A change is coming..

Several years ago we were traveling east on I70 through Kansas and encountered an extremely powerful wind coming from the north-east. My first clue was when I noticed my fuel gauge seemed to be going down faster than usual. I stopped to refuel and noticed a bunch of motor homes and pull trailers parked all over the place. When I was done refueling a gentleman came up to me and asked me how I was managing to drive in the wind and pointed to all the MHs parked there, explaining they were all waiting the wind out. I guess I hadn't really noticed it was windy, we continued on with the only casualties being 7MPG on that stretch vs the 12MPG we had been getting and a window vent visor that was ripped in half by the wind. When pulling our 5th wheel, I have to constantly check to make sure it's behind me.

I would like to say thanks to everyone of you that posted to my post. I have always learned so much from these forums when I had my class A's. Now I am going to learn again with my 5th wheel.
Thanks,
Dan

I for one greatly appreciated Travels input,I have always used a 5th and wondered about the motorhomes i saw teetering down the hwy.
Not many can have that breadth of experience to input.
When I first started RVing across the plains (windy) all I noticed was a slight side to side 'jiggle' ,stopping for fuel the breeze about torn the door off and the motor homers at the fuel pumps were wringing with sweat -"man I need a break that was exhaust ing"
Everybody says travel a lot use a motorhome ,I say want to cover a lot of ground consistanly -truck and trailer ,besides on a per square foot to the dollar basis you are getting a lot more for your money.

travelnutz wrote:
Ever hear of "part in parcel"? Your problem is now solved since you are a newcomer of only a year to this forum!

Part in parcel or don't know how to limit a conversation to the topic?

Been here a lot longer than the name leads on, actually about 3 years longer than you....and you still think you are a legend.

Atom Ant,

There's a lot more to the difference between a class A and a 5th wheel when traveling or with ownership and the OP says he has never owned a 5th wheel so any real know info given that he can use should be of help to him but since you maybe think you know it all. If you don't want to read someone's posted info, simply go on to the next post or whatever as you are not who decides what a member can write in their post to be helpful to the OP! Ever hear of "part in parcel"? Your problem is now solved since you are a newcomer of only a year to this forum!

Class A or trailer, either one is affected by wind. Some more than others. The 5er is still a big box with lots of windage.

We lost our first one to a blowover. Broadside random huge sustained gust of wind coming down a mountain valley. The trailer was torn right out of the back of the truck & down an embankment. The truck stayed upright. Trailer totalled.

Had we been driving a class A at the time I think it would have gone over. Yes the wind was that strong.

Suggestion, if driving in wind, travel with a full watertank to lower center of gravity. The DRV can carry 100gal. That is an additional near 900# down at wheel level.

Good ol Travelnutz -

his answer to your question and then a whole bunch more you didn't ask for including some private conversation with Deb and Ed, again. Its stuff like this that sends these threads in 20 directions.

Geez

Having had 3 class C's, 4 class A's including a big heavy Allegro basement model, and having 3 Carriage 5th wheels 29'- 35' and a 36' 3 axle 18,000 GVWR - we can say from many years of experience that the crosswinds and 18 wheeler wind buffeting is a mere fraction of the rig moving or even being felt in the 5th wheels.

We are sitting in our 29' as I'm writing this 1250 miles from home. The ride is much better in the truck towing a 5th wheel or not towing and there's no rattles or jolts like in the A's and C's. Better fuel economy too. Setup for camping or leaving takes the same time or more with a MH towing a vehicle than with a 5th wheel and a tow vehicle. Overnighting, you just leave the rig connected.

Insurance and license registration cost is so much less with the 5th wheel and which state is your residency and registration makes a lot of difference. The 5th wheel in Michigan would have a one time fee of $75 to $250 registration fee for any pull behind trailer good for as long as you own it. Try that with a motorized RV and weep from both the insurance cost and yearly registration cost!

Also, motorized RV's depreciate at about double the rate of a 5th wheel and it's dual purpose tow vehicle for the same approx RV sizes.

Deb, with your 5th wheel you may have to walk about 5 or 10 more feet to use the potty because it always right behind you when traveling and you can pull off about anywhere or down an exit and back up the other side after using the potty.

I agree with Ed that your experience with ice north of Atlanta might not have turned out as well in your class C and I know we'd been off the Interstate and parked if we were in one of our class C's or A's like you probably noticed others had done also. They have lousy traction and the wind pushes them around constantly. God forbid if an 18 wheeler wizzes past you when you are on an icy patch! Looking back at the roadway where you also are supposed to be on is an awful sight to behold!

Stopping???? That's why the trailers have brakes.

Me Again wrote:

Pop-Pop C wrote:
A one ton Dooley May not be large enough for that model.
You can pull it but stopping and carrying it may be a problem!
IMHO!!

I do not believe you have recently looked at the big three's towing spec's.

Chris

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