How to Find the Best Front Living Room Fifth Wheel

Front living room fifth wheels are all the rage right now. So how do you know what models to look at? With so many manufacturers pumping out new front living units, it’s difficult to choose. Today, we’ll take a deep dive into how to find the best front living room fifth wheel and review the five top models. Let’s get into it. 

What Is a Front Living Room Fifth Wheel Layout? 

A front living room fifth wheel has the living room located in the front of the coach. This area sits in the cap of the RV over the bed of the tow vehicle, where you would typically find the master bedroom and bathroom. 

Front living fifth wheel layouts have become more common. Let’s learn more.

Where Are Fifth Wheel Living Rooms Typically Located? 

You can find fifth wheel living rooms in any area of the RV, but most commonly in the middle or back. RV models have different letters that indicate details about the model, like the layout and length. 

For most front-living room fifth wheel models, you’ll see the initials FL in the model, indicating front living. Other fifth wheel models say RL for rear living, FK for front kitchen, and so on. 

Pros and Cons of a Front Living Room Fifth Wheel

If you’ve ever been to an RV show with front living fifth wheels on display, you may have noticed they draw a ton of attention. RVers either love them or hate them, so let’s take a look at the pros and cons. 

Pros

Here’s a list of the top pros of a front living room fifth wheel. If you’re trying to decide if this is the model for you, consider the upsides.

Very Residential Feeling

A front living room fifth wheel feels more like a house than an RV. With this kind of layout, each room and area of the RV is clearly defined and separated. 

The living room is upstairs and typically has a divider separating it from the kitchen. The kitchen is located in the middle of the unit and is separate from the living area and bedroom. 

Seating for Many

Front living room models have tons of seating. They usually have three loveseats or couches in the living room that provide sleeping space for one to two people. Many models have a four-seater dinette in the kitchen as well. These layouts work great for camping families. 

Separate From Kitchen and Bedroom

Most RVs have an open concept floor plan, but the front living room models don’t. These models provide separation and privacy between all rooms in the RV. 

Cons

Just like any good thing, nothing is perfect. Here are the downsides of a front living fifth wheel. 

Less Storage Underneath

Front living room fifth wheels sometimes have less exterior storage than other models, but they still have plenty of interior space for your things. Fifth wheels have more storage than any other RV class, including front living models.

➡ We’ve got the scoop on RV classes here: What Do RV Classes Mean? Differences Explained

Typically Only Available in Larger Rigs

Front living models are typically only seen in very long RVs. You may have trouble finding one with a front living space if you want a shorter fifth wheel. These models range anywhere from 34 ft to 40 ft or longer. 

Can Be More Expensive Than Other Floorplans

Front living models typically cost more than other fifth wheel floorplans because they don’t have a standard layout and require a different manufacturing process. Front living rooms usually come with higher-end models and more luxury features, accounting for the higher price. 

Pro Tip: Just because an RV is typically expensive, doesn’t mean you can’t find a good deal. Check out our buying advice here: How to Buy an Awesome RV Without Breaking the Bank

Stairs

Lastly, many people dislike the front living models because of the stairs to the main sitting area. Going up and down stairs several times a day isn’t ideal for some people with physical mobility challenges.

Pro Tip: Don’t know what rig is the best choice for you? We took a closer look to discover Is a Two-Bedroom Fifth Wheel Right for You?

5 Front Living Room Fifth Wheel Models You’ll Love

If you love the look and feel of the front living room fifth wheels, you may love these models we picked out. Here’s a closer look at the top five FL models you’ve got to see. 

1. Keystone Montana 3760FL

As one of the most popular names in the RV industry, the Keystone Montana front living room model doesn’t leave out any features. 

This 41-ft RV sleeps six and has a dry weight of 14,240 lbs. The MSRP on a brand new 3760FL is $104,000. This front living model has five slide-outs, one-and-a-half bathrooms, and tons of luxury features. 

2. Grand Design Solitude 380FL

You can’t go wrong with a Grand Design RV. Grand Design is well known for excellent customer service and superior build quality, and the Solitude 380FL is no exception. 

This RV has five slides, one and a half baths, and slide-out exterior storage. The 41.5-ft Solitude 380FL sleeps six. It has a dry weight of 14,886 lbs, and the MSRP starts at $131,487 for the base model. 

3. Wildwood Heritage Glen 378FL

The Forest River Wildwood Heritage Glen 378FL measures 43 ft 6 inches long and can sleep eight to ten people. In addition to a front living room, this RV features a bunkhouse-style loft above the master bedroom with two twin beds and two tri-fold sofas in the living room. 

This RV weighs 14,140 lbs fully loaded. The Wildwood Heritage Glen 378FL sells for around $60-65,000, making it a great budget model. 

➡ Want to see more fifth wheels with bunkhouses? Take a look at these: What Is the Best Fifth Wheel Bunkhouse Model for Families?

4. Luxe Elite 44FL

We couldn’t make a list of front living room fifth wheel models without including a couple of luxury brands. Luxe Factory Direct Luxury Fifth Wheels make the Luxe Elite 44FL. This RV has six slide-outs, a keyless entry door, a dishwasher, washer and dryer, and a residential oven, refrigerator, and shower. 

It’s 45 ft long with a GVWR of 24,000 lbs. MSRP for the Luxe 44FL starts at just over $289,000 with a factory-direct price of $205,000. 

5. Cardinal Luxury 370FLX

Last but not least is the Cardinal Luxury 370FLX front living model from Forest River, Inc. This model features six slide-outs, a king-sized master bed, a massive master bathroom, a half-bath off the kitchen, and more. This RV can sleep up to six people comfortably. 

The 43-ft long 370FLX has a dry weight of 14,414 lbs. Finally, the MSRP of this model starts at around $91,000. 

Is a Front Living Room Fifth Wheel Right For You?

If you like the idea of a residential-style RV with privacy and separation between the rooms, a front living model might work best for you. 

If you want to RV full-time in a front living model with a family, look at models like the Wildwood Heritage Glen with a bunk room over the master bedroom. These models work great as full-time rigs for couples and camping rigs for families.

Would you prefer a front living room fifth wheel over a rear living room model? Let us know in the comments.

Sharing is caring!