Community Forums

PJinHawaii · 02-21-2013, 01:34 PM

Embarrassingly silly question #7: Toads and 5th wheels?

Reminder: I'm a wannabe full timer, without a rig. Have been reading and researching for a while... It's a process.

Question; While I love the idea of a 5th wheel (<30 ft. for boon docking, National Parks,etc.) I'm worried about the wisdom of driving my tow vehicle as our everyday transport (without the rig in tow), with it's poor gas mileage. What are the options for more efficient daily transport?

Do people use a dingy with a 5th wheel? (not a toy hauler) I know double hauling is tricky and not allowed in some areas.

Are dingy and toads only associated with motorhomes?

PJ in Hawaii

Go Dawgs · 02-21-2013, 02:07 PM

Usually they are. Dingy and toad are vehicles pulled by your MH. Some people use their TV as a daily driver. If you are FT and want a 5er you will have to use your TV as your sightseer.

Cat320 · 02-21-2013, 05:47 PM

If even considering towing something behind a 5th wheel, check with the manufacturer first. Many 5th wheels say don't tow anything due to the very weak frame...mine did.

tuffr2 · 02-21-2013, 07:59 PM

Are you single? If so you can get away with a much smaller rig thus more fuel efficient. I am thinking a small trailer pulled by the new Ram 1500 V6 with the 8 speed transmission. That is probably one of your better options. 25 mpg gas hywy.

Or a SRW 3/4 ton diesel will tow a small 5er and get 20 mpg diesel hywy.

Or better yet the new Ram 1500 diesel 3.0 litre has to get better mpg than the Ram 1500 gas I would think. This truck should be out in 6 or 9 months.

Think about a trailer that you can full time in and still pull with the new diesel jeep SUV.

Again - that is if you are single.

If there are two people you will need 4X the room and probably need a 3/4 ton truck to pull a small 5th wheel with multiple slides.

People can full time, either by desire or by necessity, in just about any type and size camper.

There are 5ers that are advertised to be 1/2 ton towable. But probably if you looked into it they would exceed either the pay load limit or the combined tow vehicle and trailer weight limit.

Ray,IN · 02-21-2013, 09:24 PM

It is doable. On the escapees.com forums a full-times pulls a 40' 5er with a small car in tow. He has everything worked out so it is safe and reliable. OH, he pulls everything with a converted OTR semi tractor. They know which states it is illegal, so his wife just drives the towed through those states.

Francesca · 02-21-2013, 09:40 PM

Are you actually in Hawaii as indicated in your Avatar, and if yes I hope you don't mind my asking:

Are things really so far apart on "whichever" island that downtime fuel economy is a big concern?

PJinHawaii · 02-21-2013, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francesca

Are you actually in Hawaii as indicated in your Avatar, and if yes I hope you don't mind my asking:

Are things really so far apart on "whichever" island that downtime fuel economy is a big concern?

Yes. I live on the big island here in Hawaii. I do have to drive 45 minutes one way to get to a Costco or a target/Walmart/Kmart/home depot/etc. But our little town does have a med size grocery, and I live just a mile from my work. So while gas is expensive and it's a long way to anything that could be called a "city", I don't actually drive that much on a typical day.

You would have to drive a really long way to visit an RV dealer or RV show though!.., like 2500 miles over water!! Hence all the silly questions.

PJ