16 foot vs 18 foot fifth wheel trailer?
New RV'er in need of advice. I'm trying to decide between a 16 foot and an 18 foot fifth wheel trailer (technically it's actually a gooseneck). I'm going to be RV'ing full time in it and would lik...
Forum Discussion
#1 your f350 is over-trucking a 16-18 foot trailer. You're going to transmit an awful lot of shock from the truck to the trailer, and things are going to start to fall apart. I'd look for things like issues with the welds on the hitch to start with.
#2 If you're going to be full-timing, you need to consider space for the essentials for daily living, that you mostly don't need for weekend camping. Storage space will be a premium.
#3 Think of things like pots and pans, micro wave/toaster oven, dishes, vacuum cleaner, mops and brooms, stuff to clean your car and camper. Where are you going to put all that stuff? Is there enough counter space for cooking?
#4 Where are you going to relax? Camper dinettes are notoriously uncomfortable, and the hide-a-bed couches aren't much better.
#5 What about things like a grill and lawn chairs? Where are you going to put them? It's no fun having to put them in your living space each time you move and getting them back out again. Ok for a weekend, but not for full-timing. That stuff gets old real fast.
#6 consider foul weather conditions. What's it going to be like being cooped-up in a very small camper for several days or weeks, especially if your wife is mad at you?
Don't get me wrong, it can be done. I know of some people who over-winter in Florida in a Class B. If it were me, I wouldn't want to full-time in anything less than something around a 27.5 unit with at least one or two slide-outs. Besides, a longer 5th wheel is actually easier to back into a campsite than a shorter one..ever try to back up a small pop-up? They can get out of whack in a hurry, and a 5th wheel would be worse.
My first 5th wheel was 23', and we did ok for multi-week vacations, but, I couldn't see full-timing in it. Well, to put things in perspective, when I began spending the winter months in Florida, I traded-in my 37.5' 5th wheel for a 40 footer with three slides. But, if people come over on a rainy day, we all have places to comfortably sit.
If you're set on that small, and with that truck, I'd even consider a slide-in truck camper, but, you're going to have similar space issues.
#2 If you're going to be full-timing, you need to consider space for the essentials for daily living, that you mostly don't need for weekend camping. Storage space will be a premium.
#3 Think of things like pots and pans, micro wave/toaster oven, dishes, vacuum cleaner, mops and brooms, stuff to clean your car and camper. Where are you going to put all that stuff? Is there enough counter space for cooking?
#4 Where are you going to relax? Camper dinettes are notoriously uncomfortable, and the hide-a-bed couches aren't much better.
#5 What about things like a grill and lawn chairs? Where are you going to put them? It's no fun having to put them in your living space each time you move and getting them back out again. Ok for a weekend, but not for full-timing. That stuff gets old real fast.
#6 consider foul weather conditions. What's it going to be like being cooped-up in a very small camper for several days or weeks, especially if your wife is mad at you?
Don't get me wrong, it can be done. I know of some people who over-winter in Florida in a Class B. If it were me, I wouldn't want to full-time in anything less than something around a 27.5 unit with at least one or two slide-outs. Besides, a longer 5th wheel is actually easier to back into a campsite than a shorter one..ever try to back up a small pop-up? They can get out of whack in a hurry, and a 5th wheel would be worse.
My first 5th wheel was 23', and we did ok for multi-week vacations, but, I couldn't see full-timing in it. Well, to put things in perspective, when I began spending the winter months in Florida, I traded-in my 37.5' 5th wheel for a 40 footer with three slides. But, if people come over on a rainy day, we all have places to comfortably sit.
If you're set on that small, and with that truck, I'd even consider a slide-in truck camper, but, you're going to have similar space issues.
