Time / Cost comparison between a 4-wide and 5-wide?

[kludge]

Just trying to get a feel from those who have done it.

My guesstimate is 30-50% higher material costs and time-wise it depends if one gets a HF trailer and builds out over the wheels vs a 5x8 trailer from NT.

[les45]

I would think that after you get the basic trailer frame expanded then everything else should be about the same. I wouldn't think it would affect the total effort by more than 5% in cost or time. I built mine on the NT 5X8 so I can't definitively compare, but once you get a 5X8 platform then everything above that is the same.

[tony.latham]

I've built a couple of five-wides and one four-wide (and the bro-in-law built the chassis on it so I don't know the total costs).

I think the materials cost is gently higher with a five-wide. The high-dollar items–– the fan, doors, electrical, hardware etc––don't care how wide it is. I also use 1/8" Baltic birch plywood for the ceiling, roof and hatch, and it only comes in 5 x 5' sheets, so there's waste on both sides of the ledger.

A "standard size" couple will be happier in a five-wide. That's for damn sure.

T

[KennethW]

I have build both. I would think less then 30% more for the shell. But the shell is not what adds to the cost. It is all the hardware,fan,etc.and all of that remains the same.

[gudmund]

at the time I had my trailer built, the builder was charging $1000 more for a 5 by over a 4 by. If you are building your own I really don't see that it would cost that much more with the major difference probably being in the cost of your trailer frame you start with. I ended up going with a 4 by 8 being me, at the time my thought was that I did not like towing something wider than what I was driving (2000 S-10) along with being single. Well after having it for 3+ years now and if I had it to do over now, I would go with the 5 wide. A 5 wide is easier and has more options when it come to buying mattresses being this is the width of a queen size bed, where a 4 wide you have to either have a mattress made or use a mattress topper and cut it to size to make it fit being a 4 wide is about 6 inches narrowed than a full sized bed. Some people build a 4 1/2 ft. wide trailer for this reason so as to use a standard full sized mattress. No matter what sized you go with make sure you go with the tallest door you can get, really like the doors I got but until you use them, you will than realize they maybe a tad bit to low for exiting (if there was still hair there, I would maybe would get some early warning from hitting my head but with no hair, it's skin that gets in the way if I forget and don't lower my head enough when exiting) than you find out taller ones were available. Mine are 32 tall and 36 are available - could install the taller ones now, trouble is they are about $300+ each, I will be living with the ones I have for now. Towing a 5 wide only adds 6 inches to each side of the tow vehicle to watch in the mirrors and being my present tow vehicle is a bit wider now the S-10 was (now 07 Colorado) I see less trailer in the mirrors now and that extra 6 inches, on each side wouldn't have been much to deal with. A final personal note and opinion - if your going to build your own, start with a good well built welded trailer base to start with along Dexter torsion bar suspension if the budget can afford it and in the long run you will not regret it. (everybody has or will have a different opinion on this, but the Harbor Freight type bolted together frame just doesn't cut it for me - just like when building a house, the better the foundation to start with, makes for a better house for the future - along with better wheel bearings, axles, wheels and tires!!! you're better off with more than you need, just to be on the SAFE side when towing)

[les45]

Just trying to get a feel from those who have done it.

My guesstimate is 30-50% higher material costs and time-wise it depends if one gets a HF trailer and builds out over the wheels vs a 5x8 trailer from NT.

You need to clarify your post. Are you talking about comparing a 4 wide build versus a 5 wide build or two 5 wide builds with one of them on a 4 wide trailer and the other on a 5 wide trailer?

[kludge]

Just trying to get a feel from those who have done it.

My guesstimate is 30-50% higher material costs and time-wise it depends if one gets a HF trailer and builds out over the wheels vs a 5x8 trailer from NT.

You need to clarify your post. Are you talking about comparing a 4 wide build versus a 5 wide build or two 5 wide builds with one of them on a 4 wide trailer and the other on a 5 wide trailer?

Good question... I had all three options in mind, 4-wide on a HF trailer, 5-wide on an HF trailer, and 5-wide on a NT trailer.

5-wide on a HF means more time and materials for the floor, but you trade cost and time there for cost on the NT trailer.

Some more background...

I prefer the look of a camper without fenders (meaning a 5-wide on 4x8trailer), and since my TV's will be a Dodge Grand Caravan and a Jeep XJ Cherokee I have some latitude with weight, width and frontal area.

Also with the Jeep, not having fenders could be a positive thing - if the Jeep fits, the trailer should fit too. Even better with a 4-wide. However this won't be an "off-road" trailer, but I do anticipate camping places that don't have roads.

But I'm having doubts with some of the recent posts regarding HF trailers.

I'm 6'3" tall, and on the wide side so I would like the camper to be 5' wide, but I don't know if I want to add another foot of width (counting the fenders) to go with a 5x8 trailer. But at the same time, I'm also worried about internal wheels wells in the sleeping area and the added build complexity of going out over the wheels (time - which I don't have a lot of) and money (of which I have none - five kids and one starting college in the fall).

I'm a 4-season tent camper (mainly with the scouts), so creature comfort is not the main goal - heck, half the time I just throw up a tarp shelter - but keeping all the camping gear together, hooking up and hitting the road is the main objective, and having a comfortable/warm place for my wife (she's fine in a sleeping bag on a twin air mattress, but she gets cold so last year I got her a -20 degree bag).

[noseoil]

Labor is basically the same. Materials might end up being 10%-20%, but it depends where you're spending the money & how. I would say to build both & do a time study & cost analysis to find out exactly.

[Vedette]

I agree with Ted "Gudmund".........do it right the first time!
Don't cheap out on the chassis if you plan to see some country in your travels.
Enjoy your build.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Graniterich]

My only problem with five wide was finding five wide aluminum, even in Orange County (very large population) was much harder to find. For two people five wide, two doors.

[vegask]

My only problem with five wide was finding five wide aluminum, even in Orange County (very large population) was much harder to find. For two people five wide, two doors.

SAF up in Reading CA has really good prices. Free shipping if you hit 100lbs last I checked. But yea, options for 5x10 aluminum are limited, and if you want anodized 5x10 you really only have one choice .063.

[Graniterich]

I found a place in LA county but they had a $500 minimum order. They were nice enough to piggy-back my two sheets on another order that they really didn't need at the time. Damn nice folks

[Shadow Catcher]

Let me say I have never heard a 5 wide owner saying they wish they had a 4 wide
I have heard a number of 4 wide owners saying we had to learn how to turn over in tandem.
We have a 6 wide which means a bit of room on each side of a queen size mattress, more width in the galley... I have a some what claustrophobic wife who REALLY dislikes the idea of a smaller space.
The down side of the 6 wide is that it is wider than the TV and hurts MPG.

[starleen2]

I have built 4, 5, 6 wide and my current build is 7 wide. all of them have been built with approximately the same budget in mind. Usually for about $1,500. Not including extras such as refrigerator, microwave, Flat screen TV, etc. Many have asked how I can build it was such low cost my reply is, " If you don't have to have it tomorrow then that gives you some time to resource what you need". Sometimes I can re-purpose lumber with my table saw to cut framing members and make my own trim. I agree with Shadowcatcher - never heard a five wide express going to a four wide.

[aggie79]

I have built 4, 5, 6 wide and my current build is 7 wide.

Scott,

Where's your build pics? Remember "no pics = not happening".

Take care,
Tom