Community Forums

plasma800 · 07-23-2014, 01:37 PM

Did you regret it?

terry735001 · 07-23-2014, 01:56 PM

every one i have seen that have said they did this did not like it mostly over setup time on a 5er

macantic · 07-23-2014, 02:18 PM

we did the opposite,went from a 5er to a MH. If we were to go fulltime and spend a lot of time in one place we would probably go with a 5er or a TT. we love the convienience of a MH.

Randyman1 · 07-23-2014, 02:18 PM

We did for 10-1/2 years and it was OK, but went back to a DP and can't believe how much more enjoyable it really is. Our earlier motor homes were before the slide out era and our 2 fivers had multiple slides. I think that is what got us to go to the fiver, plus I already had the pickup. The way I look at it is if you are going to go stay somewhere 6 months at a shot the setup and livability of a fifth wheel is probably the way to go. If you want to travel + have the livability then today's coaches with slides are the way to go. Over the fourth of July we proved it to ourselves again. It was 95+ out and we were nice and comfy in the A/C as we traveled. When we got to the campground we hooked up and were set. With the fifth wheel we would have hooked up and then gone someplace for a couple hours while we waited for the unit to cool down. As a side note, with this coach we both commented that it was more comfortable to ride in and drive than our personal car that we towed behind. Randy

Road Ranger · 07-23-2014, 02:19 PM

No, I didn't regret it but that's in line with our circumstances. That is, we decided we had enough jumping around traveling and didn't need to be that spur-of-the-moment mobile anymore. Since we were going to be moving seasonally, I saw no need to keep paying expenses for the bus underneath the RV - stuff like annual licensing, insurance, maintenance, and so on. Selling the 38' motorhome and sticking with the RV portion of our lifestyle, being the 38' 5th wheel, we reduced our expenses to those "housing" costs only.

Jim2 · 07-23-2014, 05:34 PM

I didn't move from a Class A, I bought a 5'er in addition to my Class A DP. I use the MH for summer travels when I'm on the move every week or so and shorter stays at each stop. I use the 5'er in the winter when I go south and sit for several months.
They each have different advantages/disadvantages and there are thousands of folks happy with their decision to buy one or the other. We all have different preferences & priorities; what makes someone else happy or regretful has nothing to do with the best choice for you.

PS: I don't spend much more on maintenance of the MH than I do on the 5'er & big truck to pull it. The insurance & annual registration is actually slightly higher for the 5'er & truck combined; about the same if you include the toad with the MH.

Chillbilly · 07-23-2014, 05:45 PM

We moved from a travel trailer w/1 slide to a class A w/2 slides and now back to a 5th wheel w/2 slides. The problem with a travel trailer is that there is just not enough storage space. The problem with a motor home is that it is just too expensive to operate, insure and maintain. Do I miss it? Yes, I miss the convenience of moving around the coach while traveling, and the ease and quickness of setup. However, all I have is time and the setup activity keeps me involved with the status of all the 5th wheel mechanics. I have more room inside the 5er and as much storage space as the motor home. The cost of fuel at 7 mpg was keeping us from traveling, the reason for our RV in the first place. The motor home was prestigious but those in the know prefer a 5er over a motor home unless it is being used solely for travel and not for residing in. We travel to a location, stay for two or three weeks then move to another location. The once-in-a-while inconvenience and setup effort doesn't justify the cost of maintenance, insurance and fuel required for the motor home.

Deon-Jim · 07-23-2014, 07:32 PM

We moved from a large DP to a large 5th wheel and couldn't be happier. We travel south in the winter and spend almost four months in one place so for us the storage and livability of the 5th wheel is just great. As others have stated, on the road, the DP is much more convenient. We tend to spend the nights in Walmart parking lots and never open the slides out, either on the DP or the 5th wheel so as you can imagine it can be a bit tight. When we arrive at our destination, to us it is worth every minute of a little inconvenience on the road. However, each to their own and what works well for us may not work at all for others.

Jim and Deon Spangler, Wisconsin

Mekanic · 07-23-2014, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim2

I didn't move from a Class A, I bought a 5'er in addition to my Class A DP. I use the MH for summer travels when I'm on the move every week or so and shorter stays at each stop. I use the 5'er in the winter when I go south and sit for several months.
They each have different advantages/disadvantages and there are thousands of folks happy with their decision to buy one or the other. .........

Now that make sense to me. MH would set up quicker and be better when moving more often, 5ver better for the long time in one spot.

How come no one ever asked if has any one went from tent camping to a MDT conversion??!!

Tallyrver · 07-23-2014, 08:01 PM

I went from a 2011 Winnebago Journey DP to a 2014 Gateway Fiver.
For a week at a time or 3 day weekends I couldn't justifiy the cost of the big DP.
If I was taking long trips or full timing it would be another story. I miss the one touch leveling on the Winnie ,but auto level is an option on the Fivers if need be.
Being able to unhook and go see the sights without having to deal with a toad is a plus also.

Wayne

Bamaman · 07-23-2014, 08:20 PM

My travel trailer's not been out of the same campground but once in 18 years for service. We're replacing it with a fifth wheel this month.

As previously mentioned, Class A's are best used for travel. They're not suited for our lifestyle, however.

10isola · 07-23-2014, 08:23 PM

Just traded in my class A Georgetown for a 31' Winnebago towable. Aside from the financial hit it has been a good move for us. I think it depends on your individual situation. For us we didn't have a towable vehicle. Now that the kids are getting a little older we can now go out and visit places while camping. Also, the MH was getting to the point where maintenance was becoming an issue. Although there are problems with any RV's I'm liking that the overall operational costs are a lot lower.

igor2brvn · 07-24-2014, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deon-Jim

We moved from a large DP to a large 5th wheel and couldn't be happier. We travel south in the winter and spend almost four months in one place so for us the storage and livability of the 5th wheel is just great. As others have stated, on the road, the DP is much more convenient. We tend to spend the nights in Walmart parking lots and never open the slides out, either on the DP or the 5th wheel so as you can imagine it can be a bit tight. When we arrive at our destination, to us it is worth every minute of a little inconvenience on the road. However, each to their own and what works well for us may not work at all for others.

Jim and Deon Spangler, Wisconsin

X2. No regrets. The MH is a bit more convenient while rolling (e.g., bathroom). Total cost of ownership has been less for us since going to the 5er.

plasma800 · 07-24-2014, 06:39 AM

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.