Community Forums

glennwest · 07-24-2014, 02:37 PM

Lots been said about ease of setup with MH. I really question this. With autolevel standard on most full time units now set up not that much different. You do have to hitch and unhitch, rather simple. You have to hookup sewer and water on both. Only separation I see is length of time setting. DPers need to run. They don't fair well sitting for extended times. With my gypsy working style 5ther works best for us. I might stay up to a year on same job. Most are 3-4 weeks but some are long term. And if you tow with an HDT many of the commodities of the MH is provided.

JDT · 07-24-2014, 03:19 PM

We did two years ago. We had a 39' dp for 7 years. It is a fun way to travel and more convenient for the person not driving. When we decided to make a change we looked at new dp's but the cost for something on the same level or nicer than what we had drove us away. You can get a lot more bang for your buck with a fiver/truck combo. Our traveling friends recently bought a used but very nice 2012 40 foot motorhome and they have $40k more in it than we do in ours.

As for ease of set up I can hook and unhook from the Excel faster than I could the car we towed behind the motorhome. We have auto level on the fifth wheel and didn't on the motorhome so that is also faster. All in all we have been very happy with the choice we made.

Dutch Star David · 07-24-2014, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plasma800

interesting points.

We move around a lot when we travel. Several days to get where we are going, couple of days there, then off to a new spot for a while.

There are things I really love about my class a, but fixes and repair bills aren't one of them. Worrying about the thing breaking down also isn't one of them.

We do a lot of trade shows mixed with some work from the road type stuff. We've been known to sit in one place for up to two weeks, and we've also been known to stick and brick it for a couple of months before heading back out.

With a 5th wheel, it sure seems like you can get a lot for your money when you compare the two. And if the 5th wheel sits for a while, not the end of the world.

Don't forget about the "big A" truck you are going to need to properly haul that fifth-wheel.
We did go from class A to fiver but then went back to class A. Wife just couldn't stand to ride in the F450 (rough riding when unloaded) and once in your fifth wheel you are not done with steps like in your class A.

GFDOUCET · 07-24-2014, 06:43 PM

I can't say what I regret ....however the 5th that we have has most things that a MH has .generator.. Auto levelers, it remembers the level when we are ready to hook up , , have push button for sewer drainage..(. You still have to hook up the hose ) water , electricity .. The difference for us between the two , we would rather pull the 5ver and have our truck, than have a car in tow.... For the type of use... 5th wheel works, it is a matter of personal choice for each individual .

Dr4Film · 07-24-2014, 06:48 PM

The only time I would consider moving from my Class A Monaco into a 5ver is when it's time to give up the road and settle in on being in one spot for the duration with no intentions of moving it unless there was an emergency.

There are some really beautiful large 5vers that would make great full-time living units but for traveling I prefer my Class A.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

carolanded · 07-24-2014, 11:27 PM

We've had 2 fivers (a Carriage and our current Brookstone), and 2 MH's (A Bounder and a Damon Intruder). We love both options...but currently the 5ver works for us. The MH was better for us when we had young children traveling with us..we could hit the road in the mornings while they were still sleeping

. Now that it's just the two of us, the fiver seems better for us and we like having a truck as our 2nd car (Ford F350 dually diesel). There is a lot more versatility in fiver floorplans. Husbands sister and husband just got a 40ft DP with 2 baths. They're also putting a 2nd bath in fivers now too. They mostly go off for golf weekends. We couldn't justify spending $225K AND the price of a new toad to do only that! We spent HALF that on our fiver and truck...plus our fuel mileage is twice as much! We went from 6-7mpg with our MH to averaging 13mpg with our 39' fiver. I could probably count on one hand the number of times I got up from the passenger seat to use the bathroom while,going down the road in the MH! As far as a MH being better for traveling?? We just took 2 month long coast to coast road trip in our truck and fiver where we were on the road nearly every day except for a few times where we visited relatives, etc. No problems at all with setup, etc. just as quick as with the MH...and hubby says it's quicker for him to hook the truck to the fiver, than hitching the toad to the MH.
Anyway...I could go on...but just our .02cents

KD4XR · 07-25-2014, 07:19 AM

This is a great discussion and for me finding this thread couldn't be more timely. I currently live 3/4 time in and older class A gasser which hardly ever leaves the campground. I plan to retire in two years and then my wife and I will spend a couple years exploring America. We are struggling with the decision to go DP or 5ER. The comments about a DP sitting still for extended periods is something I hadn't thought about. Until I retire the new RV won't move much. We will head off to Talladega or the Gulf Coast 4 or 5 times a year for extended weekend trips but the rest of the time the RV won't move. I also worry about DP operating costs. If the F350 breaks down it can be fixed at the local Ford dealership. Our current plan is to find a 5ER I can live in 3/4 time and a Truck to pull it. In two years when I retire, we will have worked out the bugs in the rig and be ready to hit the road.

steelpony555 · 07-25-2014, 05:23 PM

I think a lot has to do with the kind of funds you have. We had an A but it was an older Bounder that was terrible to drive and no slides. Went to a 5er and have not looked back. The only way I will go back to a A is if I hit the lottery. To have the room and comfort and also the road manners of my truck and 5er you would have to get a large diesel pusher. They are just way too expensive. And then you have to tow a car to get around. And the upkeep and maintenance is way more then my 3500 and trailer. So when I hit the lottery yes I will have a Prevost lol lol

glennwest · 07-26-2014, 12:08 PM

Funds didn't fit in picture for us. Not that much diff anyway. Have to buy truck and 5ther.

plasma800 · 07-26-2014, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelpony555

I think a lot has to do with the kind of funds you have. We had an A but it was an older Bounder that was terrible to drive and no slides. Went to a 5er and have not looked back. The only way I will go back to a A is if I hit the lottery. To have the room and comfort and also the road manners of my truck and 5er you would have to get a large diesel pusher. They are just way too expensive. And then you have to tow a car to get around. And the upkeep and maintenance is way more then my 3500 and trailer. So when I hit the lottery yes I will have a Prevost lol lol

I'm feelin' you on this thought!

