Motorhome to 5th wheel

I personally don't miss our MH at all. I love the extra room and all the huge windows in the back three walls/slides in the 5W. Something not offered in MHs. The reason we changed to a 5W from a MH is our traveling style has changed. More time in each location, vs always on the go with the MH. They both have reasonable tradeoffs depending on the persons needs.

I find so many of the RV 'debates' are really personal preferences and suited to ones own personal travel style. An endless string of tradeoffs that need to be prioritized and selected for each person. Whats important to one is insignificant to another. Whats important to you is what matters most. Not an easy thing for other to advise you on. Make a list of priorities and see how they both stack up.

I went from a 29' motorhome w/o slides to a 29' fiver with 3 slides. Although I enjoyed my MH I decided to go fiver since I was full-timing and found he fiver to be more acceptable to my lifestyle, which generally meant staying for an extended amount of time in each location. The increase in room was quite dramatic, although I do get along fine in smaller RV's.

At this time, I'm not RVing. A stroke put me out of the picture. If I ever get to the point where I can RV again I may choose a small MH since that would be easier to handle than a truck/fiver combo. if I was back to my original self I'd probably return to a fiver or possibly a small trailer. I don't need a lot of room.

I see there at least two of you. I think you'd like going with a fiver. Be sure you have a truck robust enough to handle the weight.
I pulled with a 1 ton diesel. There will also be a learning curve on handling the combo, especially backing into a site. Shouldn't be too intimidating, though. Yes, I'll always be an RVer at heart! ;)

wilber1 wrote:


I don't know. There have been times when overnighting in torrential rain it would have been nice to just press one button, the coach levels, press another and the slides go out, press another and the geny starts. Can't do that with a 5th wheel.

I don't tow with the furnace running and you can't run AC so we also have to wait for the rig to warm up or cool down after we get where we are going. We really like our 5th wheel but motorhomes do have their good points.

Plenty of newer FWs have remotes to control leveling.

Plenty of newer FWs have a "house" remote to control slides, awnings and lights. Some "house" remotes also have the leveling function.

If you've got an on-board genny, most of them have remote start inside the coach as well as a fob for "outside" remote start. If you've left the AC on, it'll fire up as soon as the genny starts.

So, get situated on your site, use the remote(s) to get more-or-less level, put the slides out, put the awing out, start the genny, make a dash for the door.

Lyle

Keep in mind, especially with the newer Keystone FW's with the N-Command system, most of the trailers functions can be set up using the app on your smartphone. No need to get out in the rain. And you can run the generator/fridge/AC while traveling

Understood if you don’t need to disconnect the toad to park. “Depends”

Cummins12V98 wrote:

wilber1 wrote:
For me.

Motorhome. Easier setup, especially in bad weather. You get to drive a car when you aren't travelling instead of a 1 Ton, but you have another powertrain to maintain..


5th Wheel, More room and decent sized kitchens with enough counter space and decent sized pantries. I've come to the conclusion that motor home owners must eat out a lot.

It also depends on whether you have other uses for a truck. I tow other trailers and a boat.

I think disconnecting Toad in the rain THEN pulling into space is MUCH worse setting up in the rain than a 5er.

I don't know. There have been times when overnighting in torrential rain it would have been nice to just press one button, the coach levels, press another and the slides go out, press another and the geny starts. Can't do that with a 5th wheel.

I don't tow with the furnace running and you can't run AC so we also have to wait for the rig to warm up or cool down after we get where we are going. We really like our 5th wheel but motorhomes do have their good points.

Wha would make your family happy. We love our fifth wheel, it has everything we need and it did not cost 200,000 plus. We can park, unhook and have a vehicle to drive. Happy travels and be safe.

Colo Native wrote:
I went from a Class A to a FW got rid of the FW in 1 1/2 years now have a TT and love it. If you go to a FW you need more truck than you think and new they are 60K up and most FW require a 1 ton min. We hated the stairs inside and I hated hooking and unhooking I have a short bed and had a slider hitch that was a PITA.JMHO

1) You do NOT necessarily need a 1t truck if you choose your FW carefully. Even then, a 1t SRW isn't much more than a 3/4t and does give you a lot more options.

2) Stairs? Yeah, you've got some stairs into your trailer. My FW only has stairs into the bath and bedroom, neither of which I use all that much.

3) You hated hooking and unhooking a FW, yet messing about with a WT hitch for your TT is =easier=? Hmmmmm...

4) Long bed alleviates the need for a slider. Care when turning/backing alleviates the need for a slider with a short bed. I =have= taken out my glass when backing up, but even a slider won't stop you from hitting your truck if you're not careful.

Lyle

My real feelings are buy what you like and feel good for what others buy. I might have thoughts on what is better for us but don't express them to others with a different style. I am happier when a fifth parks next to us or a TT.

chevman

wilber1 wrote:
For me.

Motorhome. Easier setup, especially in bad weather. You get to drive a car when you aren't travelling instead of a 1 Ton, but you have another powertrain to maintain..


5th Wheel, More room and decent sized kitchens with enough counter space and decent sized pantries. I've come to the conclusion that motor home owners must eat out a lot.

It also depends on whether you have other uses for a truck. I tow other trailers and a boat.

I think disconnecting Toad in the rain THEN pulling into space is MUCH worse setting up in the rain than a 5er.