Used 5th wheel &Truck purchase advice needed.

I am looking for advice.

Would like to travel off and on 2 to 3-1/2 months per year; thinking of July through mid-October, when I retire in 2018 and do more camping now. Been researching and looking hard.

We had a used 1992 lance 24 ft. 5th wheel for past twenty years and pulled it with a 99 Dodge 2500 Cummins Diesel 2 wheel drive. Yes, it looks like I will have to upgrade my truck to a newer one ton 350. It seems the newer 5th wheels in the 27 ft to 32 ft. or more range would take a one ton to pull the unit safely. Don't know if the single rear tire type 350 truck would be OK or it is much better to have a 350 dually? Believe me, this time around I will get a truck that is heavy duty “camper special” with disc brakes all the way around and a compression brake/Jake brake and or a heavy duty transmission like the GMC Alison to help slow you down going down hills. I don’t know what rear end gears to get.

I read where an RV normally loses 50% of its value after five years and that is why it is money wise to purchase a good used RV. Also my credit union/bank will not loan money on an RV that is older than 5 years old. So we are looking to purchase a used 5th wheel approximately five years old or so. Read where it really depends on how an RV was taken care of, stored and not so much the age of the unit.

We would like to get into state camp grounds, so my thinking is to stay in the range of 27 to 32 foot max. A 5th wheel that is not so cheaply constructed that it is a night mare to work on or repair. Something we can have for ten years plus without having a major headache each time we go to use it. I am an electrician and know how to use a tool or two so I can do my own maintenance. I have been think of something along the lines of Toyota Camry range quality; maybe a used Arctic Fox or Alpenlite type unit. I know they're heavy. And yea, I thought of spending around $35,000 at the very most, but found out fast that for a used RV even eight years old or newer you can spend $45,000 or more. We really don’t need and cannot afford new Rolls Royce/ Lexus high end quality unit, unless I find a super deal on a used Dream Suite RV or something like it I might stretch and little. Can’t see spending more than $45,000 for a RV no matter what brand of unit. Buying a 5th wheel, new/or newer truck and hope to build a storage unit so the RV will not sit outside and rot, we could be looking at $100,000 or more real fast.

Is it just too good to be true? I live in Oregon and heard that in Arizona there are a lot of RV’s where a member of the family has died and need to sell it. I have been told about snow birders that are unable to bring the RV back home and sell at low price. Basically I am asking if it is true and worth it to go to Arizona/snow bird states. Probably all the good deals to be had are picked up by full time RV dealers searching the country side.

Something I have been toying with is getting two 125 Yamaha style trail motorcycles so the wife and I can run on the back mountain roads during camping trips; no dirt biking for us. Possibly haul the bikes in the front of the truck or back of the 5th wheel. Not really keen on toy haulers.

1. What brands of RV’s would you recommend and why? What brands should I avoid?
2. Any advice about truck size and equipment would be helpful. What would you have/add on a truck?

Charles

path1
Explorer
Nov 18, 2016
1. I've seen better deals in the our NW than in Yuma. But have seen consignment lots there that want a fortune for RV's that might have a hard time makeing it back home, whatever state it might be from.

Have cash ready and know what you want ...end of next month into early Feb probably some good deals.

2. Going to take a lot of pry my 2001 Dodge out of me. $50-60 k is a lot $$$ to pull something around. And retired who cares if you break down somewhere? Got everything you need in your RV being pulled right behind you. Of course spending 2 weeks over looking a junk yard, while the trans got fixed has changed my mind a bit.:)
rhagfo
Explorer III
Nov 18, 2016
Chuck, for a 5er in the 27' to 32' range, even a Arctic Fox should be easily carried and pulled by a 3500/350 SRW.
Many (myself included) tow 5er that large with a 2500/250 similar to yours. This is both older and newer trucks.
If you are looking at replacing the TV anyway, get at least a 3500/350 SRW, if looking larger than 32' and 15,000# might be looking at DRW.

We tow at 19,500# GCVW, and heavy on the TV, but under rear axle and tire ratings.

