new 5th wheel

[m1arifle]

I am new member on this site and if i am in the wrong section please let me know. So, here is my problem. My wife and I are going to go look at a 5th wheel on next Monday ( Keytone Cougar 290RLS ). I really like this size as it is only a foot bigger than our current travel trailer. I am getting too old for all the hooking up and setting up the jacks, then leveling the trailer. its more work than my back can handle. My wife seems to think we only need a little 5th wheel. I say what happens when we have people stay, it will be cramped. and I like room. Please let me know your experiences with sizes. We had a beautiful 40 foot Keystone on our lake lot that got totaled from a severe storm.

[Lantley]

My take is this 5th wheel will be set permanently at your site at the lake.
If so go for the space.
My take is you can stay longer and more comfortably in a larger trailers vs. a smaller ones.
At some point smaller units will become cramped and confining vs. amore spacious unit.
The longer your stay the more lack of space becomes an issue.
Weekend trip most anything will do. Stay longer than a week and the walls begin to close in.
Of course not everyone does not agree with this and many are happy with smaller units. However I want plenty of space.

[High Road Travelers]

RV size is a very personal thing that is different for everyone, according to needs or preferences.
My wife and I travel a lot in our 5th wheel and sometimes will stay in one place for a month or up to three months, but also enjoy a good many short stays. For our rv'ing style a 34 - 36 foot camper is just right. Our current 5th wheel is 35 feet long, is very sturdy, has a stackable washer/dryer and plenty of outside and inside storage; so it currently suits us perfectly. If we often had overnight guests we would want something larger and with better guest sleeping arrangements. Hope you find one that suits you well.
Thanks,

[Old-Biscuit]

If trailer is going to be parked....then I would go with a Travel Trailer
*less steps

If trailer is going to be towed routinely......I would go for one in that 34' length
*we FTd for 7 yrs moving weekly in a 34'.....it was roomy but not too big

[m1arifle]

I guess I wasn't clear on my initial post. We'll be both traveling and be able to have this up at the lake. My wife is now retired, so we can pretty much pick up and go when the itch scratches, and the lake calls. We also travel with her sister and husband to other campgrounds for several days when the planning works out for us.

[Brunnie]

Originally Posted by m1arifle

We also travel with her sister and husband to other campgrounds for several days when the planning works out for us.

Simple solution.... They need their own RV, even if it is just a van camper.
You get a smaller unit just for you two.

[Arch Hoagland]

Old saying..."If momma ain't happy nobody is happy."

[Newbie5er]

Originally Posted by m1arifle

I guess I wasn't clear on my initial post. We'll be both traveling and be able to have this up at the lake. My wife is now retired, so we can pretty much pick up and go when the itch scratches, and the lake calls. We also travel with her sister and husband to other campgrounds for several days when the planning works out for us.

My wife and I are also shopping for a 5er and the Cougar 290RLS is on our short list. Because it's under 35' 73% of the national parks have sites for it. For guests the specs say sleeps 6 if you count sleeping in the recliners. So if you are planning to hit some national parks you'll have better luck with this size 5er. Once you go over 40' that percentage drops to 7%. For me I'd rather not have the restrictions. Hope this helps.

[MtCamper]

We set up our fifth wheel for just the two of us. Any guests are on a BYOB (bring your own bed) basis. As far as setting up goes, look for one with auto level. Just unhook and push the button. We went from a 20' bumper pull to a 30' fifth wheel. The overall length is the same. Biggest problem we have is overhead branches, length is no problem in the parks we prefer (we go for state and federal campgrounds with some space between campers). Northwood 27-5 is perfect for us.

[m1arifle]

Thank you for all your replies, they have been very helpful. We have a meeting set up for next Monday to look at the Courgar 290LRS and I also mentioned that my wife would like to look at smaller 5th wheels to make a comparison. I personally am not really interested in the smaller ones, but I will look.

[Newbie5er]

Best of Luck in your search. For the benefit of anyone interested our short list has the Jayco Eagle, and Northwood Arctic Fox in the same tier as the Keystone Cougar.

Stretch (higher price) brands: GD Influence, Alliance Paradigm, Brinkley Z2900/3100 also have models just under 35'

[m1arifle]

The Brinkley does nothing for me personally. I just cannot seem to like the looks of it.

[corn18]

We have a Salem 290RL which is the same layout as the Cougar 290RLS. This is a couples camper. Unless you hate the people that are staying with you and force them to sleep on the pull out sofa. I am able to use it for our guy's weekend camp out because we are all drunk and we sleep on a couple of single size air mattresses crammed in the back somehow.

[m1arifle]

that sounds like fun, until the next morning.