than fifth wheelers, meaning they are easier to hire in New Zealand. If the motorhome has a Gross Laden Weight (GLW) of 6000kg or less, you can hire it out to anyone who holds a full class 1 New Zealand driver license. And if the motorhome has a GLW of 4500kg or less, you can hire it out to any foreigner who holds a current drivers license or an International Driving Permit. Learn more about motorhome classes.
People who don’t have a vehicle capable of towing a fifth wheel will lean towards hiring a motorhome. However, to overcome this, some Camplify members choose to leave their fifth wheel at a designated campsite. Others hire out a tow vehicle with the fifth wheel.
It’s easier to pack up and drive away in a motorhome because you do not have the hassle of having to detach and attach a tow vehicle. This makes the motorhome preferable for people who will be moving campsite daily.
It’s easier to maneuver and reverse a motorhome because it is essentially like one long car and does not have a pivot point like a fifth wheel.
Accessibility
Unlike fifth wheels, motorhomes tend to be designed as one flat level (rather than multi-level). This means that there are fewer steps, which makes it a more accessible choice for older folk and families with young children.
Security
Motorhomes tend to be more secure than fifth wheels for the following reasons:
If a motorhome comes under attack whilst the patrons are inside, they can simply move from the living space to the driver's seat and drive away. This is not possible in a fifth wheel. If a fifth wheel comes under attack, the patrons must first exit the trailer before they can access the towing vehicle.
It is easier to steal a fifth wheel compared to a motorhome. Unless the people using your fifth wheel place a lock on the tow ball, it is possible for a thief to simply attach their tow vehicle to your fifth wheel and drive away.
Bad Weather
If your fifth wheel is parked in bad weather and you want to drive to your next campsite, you will have to exit the trailer and perform the pack up routine in the rain or cold. Comparatively, in some motorhomes, you can perform the whole pack up routine from inside the vehicle, meaning that you never get cold or wet.
Hiring Out: Fifth Wheel vs Motorhome
Hiring out your fifth wheel or motorhome can provide you with a fantastic income stream throughout the year. Thousands of New Zealanders who have signed up to Camplify are earning up to $10,000 a year by hiring out their fifth wheels and motorhomes.
If you’d like to check just how much income you could earn from your model and make of motorhome or fifth wheel, you can use our What Can I Earn Calculator.
Hiring Out a Fifth Wheel
If you hire out your fifth wheel, you are more likely to attract people who:
Are travelling with their family (particularly kids and teenagers)
Won’t be moving campsite every day. More likely to camp in one place for several days at a time.
Want the ability to park the fifth wheel at the campsite and then use the tow vehicle as a “get-around”.
Aren’t that concerned about maneuvering the fifth wheel because they won’t be driving it regularly.
Hiring Out a Motorhome
If you hire out your fifth wheel, you are more likely to attract people who:
Are travelling solo, with a partner or with their small family
Will be moving campsite regularly. Likely to be road-tripping from place to place.
Will use the motorhome as both accommodation and a “get-around” vehicle.
Would prefer to be driving a smaller vehicle because it is more maneuverable and they will be driving longer distances.
Choosing a Fifth Wheel vs Motorhome
If you are thinking about investing in a motorhome or a fifth wheel, we highly recommend that you try before you buy.
Camplify has thousands of camper vehicles available for hire in New Zealand. Search through the motorhomes and fifth wheels and find one similar to what you are considering. Then think about hiring it for a night or two and see if it meets all of your needs and expectations. This is a particularly handy exercise if you are trying to convince your partner to join the share economy!
If you need some help choosing between a fifth wheel vs motorhome, check out our list of the best motorhomes for hire in New Zealand. Or you can draw some inspiration from the motorhomes featured below.
Featured Camplify Motorhomes
2016 Rollerteam Rambler
5 Star Rating on Camplify
Pickup from Orewa
Sleeps 6
2018 Dethleffs
Five Star Rating on Camplify
Pickup from Auckland
Sleeps 4
2020 Carado T449
Five Star Rating on Camplify
Pickup from Christchurch
Sleeps 4