Two Fifth Wheels, Same Price, Different Build

Alliance Paradigm 310RL. Grand Design Reflection 310RLS. Same length. Eighty-nine grand each. Different builds. Which one wins?

Round one — frame and chassis. Both Lippert. Both 16-inch wheels. Both 7,000-pound axles. Tie.

Round two — interior space. Paradigm has the rear lounge with the panoramic windows. Reflection has the rear lounge with the standard windows but more storage under the seats. Personal preference round — tie.

Round three — slide mechanism. Paradigm uses Schwintek on the smaller slides, hydraulic on the bigger. Reflection uses similar. Both have failure patterns documented in forums. Tie.

Round four — warranty and customer service. Reflection has the longer track record. Paradigm has owner accessibility — Alliance's owner historically picks up the phone. Reflection wins on the institution, Paradigm on the human.

Round five — resale value. Pull KBB three years out. Reflection retains about five percent more value. Marginal but real.