Generic questions about 5-ers

way2roll wrote:
My only experience with owning RV's is Class A motor homes. As we look to part time next year (3-6 mos at a time) I am looking at new MH's. But I am curious about fifth wheels. They certainly offer more space to full or part time in but I know next to nothing about them. I know I would need a truck big enough but as I start to explore if it's even option I want to pursue I had a few questions. Forgive me if they've been asked before and excuse my complete ignorance - looking to educate myself.

Are they hard to maneuver, park, drive, navigating gas stations etc?
When you account for having a toad it's a wash. Some things are easier, some harder. Mostly just different.

Of course, you never have to go to a gas station with the 5er attached. You always have to take the motorhome when you fill the motorhome.

If I get something like an f250 diesel, what would mileage be?

We got 13mpg long term average when we had an old 7.3l Ford pulling a 9500lb 5er. Newer ones with all the emissions might be a bit worse but generally better by a good margin over class A motorhomes.

How are grades navigated?

Pretty much the same assuming you are comparing apples to apples.

A new diesel dually will likely outperform a gasser MH. The newer trucks have exhaust brakes and built in brake controllers, they are really nice machines and 5ers tow really nice.

what's set up like?

I always laugh when people say a MH saves them time. Assuming it's set up with the same toys (like auto leveling systems), there really is no difference to speak of. You still have to connect to the same utilities, you still have to hook up for towing (toad in the case of MH). It's just not an issue.

How hard is it to break camp and travel?

See last entry.

Quality is always suspect but what are the standard issues?

Pretty much same as you would find in a MH (unless you are comparing to top of the line diesel pushers but then you have to compare to top of the line custom 5ers...I don't have experience with either)

Care/maintenance?

Same as a MH for the house but you only have one drive train to take care of.

DW worries about them flipping over and taking the truck with it in an accident, wind or uneven terrain. is that risk real?

Sure, anything is possible but relative to a MH not much difference in risk. Anything you would be comfortable taking the MH out in, you can comfortably take the 5er out in.

I could go on, but already that's a lot of questions.

Thanks - any input is helpful.

As someone else mentioned, when comparing, an equivilent 5er is likely 4-6ft shorter because you aren't losing space to the cockpit area.

If the engine dies, it's easy to find a new pickup just about anywhere. MH, you have a much bigger item to replace.

Towing a 5er is usually limited by payload and figure 20-25% of the trailer weight is on the hitch, so 3/4 ton trucks can be marginal if you want a big trailer. A 15k lb trailer will likely have a pin weight north of 3,000lb. Up above 14k lb, my preference (others feel differently) is you are looking at 1 ton truck territory and probably dually.