Community Forums

tktoth1 · 07-25-2013, 07:40 PM

We, my wife and I, are another couple in the planning stage of going full time rv'ing in Jan., 2017.
1) We want to full time because we have one adult child's family in northwest Ohio and one adult child's family in the greater Houston area. And, we cannot afford a residence in both places. So, we sell our Condo and fulltime.
2) Right now we are investigating whether to get a 5er or class A, and we like homey feel of 5er. Buy a 5er, I work for Ford so get a F350/450 depending on 5er. Leave one car in NW Ohio, and one in Houston for frequent travels. And, visit sites in between using our truck as a short term travel vehicle. What do you think based on this? 5er or class A?
3) So we are looking into which 5er mfg. we like and which model. Quality and insulation is top priority. DRV & Redwood are top contenders. Best balance for quality & floorplans. Still looking so when we are ready we can can see if any used units meet our needs in order to avoid the 20-30% immediate depreciation campared to a new unit. Go to RV shows in 2014 and full time work shops. Also, plan to drive a friends 5er to get the feel of towing. BUT!! We are looking for input from those of you which have owned both 5er's and MH's, and like MH's better. Just know that the majority of the time we will be in Ohio & Texas with side trips to see the country. The advantages of a MH while driving are not a priority for us. So, that is why we think a 5er is best for our situation.
4) Early 2014 buy a used 4000lb. range GVWR trailer ($10K or less) that I can tow with my Ford Flex in order to get the RV feel and check out campgrounds to be our full time base in NW Ohio and Houston. Min. requirement is trailer has bathroom with shower. What used trailer mfg. would have good resale if we only own for 2 yrs.? We would love to go full time now, but I cannot retire until Jan. 2017 so living up north in a RV all winter is not appealing. And, I cannot afford our Condo and a 5er, we will need to sell the Condo to fund the 5er.
5) Late 2016/ Early we plan to trade in the trailer and buy the full time RV.
Any other advice? We have talked to (2) full timers one on one and read the website Could RV Living Be Your Dream? Let's Find Out!!.
All input is appreciated!
Thanks!

bdickson · 07-25-2013, 07:43 PM

Sounds like you have some great plans worked out! I'm sure there will be members along shortly to help you decide between a 5er and a MH.

JFXG · 07-26-2013, 01:18 AM

tktoth1.... Welcome! I'm sure you'll have a host of opinions and truckloads of advice. For now, you're doing the right thing-- looking at general factors, taking an overview before you try too hard to refine the details.

My wife and I started fulltiming about a year ago. Our decision was to buy a motorhome. In fact, two days ago, July 23, was the first anniversary of our coach purchase, although we didn't actually move into the coach and hit the road until Aug 15.

We gave serious thought to a 5er. It seems like you get more space for a given length in a fiver (I suppose that depends on floorplan), but we were traveling with cats; we didn't want to keep them in cages in the back seat of the truck, and we couldn't leave them alone in the trailer. Also, we both were leery of the idea of arriving someplace in the rain and having to move us and the cats to the 5er, whereas in a MH you can just set the brake and wait. In actuality, this last factor has turned out to never have been a factor.

Whatever you decide, good luck with it. You're going about it correctly, giving yourselves plenty of time to hash things over and decide what your preferences are. Keep us posted!

**CLIFFTALL** · 07-26-2013, 03:44 AM

Welcome to irv2.

Cliff

smack2020 · 07-26-2013, 07:07 AM

Welcome, the 5ver vs Motorhome is an age old question. I recommend renting both, not at the same time of course, to help you decide. Lots of info here and on the Escapee Forum. Have fun.

jamvir · 07-26-2013, 11:43 AM

Hey tktoth1,

We aren't full-timers yet, but are planning on going full time in 2016. In the past we have had pop-ups and a Class C, and have had our 5er for 4 years. When we retire we will be buying a larger 5er for full-time living. They have more room than a MH; if the tow vehicle needs service we still have our home to live in; if the home breaks down we still have our tow vehicle to drive - and all this without towing an extra vehicle - which also requires maintenance. Set-up and take-down time between MH and 5er - probably about the same since you have to connect and disconnect the toad. And with a toad behind the MH you can't back up very far!

Only you will be able to decide the floor plan. My best advice for this is to look at a lot of different floor plans, spend a lot of time in each type of floor plan and pretend you are doing things, such as watching tv, cooking, using the john, taking a shower, etc - just don't get too carried away when you pretend you're in bed!

I would buy a high quality used rig before buying a middle-of-the-road new rig. Also, 4-season isn't the same as a honest-to-goodness full-time rig. The high-end manufacturers won't be at a lot of the RV shows, so you might have to go to them to tour their plants. IMHO the ones to look at for full-timing: NuWa (not manufacturing anymore but still have parts and service and they sell other brands), Excel (Peterson Industries); DRV (not for us, as you can't get to the toilet without opening a slide); New Horizons (they will custom build a rig); Space Craft (also a custom builder); Arctic Fox (Norhwoods Manufacturing).

The floor plan we want is only available in a new rig at this time from Excel (model 38RDE) or a custom builder. It seems like most of the manufacturers think everyone wants a rig that is completely open between the kitchen and living room; we want a rig where the kitchen and living room are 2 separate areas - and no, we don't want a front kitchen or front living room.

