How much will a big fifth wheel limit us?

I don't currently have an RV but have borrowed my in-laws Class A before...so though I am not in the owners club I am not a total newbie either.

My wife and I are around 40 and are self employed. As long as I have an internet connection we can work and no kids (other then the 4 legged kind).

We've always said that when we retire we would like to get an RV and do some extensive traveling. But due to some unexpected changes in our personal life we are seriously talking about taking the plunge and getting an RV next year. We figure if we do we will make a one year commitment and go from there....maybe it is just a one year adventure, maybe it is a new lifestyle that we embrace for a decade or more, who knows.

Anyways the big issue now is RV size. We both agree on a few things:
1.) We want a fifth wheel.
2.) We need a toy hauler (both to haul our toys during travel and also to use as a separate office during the work day....my job can be stressful and it is best if it is separate from our living space).
3.) We really want to be adventurous, we don't always want to be in rv resorts. We want to spend our fair share of time in state and federal campgrounds, including national parks and national forests.
4.) We would like to try some boondocking out in the woods....(This is probably an 8 or 9 to me in importance and probably a 6 or 7 to her.

Lastly we both agree our RV should be comfortable and homey since we will live in it but this is where the ideas start flowing. While I would be willing to live with a little less comfy trailer if it means losing a few feet and getting into more campgrounds my wife would rather be limited on campgrounds and have a more comfy / roomy rv.

So I am finally to my question. How much will having a big truck, pulling a big fifth wheel limit us?

My wife and I both love the Road Warrior RW390 but where she sees an easy place to call home I see impossible to get into a lot of campgrounds.

Now we drive around a lot of campgrounds in our area and even though many have 30 and 35 ft limits I see lots of big 40ft fifth wheels and rv's jammed in them. But not sure if we are just lucky to have stretchable campgrounds or if they tend to underestimate their size requirements.

Any feedback on how much this will limit us is appreciated. If it only cuts out some campgrounds (10 - 25%) I figure may as well just get what she wants. But if it cuts out a lot (50% or more and most boondocking opportunities) I think that I need to give her a nudge towards looking at other units.

jmtandem
Explorer II
Aug 12, 2014
There is a lot of good information on intenet connectivity on the road at Technomadia. You are probably looking at solar power as well and perhaps lithium batteries, led lights, etc. Lots to think about when you want to boondock for extended periods of time.

As far as the truck to pull it, start no smaller than a 350/3500 diesel dually with at least a 4.10 ratio. If you can go MDT, so much the better. Lots of great information on the Escapees web pages, all devoted to the full time lifestyle.
PawPaw_n_Gram
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014
billy79 wrote:
As long as I have an internet connection we can work and no kids (other then the 4 legged kind).

We've always said that when we retire we would like to get an RV and do some extensive traveling.

We want to spend our fair share of time in state and federal campgrounds, including national parks and national forests.

Internet is going to be the big limiting factor, not rig size. And Most National Parks are not good places for pets, especially the outdoor kind.

billy79 wrote:
Now we drive around a lot of campgrounds in our area and even though many have 30 and 35 ft limits I see lots of big 40ft fifth wheels and rv's jammed in them. But not sure if we are just lucky to have stretchable campgrounds or if they tend to underestimate their size requirements.

Experience is a big factor. I've seen folks put a 42' fifth wheel into spots other folks could not put a 30' TT. You have to work at learning how to park, backup, turn any size rig - especially one that long.

A 5er parks completely different than a Class A.

billy79 wrote:
Any feedback on how much this will limit us is appreciated. If it only cuts out some campgrounds (10 - 25%) I figure may as well just get what she wants. But if it cuts out a lot (50% or more and most boondocking opportunities) I think that I need to give her a nudge towards looking at other units.

For public campgrounds such as NP, NF, SP - size will be an issue. If you are looking at a great western parks swing - you are going to find a lot of place you simply cannot get to because the roads to the best campgrounds are too tight for a long rig.

Even at 35 ft, our TT is too large for many National Parks and National Forest campgrounds.

In the central part of the US, we tend to stay more at Corps of Engineers campgrounds. They are more likely to be big rig friendly.

That said - keeping the DW happy with a floor plan she likes and find livable is a critical factor. If momma ain't happy, nobody's happy.

Boondocking in that type rig is going to be difficult for more than a couple days.

RV-Dreams this couple has done pretty much want you are talking about - and made enough modifications to be able to boondock, use public campgrounds, etc.
garysol
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014
PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:

Internet is going to be the big limiting factor, not rig size.

