class A vs. 5th wheel

The huge advantage is at the end of the day, when it is pouring rain, and you do not even have to go outside with the Class A.
You can level it up, fire up the generator, run out the slides, use the bathroom, grab a bite to eat, watch a little TV, and wait for the weather to clear before you have to go outside to hook up the electric or water.

Biggest two downsides I see are, second drive train to have to maintain because of the necessity of beinging a toad with you. And cost! Motor Homes are flat out expensive. Most dealerships wont or cant work on them, parts cost is higher.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
The huge advantage is at the end of the day, when it is pouring rain, and you do not even have to go outside with the Class A.
You can level it up, fire up the generator, run out the slides, use the bathroom, grab a bite to eat, watch a little TV, and wait for the weather to clear before you have to go outside to hook up the electric or water.

We just went from a 5th wheel back to a class A. Convenience to the max. We like being able to just pull into a rest area and fire up the genny and make coffee, lunch etc. Push a button and it levels. Slide controls right at dash. Complete setup right there.

Ranger Smith wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:
The huge advantage is at the end of the day, when it is pouring rain, and you do not even have to go outside with the Class A.
You can level it up, fire up the generator, run out the slides, use the bathroom, grab a bite to eat, watch a little TV, and wait for the weather to clear before you have to go outside to hook up the electric or water.

We just went from a 5th wheel back to a class A. Convenience to the max. We like being able to just pull into a rest area and fire up the genny and make coffee, lunch etc. Push a button and it levels. Slide controls right at dash. Complete setup right there.

X2

It's already been stated the big advantage, ability to move around while in motion. Second to me is having the second vehicle. I boondock alot. The second vehicle means if something happens I have another vehicle to go for help or parts, whatever I need.

Another advantage is when you are in a tight campground and there isn't a pull thru. Spent 20 minutes the other day watching a guy try to park a 5th wheel with his big truck. Spot was a simple one for a MH

Driving Lessons

Here you go... :) :)

After pulling into an RV spot for the night for the first time in a driving rain you will know the difference. While I disagree with those who would be an unseat belted projectile it is great to to pull into a rest area or safe place to park and do one's "business" in one's own bathroom. We frequently stop at rest areas, fire up the generator and sit down to enjoy a nice lunch. A word of advice: look at floor plans carefully and choose one that permits access to kitchen and bathroom with slides in.

A motorhome's upkeep is more expensive than a 5th wheel to maintain the comfort and convenience is worth it. After four years of owning a fifth wheel we made the change to a moho. Never looked back.

A motorhome is still going to bounce around on rough roads. A DP with an air ride suspension is going to be better than a gasser, but both will bounce around and shake rattle and roll when on the really rough roads.

There is a long list of why one is better than the other with good things on both sides. I can tell you the main deciding factors for me in going to the Class A over the truck trailer combination was a few things. One is I had no need for a monster truck and I wanted a good size RV. So if I went with the 5er I'd have needed a 3/4 to 1 ton big truck. I just don't like driving a big truck around as a daily driver and I surely couldn't afford to have just bought it to pull the trailer and nothing else.

Number 2 for me was cost. A Class A DP was cheaper for me. Now that may be confusing for some, but I'm not a cash buyer. If you're a cash buyer than the truck trailer deal may be good for you. But I had to finance. To finance a $45k plus truck is going to be a really high payment over maybe 6 or 7 years. You can get a longer payment term on the trailer but the two payments combined (for what I would have wanted) would have had a net cost more than the class A DP. That's because I got a long term loan and 100% of the interest on that loan is a write-off as a 2nd mortgage. On your truck-trailer combo only the trailer loan interest is a write-off. In the long run I'm going to pay more, but I got a cheaper net payment for the fist half of the loan.

For me, those were probably the biggest reasons for the Class A over the 5er, but the other reasons already listed played a part too. I love sitting up at eye level with the big rigs and being able to see down the road ahead as well as getting a better view of the Country as you drive by.

afrescop wrote:
After pulling into an RV spot for the night for the first time in a driving rain you will know the difference. While I disagree with those who would be an unseat belted projectile it is great to to pull into a rest area or safe place to park and do one's "business" in one's own bathroom. We frequently stop at rest areas, fire up the generator and sit down to enjoy a nice lunch. A word of advice: look at floor plans carefully and choose one that permits access to kitchen and bathroom with slides in.

A motorhome's upkeep is more expensive than a 5th wheel to maintain the comfort and convenience is worth it. After four years of owning a fifth wheel we made the change to a moho. Never looked back.

I have never yet ever seen a motorhome that didn't have access to the bathroom and main parts of the kitchen with the slides closed. Even the rear bath models have a half bath up front so you don't have to climb over the bed when the slide is closed.