C Class or 5th Wheel

[KHBama]

Been looking at Class Cs lately. I love the idea of driving the rig, being able to pull over to eat and go to the bathroom without leaving the vehicle. I believe my wife and I will get a class C one day down the road. Our current 5th wheel fits our family a lot better. Kids have a separate bedroom, tons of storage and just more space for us to move around in. We found 1 class C that we all loved but it was a super class C and the price tag was HEFTY.

[Freqz]

Originally Posted by Freqz

Well not all pickups are diesel, 4x4 or have leather seats.

How much would your C have cost with a diesel drive train?

Expanding on this...a gas one ton CCLB truck can be had for under $40k and an entry level FW can be had for 20. 60 grand all in.

That’s a bit less than the 61-65 an entry level class C costs and you get far more floor space in the FW. And you can use the truck when you’re not moving the RV.

Going up the chain, you can get a nice diesel 4x4 DRW CCLB for about $60k and $60k-75k gets you into the mid-upper level FW. Not the super heavy full time units but really nice trailers from ORV, Arctic Fox, Grand Design, Van Leigh, etc.

That’s 15-30k less than a diesel powered C on a class 5 chassis from a reputable manufacturer.

Want to go full custom super C? A spacecraft or new Horizons will cost $175kish for a full custom (but not over the top) with another $150k for a brand new custom Freightliner or International MDT to pull it. $325k compares VERY favorably to a custom super C. Make smart choices and you can pull one of those trailers with a class 3 DRW and knock 90 grand off that price.

[A32Deuce]

I don't know about that, but I paid $54000 for a brand new 32 ft class C and has all the room we need. Plus I can do all my own maint. and didn't have to get rid of my low mileage F150 that I got for a song. All that for a 5er and 4x4 oil burner could be a nice A mh!

[CIDE]

5th wheel if you go to a place, park and explore the area. Class C if you move every day like I did last summer. Class C is good for rolling rest stops for passengers, making sammiches and getting refreshments on the move.

Some Class Cs are overloaded if the water tank is full. Check CCC before buying.

[A32Deuce]

Shorter ones more so on the MB chassis.

[450Donn]

Lots of arguments both ways. As I see it motor homes are nice for going down the road stopping for a night or two. Trailers of all sorts are better for going to a destination and parking for several days. Motor homes almost universally require a second vehicle if you want to go some place while parked. That means a second drive train to maintain. Motor homes still need maintenance even when parked. Motor homes can be expensive to maintain. Trailers, and yes I mean both have minimal road parts that need maintenance. Tires, shocks, spring eye bushings and brake adjustments and your good for thousands of trouble free miles. Besides that with trailers you already have something to drive around in. Fivers are cheaper to buy. Im comparing looks vs looks. Yea, you can buy a 125K fiver or a 50K motor home. But their not in the same league. And we all know that. So to get a suitable truck, lets say a 1 ton dually nicely equipped will cost you out the door 65K. A well equipped decent qualiry fiver in the 36-40 foot range will cost you another 65-70K. Other than a 175K superC there is no class C motor homes that will give you the same SQFT. Again think of dollars per SQFT of floor space. Tou also need to consider how often and how you will use this RV?

[gljurczyk]

Originally Posted by Freqz

Well not all pickups are diesel, 4x4 or have leather seats.

How much would your C have cost with a diesel drive train?

I don't need a diesel drive train don't want 1 for my RV. I did need a new truck which would have had to be a diesel to pull it. I wouldn't touch a MB chassis or there diesel engine. I'm 3 mos from 70 years old, why would I lay all that money out to pull a 5er? If you don't drive a diesel everyday or at least once a week, your asking for trouble. Who wants to drive a dulley around town everyday not me. If I was 50 or 60 I would have probably done it, but not now. Please my point was that the truck I needed would have cost me the same as a gas Class C. I have a very nice Coachmen Concord Class C , at our age it's the unit for us. If you can't understand that, you need to get real, everyone has to make choices in life, what is best for them forward. Now you have a blessed day. And again I do not like Diesels had 3 .

[Freqz]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

I don't need a diesel drive train don't want 1 for my RV. I did need a new truck which would have had to be a diesel to pull it. I wouldn't touch a MB chassis or there diesel engine. I'm 3 mos from 70 years old, why would I lay all that money out to pull a 5er? If you don't drive a diesel everyday or at least once a week, your asking for trouble. Who wants to drive a dulley around town everyday not me. If I was 50 or 60 I would have probably done it, but not now. Please my point was that the truck I needed would have cost me the same as a gas Class C. I have a very nice Coachmen Concord Class C , at our age it's the unit for us. If you can't understand that, you need to get real, everyone has to make choices in life, what is best for them forward. Now you have a blessed day. And again I do not like Diesels had 3 .

So compare apples to apples. Don’t forget to account for the cost of your daily driver/toad in your calculations.

I’m not casting aspersions against your rv or anyone else’s: dollars is but one dimension one optimizes against in a purchase like this. I’m on record that they make all these different RVs for a reason and you need to pick the right one for you. The question was “which would you pick” not “which should everyone pick”. . It’s a pretty broad question and leaves lots of room for assumptions.

You don’t need a diesel to pull a fifth wheel...it’s nicer, yes, but not necessary. The gas powered trucks make a lot more noise doing it but they make plenty of power for appropriately sized trailers. They’re moving about the same weight around as your gas powered C with a toad......

I drive a dually around town every day: it’s really not a big deal. Shrug. I’m not interested in a daily driver light enough to be towed behind a gas powered class C. We all make our choices.

[gljurczyk]

Yes and a half ton can pull a 5er...

[Freqz]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

Yes and a half ton can pull a 5er...

Did I say that?

[gljurczyk]

Originally Posted by Freqz

Did I say that?

No you didn't it's a joke as your post, lighten up, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? People have different opinions, accept that and good night. Don't have time for this....

[blang311]

We have owned a 5th wheel, a class c and a gas class a. For the family the motorhomes were super nice to travel in for all the reasons people have mentioned. Motorhomes, at least both of ours, did require a lot more maintenance and repair. We needed a pickup for our ranch so that made buying the fifth wheel an easy choice. It is a 2015 Ford f250 diesel with the higher towing capacity. It tows our 40 ft just fine and we have a couple thousand pounds to spare. It isn't as nice to travel in but not too bad, but it is really nice once you get there. The class c was terribly underpowered and barely made it through the mountains. The class a gasser did okay in the mountains but we didn't pass many gas stations. I really would like to move to a DP when we retire in a couple of years but the costs are a little scary. Good Luck and remember you will see people having a great time in all sorts of RV's and you will also see people miserable in the top of the line DP. How much fun you have is kind of up to the person. IMO

[Freqz]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

No you didn't it's a joke as your post, lighten up, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? People have different opinions, accept that and good night. Don't have time for this....