What to FT in? And why?
I see on other threads and in particularly a recent one in General RV'ing. The question was asked about 2 different 5er's for first time FTer's. Their request was of a Montego Bay or a Sundance! O...
Forum Discussion
gbopp wrote:Since you ended this with a ?, assume you are asking if that's correct. Since the early 70's, I've owned 3 MHs including the one I now have. While FTing for 14+ yrs, I averaged 50 moves per year and during that time had 2 fifth wheels, one a 36' pulled by a 1 ton PU and one a 40' pulled by a MDT. Assuming that a MH is going to tow a toad, I see zero difference in setting up camp or breaking down camp between a MH and 5vr, assuming similarly equipped.
I don't fulltime but, I'm guessing they recommend a 5th wheel for long term parking because there's more involved in setting up/taking down than a MH?
JMO
Hitching or unhitching a 5ver is as easy or maybe easier than hitching/unhitching a 4 down toad/MH combo and is much easier than doing the same with a toad on a trailer or caddy. Setting up utilities should be zero differences. That leaves leveling. If one compares leveling a MH with auto leveling jacks to a 5ver with auto leveling jacks, again there is no measurable difference. Leveling without auto levelers on either RV is pretty much a draw as well.
When we decided to go FT, the first thing we did was to put our 36' MH up for sale in favor of a fiver. The drivers for that decision were 1) it seemed more 'homey' not to driver and passenger seats/steering wheel etc in our living room 2) we wanted to maintain a single drive train 3) for the dollars involved (i.e., not a diesel pusher) the 5vre provided more and bigger storage bays and 4) back in those days (early 90's) MH slides, if available, were shallow as in 10" +/- while the 5ver slides were 2 to 3 times as deep. The fiver with slides extended seemed less of a tunnel than did the MH's and the entire length was living space rather than partially occupied by a cockpit.
