Purchasing / Upgrade To A Fifth-Wheel

rookie_rv wrote:
Rookie Rver :C here! After many years of saying "NO" my "financial adviser" has said "yes" we can upgrade! We have a small 26' Class A and my thoughts (strong thoughts) are to get fifth-wheel. My thinking is get something with more living area, wont need a tow-able, no more engine maintenance, cheaper insurance, and bigger man-cave when parked in backyard.

I want a fifth-wheel that's well insulated, sturdy, and going to last inside and out. I want my first fifth-wheel to be my last. I'm thinking that an F250 will do the job of pulling it.

What are your suggestions/recommendations?

See my response to another post just a few minutes ago: http://forums.trailerlife.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29090924.cfm.

Biggest issue you'll face is PAYLOAD on a 250/2500 class truck, especially if it's an older truck, like mine ('02). My 11.3k GVW FW sets me squarely on the overloads and, when I'm running heavy, probably puts me over my "legal" weights by a bit. If you're looking at newer trucks, their payloads are much better, though it's still something you need to be very aware of when trailer shopping. Usual rule-of-thumb is to settle on a particular FW, =then= go truck shopping. Also, don't forget that you =can= get single rear wheel 350/3500 trucks, and usually for not a lot more than a 3/4T. Certainly gives you a =lot= more options for a FW, that's for sure. Wish I'd known that a long time ago...

Lyle