I’m soooo confused..........

A breaks down your in a hotel truck breaks down you still have your home

Sorry, you simply do not have sufficient capacity for a 40 foot fiver and stay within mfg specs. Truck probably scales ready to travel around 8000 pounds. Your GVWR for that year is likely less than 11,000? So at best case you have around 3000 pounds for pin weight and hitch. How much does this monster fiver weigh? And not just the mystical dry weight, but the GVWR. Approx 20% of its true down the road weight will be pin weight. Lacking that use GVWR as your guide line. Full timers tend to load really heavy, so expect the worst and be happy if your under.

Not hard for us. We tend to stay for weeks in one spot so a 5er is our best option when we travel to reach a destination. When we traveling for the trips sake and not for the destination we choose the camper van. It sounds like from your plan that a 5er is your best choice. However choose the size wisely. Consider that some folks are not happy sitting in AZ all Winter and you may be one. Try renting an apartment for a while in Yuma/Casa Grande/Tucson, etc. to see if you like it.

That 2003 DRW has a RAWR 9350#......and 12,000# GVWR
SO wet pin weight from 5vr will nt be an issue


5vr vs MH
For me it was easy choice
Truck/5vr

1) I can walk from one end to other end WITHOUT having to duck/dodge
2) I do not foldup/be comfortable in smaller vehicles
3) She did not like the feeling on 'being right up front'
4) WE could USE the 5vr (kitchen/bathroom/bed) W/O having to extend slides if necessary
5) Our large dog was easily harnessed in truck rear seat and able to see out

WE traveled FT 7rs and MOVED weekly
Never bought into the 'concept' that MHs if traveling/5th wheels-trailers if parking for extended time


Folks FT in every type of Camping/RVs
Motorcycle, car/tents, TC, TT, FW, MH
Personal decision and what one wants for amenities


Enjoy your adventure.
Remember you will NOT be on vacation..stop/enjoy
Use secondary/back roads....Small Town USA (Leave the Interstates to those making a living/vacationers/commuters)
LESS is MORE (don't need all that stuff) 1 bag in/2 bags OUT!
Weigh RV yearly so you know you are under axle/tire ratings (ones that are important/legality)

GO.......embrace it!

Old-Biscuit wrote:
That 2003 DRW has a RAWR 9350#......and 12,000# GVWR
SO wet pin weight from 5vr will nt be an issue

Sorry OB, I believe your confused. Heck, my 2007 Ram Dually only had a 11,500 GVWR
Now, if the OP had a 2013 instead of a 2003 you might be right.

With a capable truck that you already own and a preference to buy a used fifth wheel I think you are in good shape to go that direction. Worst case you trade it all for a class A in 2 to 5 years. Go have some fun.

Call me. We can discuss.

My thoughts. If you move a lot and put lots of miles on an RV, a MH makes sense. But if you travel infrequently and very few yearly miles, then a 5th wheel is a better choice. Makes little sense to me to have a MH driven 10-15 days a year and sit idle 350-355 days per year. 5ers now come with auto leveling making set up little different from a MH. There are also A owners that trade for 5ers. And shop. There are heavy 5ers. And light weight 5ers. And those in between.

You are the one making it hard/complicated. Buy what you want and go for it, what others choose to do is irrelevant.