Hello All, this is my first time on this site so please let me know if I am posting to the wrong area, or if there are already answers to my questions that I was unable to find.Our situation is that we are presently living in a rental apartment and are considering that living in a fifth wheel full time might be preferable to us as we would own it and feel more secure about our living arrangements. We are in the Fort Myers Fl area and I think I have found a nice campground to stay at. We would mostly be staying put, just going away for occasional week-ends.So now I am looking at fifth wheels. We have a 14 year old son that lives with us full time and a 22 year old daughter that is finishing college and so we don't actually know if she will be staying with us. If she does stay with us it will not be long term, but she might come and go.I have been looking at fifth wheels for many,many,(many!) hours online and am hoping some of you experienced folks could give us some guidance. What have been your experiences with the different manufacturers? We do definitely need a bunk house, and would like 1 and 1/2 bathrooms. Everything else is quite flexible, queen or king size bed etc. I will be cooking all of our meals so a functional kitchen would be a real plus, particularly the refrigerator being of residential size.I understand that some fifth wheels may come at a good price, but are not really made for full timing and will not be a good choice. We are very open to purchasing used (all of our cars have always been), but not too used as we want it to last for at least several years. Any and all guidance would be so appreciated, and of course if you have any recommendations for a good truck that would be great too.Thank you so much, and I am sorry for all the newbie questions!

Moving from rental to living FT in an RV does NOT necessarily mean 'saving' on living costs.14 yr old son.......just where is he going to get 'privacy' in that 240 sq ft living space???14 yr old son......just where is he going to have/keep 'HIS' stuff???Bunk beds?We FTd for 7 yrs....2 adults in 34' 5th wheelWE really really LIKE each other and it got 'tight' on a few occasions......not too many places to go to get away from each other.And we weren't a 14 yr old going thru the normal teenage 'trama'Then add in a 22 yr daughter going to college....Personally you can see by my concerns I don't think NOW is the time to move into an RV in a CG.Buy the 5th wheel, use it for weekend/vacation trips....keep it in storageBut make sure you can REALLY function LONG TERM in it PRIOR to going FT in it.And make sure you have adequate truck to 'carry' the load of a 5th wheelJust my opinion.....

Welcome and I probably would have posted in fifth wheels and a moderator may move it there shortly. I agree with not renting but unlike real estate, RVs never increase in value. For what you will have in a truck and RV plus lot rental are you sure you are gaining anything? My answer is no plus many trailers are junk, especially after five years of use.A bunkhouse plus bath and half is going to be a big rig requiring a big truck...$$$$ and a lot more than what you need to go camping short term... on the weekends. I would buy a inexpensive house and when you have the money, a small trailer for fun. After 22+ years of having responsibilities I question why you are renting and yes I'm probably old enough to be your dad... sorry for the reality check.

I second Old Biscuit's concerns.

From the brief description of the kind of fifth wheel you would like to find, you would probably need a 1-ton truck - preferably a diesel. They aren't cheap. It's not about towing capacity with a fifth wheel; it's about payload capacity and the ability of the truck to carry the pin weight of the trailer on the rear axle. You would also need a crew cab for the three of you to be comfortable when traveling.Now... our small RV payment and monthly camping/parking fees add up to about the same as our mortgage payment did. Utilities are $300 - $400/month less in the RV than they were in the house, but are offset by fuel costs pulling the fifth wheel with the truck. Our fifth wheel is 36' long and about 340 square feet with the three slides out. We removed the sleeper sofa and put in my recliner so we'd have an excuse for not having the grandkids stay with us (the recliner is also much better for my back). I wouldn't want a third - much less a fourth - person staying in the rig with us. A rainy stretch could make things even tighter than they are.I guess I agree with everything Old Biscuit said... but then, I'm old, too.Rob

Can't say it any better then Old Biscuit

full timing for first timers | Good Sam Community

donn0128
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2017
If you really want to tiny house live, consider a park model. Yea, you will not be able to tow it, but living space would be a definite plus. Not to mention far superior insulation.
K_Charles
Explorer
Apr 03, 2017
Can't say it any better then Old Biscuit
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2017
From the brief description of the kind of fifth wheel you would like to find, you would probably need a 1-ton truck - preferably a diesel. They aren't cheap. It's not about towing capacity with a fifth wheel; it's about payload capacity and the ability of the truck to carry the pin weight of the trailer on the rear axle. You would also need a crew cab for the three of you to be comfortable when traveling.

Now... our small RV payment and monthly camping/parking fees add up to about the same as our mortgage payment did. Utilities are $300 - $400/month less in the RV than they were in the house, but are offset by fuel costs pulling the fifth wheel with the truck.

Our fifth wheel is 36' long and about 340 square feet with the three slides out. We removed the sleeper sofa and put in my recliner so we'd have an excuse for not having the grandkids stay with us (the recliner is also much better for my back). I wouldn't want a third - much less a fourth - person staying in the rig with us. A rainy stretch could make things even tighter than they are.

I guess I agree with everything Old Biscuit said... but then, I'm old, too.

Rob
firemedic08
Explorer
Apr 03, 2017
I second Old Biscuit's concerns.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Apr 03, 2017
Welcome and I probably would have posted in fifth wheels and a moderator may move it there shortly. I agree with not renting but unlike real estate, RVs never increase in value. For what you will have in a truck and RV plus lot rental are you sure you are gaining anything? My answer is no plus many trailers are junk, especially after five years of use.

A bunkhouse plus bath and half is going to be a big rig requiring a big truck...$$$$ and a lot more than what you need to go camping short term... on the weekends. I would buy a inexpensive house and when you have the money, a small trailer for fun. After 22+ years of having responsibilities I question why you are renting and yes I'm probably old enough to be your dad... sorry for the reality check.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 03, 2017
Moving from rental to living FT in an RV does NOT necessarily mean 'saving' on living costs.

14 yr old son.......just where is he going to get 'privacy' in that 240 sq ft living space???

14 yr old son......just where is he going to have/keep 'HIS' stuff???

Bunk beds?

We FTd for 7 yrs....2 adults in 34' 5th wheel
WE really really LIKE each other and it got 'tight' on a few occasions......not too many places to go to get away from each other.
And we weren't a 14 yr old going thru the normal teenage 'trama'

Then add in a 22 yr daughter going to college....

Personally you can see by my concerns I don't think NOW is the time to move into an RV in a CG.

Buy the 5th wheel, use it for weekend/vacation trips....keep it in storage
But make sure you can REALLY function LONG TERM in it PRIOR to going FT in it.

And make sure you have adequate truck to 'carry' the load of a 5th wheel

Just my opinion.....

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