Help for choosing new 5th wheel

aka4170 wrote:
We travel 6 weeks every summer with our teenage daughters, dog and cat to our National Parks and Historical sites. We do a little weekend camping other weekends.

We have a 2012 Keystone Outback 312 BH 10th anniversary 35 foot with an outdoor kitchen and have LOVED it. The bunkhouse is for the daughters and we even removed the couch under the one bunk and the dog crate goes there. We love the two entry also (one to main area and one for the bathroom).

Looking to upgrade to a 5th wheel. Husband must have outdoor kitchen. I would still like two entries but will bend. Still would need two beds for the daughters.

Any suggestions on a 5th wheel, under 10,000 pounds that would have two bunks? Looking to keep it under $35K.

thanks in advance. There are so many out there and it is overwhelming thought I would ask here. I also see Outback does not make a 5th wheel anymore.

KZ makes 3 different bunkhouse models in their Durango 1500 line, 2 with a 10.5k GVW and the largest with an 11.5k GVW. They are the D280BHS and D286BHS, both at 33'11" length, with the 286 having a 3rd slide in the bedroom. Both have sinks and 2-burner stoves outside, but no fridge. The D292BHT comes with an outside fridge =and= 2nd bathroom and 2nd entrance. I know that, new, they'd be =well= above your budget, but you might be able to pick up a nice used one.

Jayco has 2 different BH models in their '19 Eagle HT lineup and I know they've had them in previous years, too. Both the current models tip the scales at 11k GVW. Check out their archive for older model floorplans and you might be able to find a used one.

Lyle

There are a few, but I don't know that they will be a step up at that price point in quality from what you have, some examples,,,
https://www.rv007.com/2019-forest-river-cherokee-arctic-wolf-265dbh8-new-fifth-wheel-va-i2309687
This ad for the Crossroads doesn't have the floorplan but its easy to find
https://www.rv007.com/2019-crossroads-cruiser-aire-29bh-new-fifth-wheel-sc-i2367355
https://www.rv007.com/2019-keystone-cougar-half-ton-32bhs-new-fifth-wheel-va-i2369781
https://www.rv007.com/2019-keystone-cougar-half-ton-32dbh-new-fifth-wheel-va-i2356716
A few ideas at least, these are from one dealer near me that I knew had some small to med BH units.
Good luck.

Sandpiper makes I think a BH w/ outdoor kitchen. Not sure, but what about mid bunks? They may weigh more than what you want, but a thought.

Another thought. Hershey RV is a month away. Good time to go and check out units you have on a list. We are going down for Fri and Sat to scope out the indoor stuff as we just bought a new RV last year.

You didn't mention what your tow vehicle is, but the 10K limit would indicate it's not a vehicle with a lot of towing capacity. Keep in mind that, while travel trailers put about 12% of the loaded weight/GVWR on the hitch, the average fifth wheel puts about 23% of the loaded weight/GVWR on the pin. Most single rear wheel trucks will max out on payload with a fifth wheel before they hit the max tow rating. If you're towing with a 1/2-ton, you may have an issue by the time you load yourselves, two teens, the dogs, and other stuff in the truck. The lightest fifth wheel hitches are about 50 lbs. (Andersen Ultimate) and conventional hitches start at 150 lbs. and go up. That has to be subtracted from your payload, too.

That said, The Reflecton 290BH by Grand Design might meet most of your requirements:

GD Reflection 290BH

Rob

I guess I didn't realize how much weight a fifth wheel puts on the truck but it makes sense. But, I don't know many 1/4 tons with much more than 2K capacity so when you hook up you are already over I would think. I have like 1550 with my Ram.

We have been looking around for when we retire and I am planning on budgeting in a 3500 Ram as part of the package but am interested in roughly the same weight and around 31 foot length.

We were looking at a Puma 286RBSS. http://palominorv.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=362&Image=15363&ModelID=3127#Main The unloaded vehicle weight is 7424 lbs and a 1240 lb hitch weight (Remember, it will be hundreds more loaded) and is under 31 feet.

It has the outdoor kitchen and bunks and a big u shaped dinette and a decent couch across from the entertainment center with storage underneath. We saw one new for 27,300 at our dealer D and D RV in Helena MT (we have no sales tax either). We are fortunate to have a very good dealer imho. The one negative per your requirements is that it has one door. But at that price, I can upgrade my tow vehicle and be into a set up including a new Ram 3500 for 70 to 75K at retirement and be set to go for a few years.

Aside
Of interest from our dealer here in MT is that they told Puma to take the induction stove out of the outdoor kitchen and replaced it with a drawer and storage where it was (middle version of outdoor kitchen)and a cutting board. They noted, that the manufacturers have used some of their ideas over the years. As the salesman noted. the induction stove is stupid for dry camping (this is Montana)and if you want one, go buy it for forty bucks at Target. They put a swing around gas BBQ on the bumper for outdoor cooking. This is a nice set up all in all and at 27K, new seems like a steal. We saw a Forest River similar for 38K. Can't really see an 11K difference in quality.

aka4170 wrote:
Husband must have outdoor kitchen.

We cook 95% of our meals outdoors. IMO outdoor kitchens (like sunroofs in cars) sound good until you have one. A good propane grill plus a camp stove (?) on a foldable table works much better than an outdoor kitchen. You can connect the grill to a small refillable 10 lb propane tank (like we do) or to your large 30 lb tanks with an extension hose.

You may wish to get other people thoughts on the subject.

An outdoor kitchen is what the significant other wants on our end. I'm thinking we would use it once or twice and then...not so much.

TenOC wrote:

aka4170 wrote:
Husband must have outdoor kitchen.

We cook 95% of our meals outdoors. IMO outdoor kitchens (like sunroofs in cars) sound good until you have one. A good propane grill plus a camp stove (?) on a foldable table works much better than an outdoor kitchen. You can connect the grill to a small refillable 10 lb propane tank (like we do) or to your large 30 lb tanks with an extension hose.

You may wish to get other people thoughts on the subject.

From what I have seen of outdoor kitchens from those camping with us, having never owned one, vs my foldable table is the ability to put everything away quickly. We park lots in Banff and jasper and keeping a bare campsite is strictly enforced. Nothing food related is to be left outside. My cousins and friends with the large outdoor kitchen just close the large hatch and are ready to go hiking, everything away. I have to fold up my grill and stove and put them away.

To the OP, the cougar bunkhouses and the grand design reflections 29bh are probably closest to what you want floorplan wise. Also KZ I think, they aren’t common around me so I don’t really know. I’ve been toying with upgrading from bumper pull also and it is very tough to find small (under 35’) 5th wheel bunkhouses.

Outdoor kitchens are kinda tricky in a fifth wheel, because the frame and floor are so much higher from the ground. They make them, just not as common as they are in pull behind trailers.

I would avoid them, but that's just preference.