HiWe have a 2008 HR class A diesel and pull a car. Have had repair after repair, the worst of which is the breaking of slide cables. Body count at 8. The MH was purchased new 2010 and has 18K. My question for all you fivers is. Are fifth wheels easy to use for weekend trips, 1 or 2 week vacations with multiple stops, sometimes just over night?We are not yet retired, two more years, but we will not full time after we do retire. Just winter south for a few months. We like fifth wheels and considered one before the class A, but I have no other need for 3500 series diesel PU crew cab, we have 4 dogs. ThanksDon

OK, Don! You have convinced me to NEVER give into my fleeting desire to have a motor coach! Watching and talking to others at our snowbird park the same story comes up again and again. They also have to buy their propane(if they have that for heat and cooking) at really high prices from the truck that comes to the park.Regarding 3500 series diesel PU, they have become very refined and great daily drives now.Chris

Crew cab trucks can sit three adults comfortably in the back. Unless your dogs are large breed there should be no problem for them back there. You will find that, depending on thsmlength of fiver your considering, you will probably have more living space with a fiver. Down side? Other than bathroom breaks while moving I see none.

the biggest downside I see with a 5er of any size, is that you need a monster TV which I wouldn't want to drive around cities or narrow forest roads, etc. I much preferred a MH with a small Toad for those excursions.Just because he got a lemon with problems doesn't mean everybody did. bumpy

Not having any experience with those types of units all I can go by is my fiver....simply put...love it!!Easy hook-up & setup and following your camping description that is what we do.I'm sure there are +/- for everything, just find that we like our current set-up.

We had a coach n' toad too,on a family trip to Marten River as I was going down the hill that goes into North Bay the brakes suddenly felt mushy,i was able to stop and went to the nearest Canadian Tire store only to be told they don't work on motorhomes,that piece of junk turned into a fiver and a Dodge 3500 right quick!!! As far as how convenient a fifth wheel set-up is I can park,unhook,level and extend my slides in about 15 minutes or so without breaking a sweat and that's without a auto-levelling system too(my next big purchase)and there is a definite learning curve but after a bit it becomes second nature. In my opinion there is a real difference in costs,you reduce the need for maintaining a second vehicle and oil changes and such are easier to get done. If you do go to the dark side with the rest of us be serious about your tow vehicle,i would recommend a 3500 diesel dually with a 8' box,it's a bit hard to park at the walmart but I always park at the back to avoid getting door dinged by idiots but with the right truck you'll be very pleasantly surprised by the ride,my coach made me feel like one of those oarsman chained to a paddle,after6 hours i'm toast,with my rig I can go all day,it tracks like its on rails and that 6.7L Cummins rolls down the road with authority and my exhaust brake makes easy work of the backside of those smokey mountains! Your on the right track! Red Green:They say necessity is the mother of invention, don't know who the father is, probably remorse.

To Fifth wheel from Class A with toad | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

Pop-Pop_C
Explorer
May 22, 2013
Have had both, MH, and 2 fivers. Daily living is better tin the fivers.
Nice recliner.Don't have to sit on acouch and crane my neck around to see the TV.
setting up and tearing down /(leveling) is easier I the MH. AUTO LEVELING I THE FIVER HELPS.
mr__ed
Explorer
May 20, 2013
I made the change from a Class A/toad to fiver/TV six years ago. I can only state that BOTH have about equal pluses and minuses. I love my fiver with 3 slides (MH had none). I do miss my Saturn toad, though. It was completely reliable and great on gas. I have to use my diesel truck as a daily driver since I travel regularly and can't keep another vehicle.

If I stayed in one place most of the year I'd certainly get a small car and leave the diesel for towing. The fuel savings would be substantial and no doubt would practically pay for the car over time. (i.e., a friend's Prius gets about 50+ MPG as opposed to an estimated 14-15 MPG around town in my truck).
Bumpyroad
Explorer
May 20, 2013
hone eagle wrote:

Just how do you imagine the logging /forest roads got there?
Dont worry you'll fit

it's not a matter of will it fit. I don't want to ding up my TV going on those logging roads. junk yours up if you want to.
bumpy
hone_eagle
Explorer
May 20, 2013
RetSgt7114 wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
the biggest downside I see with a 5er of any size, is that you need a monster TV which I wouldn't want to drive around cities or narrow forest roads, etc. I much preferred a MH with a small Toad for those excursions.
Just because he got a lemon with problems doesn't mean everybody did.
bumpy

Ditto

Just how do you imagine the logging /forest roads got there?
Dont worry you'll fit
mountainkowboy
Explorer
May 20, 2013
We went from TC, to 5er, to Moho, to TC, and are settling back to a 5er.

IMO...if your a sitter, a 5er. If your a traveler, a Moho. We like to sit for a while and with the Moho....they don't like to sit. Its a vehicle with a drivetrain, sitting is not good for them. The 5er doesn't care, there is no drivetrain to deal with and the TV is your driver when parked. I've always owned at least a 3/4 ton truck, so its no big deal to use it for around town errands.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
May 20, 2013
badbob1 wrote:
If you can drive a monster MH I bet you can handle a bit smaller monster truck and 5th wheel. I have owned both and for us the fiver is best for us.
Have Fun
BadBob

but I don't try to handle my monster MH on dugway and other nonsensical roads. that is where I use my small 4x4 vehicle. the MH stays on semi decent roads, unless I drive on I-59 in ALA.
bumpy
ricatic
Explorer
May 19, 2013
I have had them all...but a travel trailer...tent, popup, Class C motor home, 2 Class A gas motor homes and a 36 foot Diesel Pusher...now a 35 foot Big Horn fiver.

I, too, never thought I would like another type of RV after going to Class A and a Diesel Pusher motor home. I towed Jeep Grand Cherokee's behind my motor home's...life was good.

I now think differently. The motor homes sat for long periods between long trips. We did make some short trips. When the girls were smaller, the motor homes made travel easier.Today, that has changed.

Now there is just the two of us...and the wunderdachshund...I find hooking up to the fiver no more time consuming than hooking up the Jeeps behind the motor homes. My last motor home was very nice...this Big Horn is just as nice...and has a lot more room...and livability. The tow vehicle is my daily driver and I see no big disadvantage in that regard.

Because of the ease of towing, relative ease of parking the rig and the excellent livability of the fiver, we will likely be in fivers until we stop camping.

Regards
badbob1
Explorer
May 19, 2013
If you can drive a monster MH I bet you can handle a bit smaller monster truck and 5th wheel. I have owned both and for us the fiver is best for us.
Have Fun
BadBob
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
May 19, 2013
I have had both. I prefer the 5er now. I used to think I would never be happy with anything but a MH. Really takes me no longer to set up 5er than mh.
Me_Again
Explorer III
May 19, 2013
Don A L wrote:
As I suspected still a coin toss. With a Dodge Caravan, Sub. Outback and a Z4 for fun, I still have a problem with a 35K-40K truck sitting unused but for 6 or so weeks we use the MH now.

As I write this four days into a two week vacation, with a broken slide cable! Bedroom slide. Having just had a living room cable replaced two weeks ago, from a pre vacation weekend trip after winter storage. Oh and had to replace the hot water heater pressure valve, leaking, yesterday. Maybe we will just start full timing and live here, just west of lovely Detroit.

Don and very sad DW

Your MH sits unused with its drive train not being used. It is much easier to exercise the drive train of a PU than a MH!

Chris