This is our rig below, while not a recommendation it works well for us.
stew47
Explorer
Nov 18, 2016
This year I bought a 2010 crossroads. 35 ft and 10000 lbs. bought an 08 f350 dually with v10. My thoughts so far .....
35 is pretty long and have been to a few campgrounds where things are difficult. Your limit on 32 ft is probably a good thing.
Don't really need a dually. Yes it's rock solid and great for towing. Sucks in parking lots.
Crossroads does seem to be a bad quality. Time will tell though.
In Ohio a gas motor is fine and the tow haul downshifts tranny.... if out west I wouldn't want it.
IdaD
Explorer
Nov 18, 2016
A 27-32' fifth wheel would be fine behind any newer 250/350, imo. Get into some of the older trucks and I'd defer to others, but the new ones are basically six of one vs half dozen of the other. I mention this because if you're buying used a big factor is going to be what sort of deals you can find, and it would be foolish to pass on a good deal for no good reason. Since you'll be towing out west I do think you would be wise to opt for a diesel.

As far as the trailer goes, you can save a lot with used units but you need to be careful. If your budget is $45k you an get a very nice fifth wheel if you spend some time looking. Since it's just you and your wife it's going to be an easier search because the more limited units on the used market seem to be the bunk models, which you don't need. Used trailers are a lot cheaper back east for some reason. Probably just has to do with more inventory.

I wouldn't necessarily write off a toy hauler if you're looking to carry around dirt bikes. It can be a little challenging finding shorter units that are fifth wheels but there are some out there. A TH would make hauling those bikes a much easier proposition, and for two you'd have plenty of space in the living quarters in most of them. They also offer some other advantages you might appreciate while camping - generally a much larger fresh water tank, an on board generator and a fueling station for the bikes. On the flip side, they tend to cost more. Anyway, I'd at least spend some time investigating them before blowing them off.

The other alternative on the bikes is to go with a bumper pull and carry the bikes in the truck. It's an option but the downside is they don't tow as well.
RollandB
Explorer
Nov 18, 2016
In my signature is my combo, our 5er fits the two of us with two furkids very comfy. When we add a couple of grandkids we still aren't walking over everyone. it's just under 30' in length.

We recently changed trucks to the one ton noted. Before had a 2500HD, ext cab, short box. With the Duramax/Allison combo it towed it fine which included the mountains in Colorado. What got us to,change rigs was wanting to get to a crew cab. I debated on going with another short box but kept a long box in the mix and have no regrets with the length of a crew cab long box. While considering the change I decided to only look at one tons for the added GVWR they provide.

Good luck!
dedmiston
Moderator
Nov 18, 2016
Earlier this year we put down a deposit on a new fifth wheel at a show, but we knew we'd have to shop for a new truck too. I got complete sticker shock when I looked at the prices of new 3500 duallies. There was no way I could pay $60k+ for a new tow vehicle, so I started looking at used models. The market for used heavy duty trucks is horrible in So Cal though.

We ended up finding an incredible truck online at Texas Direct Auto. We easily saved $25k compared to new, and that's including the two air tickets from LA to Houston and all the fuel and cheap motels for the drive back. I'm still grinning.
joegray
Explorer II
Nov 18, 2016
JMHO I would look for a used 1ton SRW. If you are going to retire in a few years I would spend more money on the truck than the trailer. Don't want to search for a new truck in a few years if you want to upgrade the trailer. The Bighorn 3055 is a nice unit. The DW and I looked at trailers in Yuma,after 5-7 years sitting in 100F+,a lot of the units were (cooked)all dried out. I would look at units with 3 slides,2 in the living area and one in bedroom. The old unit we had, had one slide,my biggest complaint was that I could not stand up in the bedroom. Good luck on your search,don't rush,there are lots of good units out there. Auto trader or craigslist are your friend.
laknox
Nomad
Nov 18, 2016
Chuck, there are a number of light-weight models that have been produced in the past 5 years, in the size you're looking for, that can easily be towed by a SRW 3500 or even a 2500 HD. The Jayco Eagle HT's and the KZ Durango 1500's come immediately to mind.

Lyle
Njmurvin
Explorer
Nov 18, 2016
You can easily get into a 5 year-old Arctic Fox in that price range (less in fact) and their build quality is hard to beat. Alpenlites are great. But if you're looking for a 5 year-old, I think they stopped making them in 2007. Definitely get a 350/3500 and 100% agree on the exhaust brake. I won't tow again without one. If I had it to do over, I would have opted for the 4.10 rear end vs the 3.73 that I have. But my needs were different when I ordered the truck in 2004.
4x4ord
Explorer III
Nov 20, 2016
The new 350/3500 series diesels are absolutely incredible as far as their pulling power, braking and exhaust brakes go. The SRW trucks are more than adequate for 15000 lb fifth wheels. From 2011 to 2014 the Ford exhaust brake was adequate for smaller loads but not comparable to the Ram and GM trucks of the same period. In 2015 Ford upgraded the turbo and exhaust brake.....now it is excellent.