5er vs Winnebago

cmeade wrote:
DW & I read the article in Trailer Life about the Winnebago Destination about a year ago. It stated the front landing gear was too low to go into any driveways or parking lots. Hopefully they figured this out and corrected this major flaw before building yours.

I read that article and it is indeed odd. I've not looked at the Destination series which is what the article refers too. Wonder if they've corrected this on newer models. For the price of our ours it is much better constructed than other 5'ers in its class. Have had it 2 years now and over a dozen trips and 1000's of miles. Best trailer I've ever owned.

mileshuff wrote:
I went with a Winnebago 5'er. Couldn't be happier!

DW & I read the article in Trailer Life about the Winnebago Destination about a year ago. It stated the front landing gear was too low to go into any driveways or parking lots. Hopefully they figured this out and corrected this major flaw before building yours.

Can't tell you which to buy but your going to spend lots of money so think LONG and HARD. Not good to spend that much and be unhappy.
Try both options if possible.
The first time I bought the dealer had both a travel and 5th wheel that I liked, he agreed to let me take both out for a night if I wanted to. Both were used by the way.

I went with a Winnebago 5'er. Couldn't be happier!

I have owned both also. We started with motorhomes and then went 5er. As you are looking at new 5er's you can ignore the big difference in set up times as that is a thing of the past. Most new 5ers come with automatic levelers so your big difference here is instead of leveling from your drivers seat you get out of your truck and push button on trailer. Both MH and 5er have to unhook from truck or towed so that is a wash as is power, water and sewer. I would also ignore the old way of thinking that it makes a difference how often you will be moving as most MH and campers sit during the winter months with no harm to either.
Both my last mh and current 5er are 37ft with 3 slides, More room in our 5er with floor plan.
Things I miss about MH.
Huge windshield
DW use bath while driving
Not getting out in rain to go to bathroom. But really this has never happened to us but it could I guess.
Things I don't miss about Mh
Cost of tires and up keep on running gear. I can replace tires on 5er about 4 times for cost of 1 set for mh. Both last about the same.
Fuel mileage.
Tag cost for us in Ga. at the time.
Cost of insurance.
Looking up high at tv. Personal thing.

You can buy a pretty nice 5er for about half of what a comparable gas Mh.
Keep in mind a lot of folks here will compare that low $50K 5er a $300k DP.
We will never go back to a mh but that is our preference. Bottom line for you is try to take everything in consideration and get what best suits you.
I agree with another poster here if you are looking at huge 5er's you need more truck than a 2500.

Welcome... Sounds like you recently retired. These LITTLE details would hep us help you... Two people without children???

Select Class A in the "Jump to box" above and read the articles by Johnny T. Once you've had a A, rarely does anyone go back to a 5er.

I would take a 6-8 year old higher end DP over a new A gasser for the same money.

Recently retired in a RV equals twice the husband, on one half the income and in 1/10 the space. I recommend trying to buy more motorhome than you think you need, one time. You need to slow down and get better educated as to what your needs and style of traveling. Good luck and you will need it with this little experience in RVing and spending this amount of money.

If you go with the 5er route, do not travel with people with motorhomes as they'll be having cocktails while you're still setting up and fairly soon you'll want a class A.

The post above just saved you from buying two little truck for a big fifth wheel. How much money did that just save you?

Just a quick comment.... you mentioned a landmark as in Heartland Landmark. This is a very large 5er. We looked at one before buying our 2014 Keystone Alpine 3500RE. Landmark is 40 ft long and about 15K lbs. This is definitely not a trailer for a 2500 Duramax!!!!!

I've had Truck & TT, Truck & 5er and now Motorhome. We've had the motorhome since 2007 and been very happy with it. Pluses for us; bathroom, view out the window, drive-ability, ease of backing, large open space inside when parked, did I mention having not having to stop and use a rest stop bathroom? The motorhome also allowed to tow our ATV trailer or Boat. Once the Jeep is setup it will tow it too. Tough decision, but take your time and consider how your family camps now and say 5 years down the road.

I have a 5r and a truck now but I would prefer a Class A and a toad if I were having to purchase both at one time again(truck and 5r), and were planning lots of traveling.
Reasons I prefer a class A vs 5r : Easy set up, arriving at your destination with the rig already cooled or heated, if it's raining you can pull in your site with the generator running and never get out to set up until the rain stops or at least eases up, Pulling over at rest stops in all weather conditions and having lunch, using the restroom, or just a rest time in comfort without leaving the rig.
I've had both so this is just my take on things. I have friends with 5rs that could give a number of reasons they switched from motorhomes to 5rs. It's a matter of what you prefer after weighing all your options on how you will use it.
I already had my truck and we mainly camp local right now so the 5r works for us for now.

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