I am fairly new to the RV scene. I have a 2008 Keystone pull behind but am looking at getting a newer and larger 5th wheel unit. I have a Ram 2500 Mega Cab 6'4" bed 4X4 with the 6.4 Hemi. It is rated to pull 15,200 lbs. We will be looking for something in the 9K-11K lightweight trailer and try and keep the max weight below 13K or so. It is just me and the wife traveling 95% of the time, but there is the occasional grandkid tagging along at times. We are totally confused what to get. I think we've actually looked at too many RV's and there are a bunch out there. I am trying to get some real world evaluations from real people who use RV's quite a bit. I fully understand the majority of units regardless of who built them use the same components and such. But so far I am of a thought that the actual construction of the trailer plays a much larger role in the reliability of the unit than pretty furniture and size of the fridge. Any recommendations on units that are reliably build but meet my weight limitations? Thanks for any offered help. Bob

I certainly understand how quickly it starts to make you dizzy. We started looking again a couple of months ago and I had to push it aside for a bit.Nobody makes a bad 5er, so you're off to a good start :). Until you get into custom builds, I don't think you will see a dimes worth of difference in quality - they all are less than great. Take your favorite ones and site down inside, get a feel for the comfort and features, and it will come to you. If you are in cold areas, know the thickness of the walls and whether they are covered underneath. At the higher weights you listed (13K), you are probably going to want 7K axles.Happy shopping.

For 5ers in the same price range, I don't think you are going to find a lot of difference in the quality from one manufacturer to another. For everyone who has posted positive comments about a particular brand/model there is someone else who posted about problems with it. Find the floor plan that most appeals to you. Then narrow it down to 2 or 3 manufacturers with similar floor plans and choose the one you like best and has a local dealer/service department with a good reputation.

glad you are asking before buying. saw a couple yesterday, have a ford 250 with gas engine. just purchased a used triple axle 3 slide 38 ft 5er. they were told it would work.I was told to always look at cargo capacity ahead of pulling.my brother says and does pull the said weight, but cant stop in emergency.we just purchased a 2001 30 ft cardinal rear kitchen. we love it. have found there are many different floor plans. when our slides are in, we still have access to what we need. we like rear kitchen over the rear chairs.do a detailed walk thru and check slides.

With fifth wheels the critical truck stat is carry capacity not tow weight. Use 25% of the max weight of the fver as a rough estimate of the pin weight of the fver. For example on a 10,000# max weight fver, use 2500# as the pin weight estimate. Then then subtract from the trucks carry weight: pin weight + 200# hitch weight + weight of the passengers + any thing else carried in the truck. If you come up with a negative number then you have a problem. This is a big problem with most 3/4 ton trucks.

Our RVs have always been chosen based upon the floorplan. Which floorplan best fits our needs.We look for floorplans where there are no bottleneck areas- for example if someone is washing dishes do they have to move out of the way for someone else to get by.We ask ourselves if we were on a trip and the weather is so bad we have to stay inside the RV for several days or a week will cabin fever kick in. Is there spaces where she can go (dining area) and do her thing and I can go and do my thing (Living room recliner) so we don't end up killing each other.I also look at the outside to determine storage, ease of dumping, utility hook up, ground clearance...etc.Like others have said most RVs are reliable and will stay together for many years of use as long as they are proper maintained and not abused.

Non 5'er----yet | Good Sam Community

55 Replies

the_bear_II
Explorer
Jan 13, 2016
Our RVs have always been chosen based upon the floorplan. Which floorplan best fits our needs.

We look for floorplans where there are no bottleneck areas- for example if someone is washing dishes do they have to move out of the way for someone else to get by.

We ask ourselves if we were on a trip and the weather is so bad we have to stay inside the RV for several days or a week will cabin fever kick in. Is there spaces where she can go (dining area) and do her thing and I can go and do my thing (Living room recliner) so we don't end up killing each other.

I also look at the outside to determine storage, ease of dumping, utility hook up, ground clearance...etc.

Like others have said most RVs are reliable and will stay together for many years of use as long as they are proper maintained and not abused.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 13, 2016
With fifth wheels the critical truck stat is carry capacity not tow weight. Use 25% of the max weight of the fver as a rough estimate of the pin weight of the fver. For example on a 10,000# max weight fver, use 2500# as the pin weight estimate.

Then then subtract from the trucks carry weight: pin weight + 200# hitch weight + weight of the passengers + any thing else carried in the truck. If you come up with a negative number then you have a problem. This is a big problem with most 3/4 ton trucks.
bbaker2001
Explorer
Jan 13, 2016
glad you are asking before buying.
saw a couple yesterday, have a ford 250 with gas engine. just purchased a used triple axle 3 slide 38 ft 5er. they were told it would work.
I was told to always look at cargo capacity ahead of pulling.
my brother says and does pull the said weight, but cant stop in emergency.

we just purchased a 2001 30 ft cardinal rear kitchen. we love it. have found there are many different floor plans. when our slides are in, we still have access to what we need. we like rear kitchen over the rear chairs.

do a detailed walk thru and check slides.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jan 13, 2016
For 5ers in the same price range, I don't think you are going to find a lot of difference in the quality from one manufacturer to another. For everyone who has posted positive comments about a particular brand/model there is someone else who posted about problems with it. Find the floor plan that most appeals to you. Then narrow it down to 2 or 3 manufacturers with similar floor plans and choose the one you like best and has a local dealer/service department with a good reputation.
Mile_High
Explorer
Jan 13, 2016
I certainly understand how quickly it starts to make you dizzy. We started looking again a couple of months ago and I had to push it aside for a bit.

Nobody makes a bad 5er, so you're off to a good start :). Until you get into custom builds, I don't think you will see a dimes worth of difference in quality - they all are less than great.

Take your favorite ones and site down inside, get a feel for the comfort and features, and it will come to you. If you are in cold areas, know the thickness of the walls and whether they are covered underneath. At the higher weights you listed (13K), you are probably going to want 7K axles.

Happy shopping.

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Non 5'er----yet

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