If you decide on a fifth wheel, and can swing it, buy a used 5er and tow vehicle now. Then you will have a much better idea of what you will want for a home after retiring. In our case, we have decided on many of the options we want in our home on wheels, and we wouldn't have had a clue about them without gaining this experience first-hand.

Have fun with your research - these are exciting times.

Jim

Wayne M · 07-26-2013, 12:01 PM

tktoth1,
Welcome.

I satisfy the conditions of your request. I owned and operated a 5er (Montana 3400RL towed with a 2005 F350 Dually, King Ranch, Long Bed, 4wd) and now have a 40 foot DP. Why the change? In the days when i owned that 5er, everything was manual, and it wore me out. One day as I was red in the face DW said, "Why don't you buy a motorhome before you kill yourself!"

Argh! Argh!

However today many of the 5er models have everything automatic and even remote control. Push the button and the level just like a MH. So with that said:

We found the 5er had better organized space. Consider that with a 40 ft fiver (Montana 3400RL was 39' and some inches) all the space is utilized as living space, whereas the MH is about useless from the driver/passenger set and forward, except when driving. As you know, there are some rewards for having every thing contaned when it is time for DW to get up and go to the bathroom, or you want a quick snack driving down the road. The MH has its advantages in that area.

If you plan on travel, stop and sight-see, travel, stop and sight-see, then the MH may be a better choice. If you plan on staying in one place for a time I'd prefer the 5er. Also consider the maintenance cost for each, with the MH being more expensive to maintain than the 5er.

So for me, should I have to choose again, staying in one spot for long periods of time would be the 5er. Traveling every day or 2 or 3 would be the MH. However, with the noew leveling systems on the 5er and automation, it would be a difficult choice.

Happy trails.

RickO · 07-26-2013, 12:16 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I agree you're going about it in the right way.

As you know, this topic has been discussed here at length but IMHO, if you REALLY believe that you'll be spending your time mostly in those two locations... and you plan to have a car at both locations... a fiver would probably be your best bet.

The floorplans offer much more variety and IMO more livable space. We went with a DP because we have three dogs and because we are "roamers" who didn't want to have to use the big tow vehicle as an everyday transportation car. Plus... I wanted a DP.

Best of luck.

Rick

tktoth1 · 07-26-2013, 05:53 PM

Thank you so much for all the great input! Very helpful, and encouraging, for our road to full timing!! We will get mining into all the information in the forums.

WannaBFlTmer · 07-27-2013, 05:19 AM

Just a thought from a MH owner, not fulltimer yet-if you have cars at each place, why not enjoy the journey 2x a year? You won't have a toad and you won't need the truck when you arrive.

Can't beat the panoramic, convenience of mobile rest area/restaurant; visibility and safety of being above the crowd in heavy rain and traffic; and that amazing MH comfortable ride (seats and suspension)! I get excited just getting ready to drive. I always tell DW that I love the actual driving on our trips. I hated pre-MH car trips! Just got back from a short 20 day, 2K drive through Ontario/Northern MI in 5 campgrounds. Pull in, plug in, enjoy. Get up, unplug, drive away. And no travel fatigue.

But I've never owned a 5'ver-just worked on them (interior detailer for Ohio dealer)-they are nice, and I have been tempted!

WannaBFlTmer · 07-27-2013, 05:21 AM

I mean "panoramic views"

alm on forhead:

pops2 · 08-08-2013, 09:27 PM

just a thought is put the value of 2 things and see what best fits you 1/ money 2/ health

cost of a tow vehicle (50000 to 60000) and the cost of a 5'r ( 50000 to 60000) add that up and put it against the price of a MH ( even used)

2/ having to set up a 5'r with blocks and disconnect and all that goes ( i know as I have COPD) is not so nice when the years creep up on you. Then the reattachement of the rig and putting awayall your blocks and stuff.

vs. driving in put down the landing gaer, open the door and enjoy a wobbly pop and enjoy.

That is why went from a 5'r to 41 foot MH and now the fun begins.

tuffr2 · 08-09-2013, 08:34 AM

This is an age old question for sure. I wanted a diesel pusher. I looked, observed, analyzed, calculated, fantasized, contemplated, this exact same question.

Came to the conclusion there is no easy way to do it. No perfect answer. Each has major drawbacks. For me it was 6.25 of one and 5.75 of the other.

The cost of a nice used DP was 150k to 200k. The cost of a nice new truck and very nice new 5er was 110k. The new trucks are very nice and when pulling a 5er and are stable and quiet with no fatigue.

But why go full time? You can keep the condo as a great home base. Buy a nice used gas coach to travel to the other spot.
Spend summers in NW Ohio, and winters in the Houston area.

Groovy · 08-09-2013, 05:08 PM

Sounds like a great plan.

Another thing you might consider is to go full-time in your first $10k trailer and then upgrade after you have been full-time for a while.

We did that, and what I liked about that strategy was that we were able to visit RV factories and dealerships all over the country because we were full-timing and not living in our old house in our workaday life with just a few dealerships nearby.

By the time we made our fifth wheel purchase we had a stack of 5th wheel brochures 3 inches thick and we'd seen 5 factories and about 30 dealerships.

Shopping is fun, so take your time with it!!

Good luck...