Satellite card.... We never leave home without one...... just in case.
valhalla360
Navigator
Aug 12, 2014
garysol wrote:
PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:

Internet is going to be the big limiting factor, not rig size.

Satellite card.... We never leave home without one...... just in case.

Does anyone really use satilite anymore?

The standard is pretty much to use your cell plan. While in some out of the way places coverage is iffy, last time I checked, it's drastically cheaper (though not cheap)
Jayco-noslide
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014
What got my attention is when you said you wanted to be out in the boonies a lot in Nat'l Forests, etc. My opinion is that you should limit your trailer length; possibly to 30 ft preferably less and even that can be too long for some campgrounds with sharp curves and short sites. You can get along with much larger but with a lot more planning and making sure you know what you will be getting into in a campground before you head down a gravel road to a remote campground.
lbrjet
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014
Yep, internet is going to be your problem in remote locations. May not even get satellite in wooded areas.
Passin_Thru
Explorer
Aug 13, 2014
I'm 66. You don't need a toyhauler. The less toys you have, the less things you need to take care of in your race Friday night to get to the river or woods. A 5er is like pulling a sled. My brother delivers Trailers for Horizon and hates them. Big, Bulky and make your truck work to the max. Get a smaller motorhome, pull your toys but you don' need over 35 feet if you're outside all the time. It's a waste and more to take care of. We figured out the price of owning a bass boat and if you could only guess what a fish cost'/lb. A new one starts at 22K. We rent a boat, usually $100/day and don't have to tow it out of the water or home. You can rent jeeps in CO so I suppose you could rent them in ID also. I like the simple life of going to any trailer park, campground or boonies and crashing from Friday night til Monday and watching the crazies hurl themselves into it.
tsetsaf
Explorer III
Aug 13, 2014
Good feedback so far. We had a 37' 5th wheel for the first 4 years of our ft life and would easily have answered like many have already "you can find forest and boondock sites". Now that we have a 44' 3 axle fiver that notion is humorous. Over about 40' the dynamics change completely. With my other rig there were a number of times were I got into an uh-oh position but was able to 3 point out of it; this bigger rig no way. I can't even fit down my fathers col-de-sac with the new rig. Point being going big seriously limits choice.

If you will be working from the road the boonies is not an option. Satellite internet has terrible latency issues. We are grandfathered with Verizon 3G and 4G unlimited plans but from what I read those are no longer an option. Figure out how much data you use monthly and then shop plans.

You are starting out right by planning ahead. Took us a year of concerted effort to get out on the road (I was 30 and wife was 25) that was 5 years ago now and we have no plans to stop.
Aridon
Explorer
Aug 13, 2014
We go where we want to go without any issues. We are close to 45 ft (never actually measured it) long plus the truck.

Obviously we aren't going to fit at every state or federal CG so if that is a big issue you need to look into the places you want to go and see if you fit. Generally speaking, we have had no issues finding a great place to stay anywhere we have gone.

Size really isn't an issue unless your plans or so rigid it becomes one. If that is the case then you need to try and stay under 35 ft because once you hit 40+ there isn't much difference for the most part.
billy79
Explorer
Aug 13, 2014
First off thanks to everyone for all the feedback, it is greatly appreciated and will all be highly regarded in our decision making process. Nothing like getting real feedback from those living the life.

Some of you made similar points so I may only reply or ask questions while quoting one to not be redundant but that doesn't mean each point isn't highly regarded and appreciated.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Your Road Warrior has a very interesting floor plan. I honestly can say I've never seen one like this before. Very interesting!

DutchmenSport wrote:

First, your floor plan is dynamite! From what you've described for your needs you've selected an excellent choice!

We thought so. We looked at a Torque on a dealers lot that we liked the floorplan of and it was okay, but then we went through a RoadWarrior that was a near identical floorplan (same manufacturer) and the fit and finish and build quality felt so much better. We thought we would be more comfortable FTing in that. So then I went to their website and stumbled on this one. Loved the floorplan but after seeing some walk throughs on YouTube we were really sold on the open concept.

Haven't seen one in person yet...haven't found one in my area. Might be doing some traveling at the end of the month and if so will look in the area I am traveling to to see if there is one in that area to look at.

DutchmenSport wrote:

You're gonna need a hefty truck to tow this. Even a 3500 / f350 dually will be near or over it's max. You may have to go bigger.

I have been looking at F450 / 4500 type trucks in my area recently. They spec out to where they should be able to pull something like this full time but don't feel as large for regular daily driving as the big Kodiaks and SuperTrucks and other MDT's. Much more like a regular pick up truck which the wife likes. Go figure she loves a huge trailer but likes the smaller trucks.