I've never driven that large of a truck with a long towable on it, but I can tell you that long distance driving in a class a can be nerve wracking at times. I wonder how the manners of the HD truck and 5er are?

steelpony555 · 07-26-2014, 09:09 PM

It is just how you set up your rig. Even a 5er and truck need set up to tow great. The trailer may need suspension work as well as better tires then the ones coming from the factory. Most time a 3500 tow will tow a 5er just fine. But once you're set up, you can tow very relaxed. You still have to be careful not to get into a tight place just as with a large A. But setting up a 5er to tow is still cheaper then buying a diesel pusher. But with my rig I have gone up to 10 to 12 hours non stop and come out feeling like I just drove there in my car. Of all the RV's I have towed or driven the rig I have now probably has the best road manners, well except for the pop up.....

plasma800 · 07-27-2014, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelpony555

It is just how you set up your rig. Even a 5er and truck need set up to tow great. The trailer may need suspension work as well as better tires then the ones coming from the factory. Most time a 3500 tow will tow a 5er just fine. But once you're set up, you can tow very relaxed. You still have to be careful not to get into a tight place just as with a large A. But setting up a 5er to tow is still cheaper then buying a diesel pusher. But with my rig I have gone up to 10 to 12 hours non stop and come out feeling like I just drove there in my car. Of all the RV's I have towed or driven the rig I have now probably has the best road manners, well except for the pop up.....

Ok so this raises an interesting point.

If were to go out and buy a brand new chevy 3500HD - their site says towing up to 19000 lbs I think. But what weight would you "really" want to tow there? 12,000 lbs? 15,000?

To be honest, I don't need a 45' 5er --- As far as I'm concerned, there's almost too much space in my 40' some of which I think is wasted space. When we were looking at new Class A - we saw one that was 34' feet that we loved!

steelpony555 · 07-27-2014, 11:31 AM

Most any 3500 will be able to handle up to 18k lbs with no problems and tow just fine. Buuuut I know lots of folks that tow way more weight then that with 3500 duallies lol lol ....yeah I know the weight police will be along shortly to rant and rave, but that don't stop these ranchers or hot shots from towing up in the 20-25k lb range lol lol.....Would I want to tow that much with mine even though it can??? Nah.... But towing most 5ers is not a problem for them. In the range you are talking at 12k even a 2500 would do well. My trailer is 125000 lbs (just weighed it on the last trip) and we do tow long distances so I like the dually. Now lots of guys don't like duallies cause they don't fit in Walmarts parking lot??? I use mine as a daily driver and no I don't fit in a lot of drive thru's but I don't have a problem in Walmart or the grocery store. Here in Texas you will find lots of families where their dually is their daily driver even to go on vacation. But at 12k that truck will still have lots of pick up and go and won't get pushed around. I recently got a used low mileage Dodge Laramie and it is one of the most comfortable rides we have made. It does have all the bells and whistles, probably more then my Cadillac does, and that makes for a nice ride if you travel long distances....

Dang, just seen you're from Houston, then you should know there are lots of duallies around here lol lol

plasma800 · 07-27-2014, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelpony555

Most any 3500 will be able to handle up to 18k lbs with no problems and tow just fine. Buuuut I know lots of folks that tow way more weight then that with 3500 duallies lol lol ....yeah I know the weight police will be along shortly to rant and rave, but that don't stop these ranchers or hot shots from towing up in the 20-25k lb range lol lol.....Would I want to tow that much with mine even though it can??? Nah.... But towing most 5ers is not a problem for them. In the range you are talking at 12k even a 2500 would do well. My trailer is 125000 lbs (just weighed it on the last trip) and we do tow long distances so I like the dually. Now lots of guys don't like duallies cause they don't fit in Walmarts parking lot??? I use mine as a daily driver and no I don't fit in a lot of drive thru's but I don't have a problem in Walmart or the grocery store. Here in Texas you will find lots of families where their dually is their daily driver even to go on vacation. But at 12k that truck will still have lots of pick up and go and won't get pushed around. I recently got a used low mileage Dodge Laramie and it is one of the most comfortable rides we have made. It does have all the bells and whistles, probably more then my Cadillac does, and that makes for a nice ride if you travel long distances....

Dang, just seen you're from Houston, then you should know there are lots of duallies around here lol lol

Yeah totally. Plus I try to avoid walmart if I can (cept for overnighting, and then I don't care where I fit

Admittedly, parking a long wide truck can be troublesome, but I also don't mind walking.

Wife and I are looking for land near Houston, and I betcha that truck would come more than handy there though!