Exhibit 5

                                       May 11, 2000

Drew Industries Incorporated
200 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, New York 10601

         Re:  Drew Industries Incorporated
              Stock Option Plan

Dear Sirs:

      Drew Industries Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8, dated the
date hereof (the "Registration Statement"), to which this opinion is an exhibit,
relating to the proposed offering of 900,000 shares of its common stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Additional Common Stock"), to be issued in connection
with the exercise of options granted pursuant to the Drew Industries
Incorporated Stock Option Plan, Amended and Restated June 1, 1999, as amended
(the "Plan"). The Additional Common Stock will be comprised of authorized and
unissued or reacquired shares of the Company's common stock.

      We have examined such corporate records of the Company, and such other
instruments, documents, certificates and agreements and made such further
investigation as we have deemed necessary as a basis for this opinion.

      For the purpose of this opinion, we have assumed that (1) the Registration
Statement shall have become effective, and (2) all action necessary under state
"Blue Sky" laws to permit the offer and sale of the Common Stock pursuant to the
Plan, having been taken or applied for, shall have been completed.

      Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that, subject to the foregoing
assumptions, the above-referenced 900,000 shares of Common Stock are duly
authorized and when properly issued, delivered and sold in accordance with the
Plan, such shares of Common Stock will be legally issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

      Harvey F. Milman, a member of this firm, is an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and beneficially owns 32,200 shares of the Common Stock.

      We hereby consent to the filing of a copy of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement.

                                       Very truly yours,


                                       GILBERT, SEGALL AND YOUNG LLP