5th Wheeler VS RV
what are the benefits of a 5th wheeler VS an RV. We are a couple wanting to purchase and travel USA for 12 months
Forum Discussion
I made the choice for a 5th wheel because it was more economical.
I figured a motor home would cost about $80K, and a pull-behind vehicle about $25K, total $100K plus.
I figured (and in fact did) buy a new 5th wheel for $30K and a used F250 for $26K, total of $56K. 18 months ago I traded the used truck for a high-end new one, for a difference of about another $28K. My investment is still well below the Class A option.
Other considerations: if the truck breaks down, you can take it anywhere to get it fixed, usually pretty inexpensively. If a motor home breaks down, you are limited with where you can take it and repairs are usually VERY expensive. And time-consuming. I read once that getting a under-dash heater fan on a motor home replaced cost $5000. Probably would be $300 in a truck. And when you read complaints about warranty issues in various publications, where the magazine goes to bat for the person, the costs listed are real eye-openers. So far, having pulled my 5th wheel about 25K miles over three years, my maintenance costs are under $1000, most of which was tires.
One final note: if you aren't at least somewhat handy at fixing minor things, either a 5th or a MH can get expensive. There are a lot of little things, 20 minute fixes, that crop up from time to time.
I figured a motor home would cost about $80K, and a pull-behind vehicle about $25K, total $100K plus.
I figured (and in fact did) buy a new 5th wheel for $30K and a used F250 for $26K, total of $56K. 18 months ago I traded the used truck for a high-end new one, for a difference of about another $28K. My investment is still well below the Class A option.
Other considerations: if the truck breaks down, you can take it anywhere to get it fixed, usually pretty inexpensively. If a motor home breaks down, you are limited with where you can take it and repairs are usually VERY expensive. And time-consuming. I read once that getting a under-dash heater fan on a motor home replaced cost $5000. Probably would be $300 in a truck. And when you read complaints about warranty issues in various publications, where the magazine goes to bat for the person, the costs listed are real eye-openers. So far, having pulled my 5th wheel about 25K miles over three years, my maintenance costs are under $1000, most of which was tires.
One final note: if you aren't at least somewhat handy at fixing minor things, either a 5th or a MH can get expensive. There are a lot of little things, 20 minute fixes, that crop up from time to time.
