Class A vs. 5'er

[Horsevoice]

For full timers...what are some of the reasons you chose a fifth wheel over a class A or vice versa? Not which is better...just why you made the choice...
We're facing that dilema...

[Horsevoice]

For full timers...what are some of the reasons you chose a fifth wheel over a class A or vice versa? Not which is better...just why you made the choice...
We're facing that dilema...

[full-timer]

Horsevoice,owners of each have their own reason they chose what they have. We like the class a because of the great view out the large windsheild while driving. When we go over bridges we can see over the guard rails. If we are in a rain storm we can pull over start up the generator fix something to eat or whatever without having to get out of the rig. We tow a small car,which gives great gas mileage to get out and explore in instead of driving around in a large truck.

Joe

An Indian and a Gypsy

[Miles]

The wife and I are looking forward to full timing this year. We now have a 5er. We are thinking that travel in a MH would be the way to go. Nice to have the advantage of snacks etc without pulling over.

[ajbjrvers]

To; Miles;

Motorhome vs 5th wheel???

5ers usually have more interior space in the same area than a motorhome.

If you plan to stay in one place for a period of time, maybe a 5er is the way to go.

5ers costs less but you have to have a suitable tow vehicle which can cost $35-$40K and up and this is what you use for non -towing trips.

With a 5er, if your traveling on a bad day, and want to make a pit stop or get a drink, make a sandwich, etc., you would have to park. get out in bad weather, and go to trailer. If you have a newer 5er with multiple slides,sometimes, theres not enough to get at refrige or other needed things without putting slides out. You don't always have room or time to do this.

On the same kind of bad day, You pull into a campground, get your site, pull into your site, get out to level trailer, connect utilities,and so on.

With a motorhome,comes a lot more convenience, on a bad day. you pull over, eat lunch, or co-pilot can go back and make lunch while you are still driving. Co-pilot can stretch while on the road

Pull into a campground with a motorhome, once into your site on a bad day; Level the coach wiith jacks, put the slides out, if you need power, start your generator and relax until weather clears.

I forgot to mention the physical work needed with the 5er. Leveling jacks that you usually have to hold switch to extend. un-hooking tow vehicle and so on,

It's a decision you have to make. consider the total costs of each, but more importantly think of the extra wear and tear on setup with a 5er, and consider the extra time spent on a 5er is gone and your not relaxing in your motorhome's recliner watching someone elsr setting up their 5er.

I could go on, but I think you get my drift.

If you can afford a motorhome and a towed vehicle, it's the way to go.

By the way, I towed a 25 footer for a year and then traded both for motorhome.

Hope this info helps..

Thanks====== AJBJRVERS

[jperry29]

The bad day scenario sure is a great consideration in choosing between a 5er and Motor Coach. I know I envy them when getting out of my TV dashing back to put down the steps and get in the trailer. But that is the extent of my discomfort as I too can fire up the gen set, or just use the house batteries and forego the utilities hook up until the weather improves.

The on-the-road convenience of being able to just pull over and have lunch is probably better in a Motor Coach from an overall perspective if it is a hot day or a cold day. The Motor Coach will be a comfortable temp whereas the 5er will probably not be. But how important that is to you depends on whether you move in temperature extremes, how often you move in temp extremes and whether you are prone to grab something to eat at an establishment rather fix it yourself on a traveling day.

A couple of points not discussed so far are wear-and-tear and repairs. One of the critical decision points for me was the question of how could I evenly wear out the living area and drive train of a Motor Coach. It seems that one end or the other is going to drive the decision of when to change rigs. Either way, you are giving up one end "before it's time". More or less being forced to replace something you would otherwise not.

Then there are repairs. From a vacationers viewpoint, this is not such a big deal. But as a fulltimer it is a huge deal. When the drive train needs work and it has to go to the shop, so does your living quarters.

[CyberVet65]

We have been into the 5th wheels. In fact we lived in ours while our new home was being built. It was very comfortable. The 5th wheels are great if you are still working and go on vacations a lot. They are also great because you can use your tow vehicle for a lot of other things.
Different scenario.
Retired and you want to travel. I am going with a used motor home. Probably a diesel. Look a e-bay.com for some deals. You can get a 5 to 10 year old diesel pusher, often with less than 50K on the drive train, for under or around $50K! Now that works for me. We are not tourists who make reservations and travel to a destination for one or two weeks. We are travelers. We love to go and look and go some more. It is our dream to go out for a couple of months then come home. And then go out and do it again.
So for us a used motorhome will work best.
Chet

[TXiceman]

I have to agree with Chet. WE have had a pop up, travel trailer, class A's, class C and a 5er. It all depends on what you want to do and how you want to travel. Staying in one palce and not moving so often, a 5er is the vay to go. If you want to travel, a motohome is probably better. But with a MoHo, you need to tow a dinghy for sight seeing.

We are living in our 5er right now waiting on a house to be built. We did this onec before when we had a 34' MoHo, no slide. The 5er is definately more comfortable.

If you have any question s that yo do not want o ask online, just PM me or Chet.

Ken

[Sandyboris]

Hi
Not to deceive you, we have lived, fulltime, in a Fifthwheel.
I just think you get more bang for your buck with a Fifthwheel. Although, Class A's are a lot easier to back.
You make your choice and I guess live with it.
Lee & Linda

[powerboatr]

We choose the fiver for several reasons
1. if you have a bad day driving.... when you stop and setup your in a instantly different enviroment and unstress a bit faster.

i will admit unhooking sometimes and getting it all level can be tricky, but its not the norm, usaully its a few minutes and we are set up enjoying life.

plus a fiver and good tow vehicle will still be 100k less than a comparable in living size class A, or so i have found looking
still i amy in a few go that route if my health gets worse

[Near SOTA]

I just thought I would chime in as I was set to go after a Cl.A at first,but then I did much thinking about it.

You see I shall be fulltiming out if it and want one used that is winterized for one thingand I shall need to drop it after buying a piece of land which I will build a house on and shall use the PU for supplys and what not.

I also thought of the angle that If I had a breakdown in a cl.A and had a long wait for it to be looked at then I would be in a situation which would drain funding having to pay for a Hotel and food.

For my puposes i shall go with the 5ver. Being single and traveling alone I shall not need much room. As long as everything works and I can make it cozy I shall be ok.

GL to All!