Why did you go with a 5th wheel?

I'm 6'4" and couldn't feel comfortable in any fifth wheel bedroom/bath. Anytime I stood up straight I hit a light fixture. While the main living area is nice and high, I couldn't deal with crouching whenever I went to the bedroom/bath. That's why I ended up with a motor home. How does your husband not feel "crushed" in the bedroom/bath?

Stable towing; stable towing; stable towing!!! The basement of my 5th wheel has about the same storage capacity as the bed of my truck and it is protected from the weather. Even with a 5th wheel there is still room for my Honda 2000I, a across the bed tool box, 5 gallon gas container and several other items in the truck bed.

Thanks everyone! Just the kind of info we need! : )

The Dung Beetles wrote:
I had my heart set on a 5th wheel, and my hub wanted a bumper pull. After he walked me through how much "stuff" we wouldn't be able to take IN the bed of the truck if we had a 5th wheel hitch installed I saw the light.

The canopy/bed area of our truck is FULL when we pull out... sans the nickname "The Dung Beetles". We own a lot of ....... ummmmmm... STUFF :R and we take most of it with us when we go camping....LOL

Couldn't you load all the "stuff" inside the TT?

My DH is 6'4". 5th wheel is only thing we found which has high enough ceilings for him not to feel "crushed". We also like the opposing slide outs which make our living room almost 8x10. Once we're parked and set up it feels like a "normal" condo! We've never seen a bus or TT that's quite so homey - and since we're fulltime "homey" is important!

We didn't go with a 5th wheel. Over the years we were dead set on a 5th with rear reclining chairs etc. We actually went old school low buck tt but not junk. I guess it was a combination of things that changed our minds.
We wanted an everyday lesser truck 1/2 ton

Small investment to see if its the dream or would we rather spend the winter differently

Wanted access to small tight campgrounds

Wanted more experience hauling/previously had truck campers

Easier storage

Figured we didn't want to sit in it, we mainly need it to camp between stays at family's places

When we do camp we are outside all the time with the dogs on the 9x18 polyethylene mat with dog fence. Like a living room.

I would say if we full timed it would probably be 29 foot or so 5th

Not exactly what you were asking but it may help in some way.

I had my heart set on a 5th wheel, and my hub wanted a bumper pull. After he walked me through how much "stuff" we wouldn't be able to take IN the bed of the truck if we had a 5th wheel hitch installed I saw the light.

The canopy/bed area of our truck is FULL when we pull out... sans the nickname "The Dung Beetles". We own a lot of ....... ummmmmm... STUFF :R and we take most of it with us when we go camping....LOL

We started searching for our first unit just as you are two years ago expecting to buy a TT. After talking with many RVers and the great help from this forum we went with a fifth wheel. We traded our 1500 for a 350 and purchased the trailer in our SIG last August and couldn't be happier. Yes, it is big but we did not want to be like many who after a year realize they bought the wrong unit for their family. When pjlli v the fiver I have to remind myself it is back there. Very smooth and easy towing. Took several months to get used to backing this big of a trailer but now its a piece of cake. In the end j got the truck I've always wanted and the wife has her home away from home she dreamed of. Good luck.

I grew up trucking and semis were the most solid feeling of anything I ever drove. I had a mini van when we got our first rv - a hybrid which was within the caps of the van. Well, I pulled the hybrid home with my old 1975 dually rust bucket cuz the van didn't have a hitch yet and I knew in less than 1 mile that I screwed up big time. I knew that bumper thumper was going to be too much for that 87 grand voyager so I sold the mini van asap and got a 3/4t lwb chev van. That was a GOOD match but I still knew I had to get back to a 5er type so I got rid of the big van/hybrid after about 1 yr cuz even WD hitches are a PITA compared to a 5th wheel. Then I got a 96 1/2t dodge gasser and a very lightweight 5er. That was terrific and a dream to drive and hook-up but then we really got hooked on RVing and taking long trips and the 26 gal tank and 9-9.5 mpg didn't sucked. I traded the 96 for a 97 ctd LB 3/4t and went to 18-18.5 mpg pulling that same 5er. It's been the metaphorical slippery slide ever since. The next 10 yrs turned into bigger 5ers til we got a 5er that, didn't require it, but I want plenty of truck so I got the 03 ctd dually in 05 to pull the 30 RLFS. Now, we just got a 15k gvw 5er and the truck is maxxed again. As already stated, it's not require but I like plenty of truck and I know where there is a Peterbuilt crewcab 8.3 ctd/Allison, right down the road from me. The slippery slide saga continues - stay tuned! Craig

Other than the learning curve of learning to maneuver one while backing up...and loss of the truck bed for bikes...or truck roof racks for kayaks...the fifth wheel is:

Very stable towing since the weight is nearly directly over the rear axle...thus NOT imparting a force into your steering wheel when being passed by large trucks.

Large pass thru storage compartments

Volume ceilings

Shorter overall length of combined tow vehicle /camper...given the same sq. footage.

When unhitched...there is some dry storage under the front overhang

As approved by only certain states...you are permitted to tow another item behind a fifth wheel. Unfortunately...GA and FL aren't states that approve this.

Requires a heftier tow vehicle to tow due to kingpin weight and larger frontal area wind resistance.

I'm sure I've overlooked some other important characteristics...but most other things are very similar with other campers.