5th Wheel vs Class A

We full timed in a tt for seven months before switching to a class A. We chose the tt over a 5er because we did not want a bigger truck and we liked having our truck bed available. We went from a diesel truck to a gas MH.

Based on our experience and only our experience, a MH is much easier, even with a toad if you move frequently. If you stay put more - a week to a month, a 5er or tt is better.

With the tt/5er set up you, essentially, have to go from camp spot to camp spot where you can unhook your tow vehicle and then go out and see sites or whatever else you want to do. Yes, you can stop in places with large parking lots but you have to make sure everything you want is there as you *usually* can't drop your tt/5er and come back later.

With a motorhome/toad set up, you can unhook your toad in a parking lot and go site see, shop, whatever. You don't have to find a campground first to unhook.

Motorhomes are better set up for moving; tt/5ers are better set up for stopping. tt/5ers typically have more space for their length than MH. MH allow one to access everything while moving.

It really just depends on how you travel. We were really committed to keeping our truck and tt. The space was more than enough, the storage excellent, and we really loved our truck. But, once we got out on the road, we realized life would be much much easier with a MH.

My consideration included one versus two engines to maintain and pay insurance for.

I'm not sure if the toy haulers will handle a VW (someone feel free to correct me). Most are geared towards golf cart/motor cycle/ATV. One big enough to handle a car would definetly put you in dually 1 ton territory.

Now if you drop the VW/toy hauler, you move into the 30' range (equivilent to a 35' MH) and 3/4 ton trucks are a reasonable option for most. Once you've driven them a bit, they really aren't a problem and any fuel savings driving around town are usualy made up for with better fuel economy towing.
- This assumes you actuall move on a regular basis but if you are parked for months at a time that is hard on the MH drivetrain not being used anyway.

For costs, it's hard to beat the 5er. Unless you have medical issues where the co-pilot absolutely needs to be able to leave the seat at any moment or you absolutely refuse to drive a pickup around town, there isn't a lot of advantage with a MH that is towing a car.

You can get new 5ers with auto leveling systems and power awnings. So set up is not much different than setting up a MH. Disconnect the truck in one case, disconnect the toad in the other. Or leave either connected for overnighters. Then it is just electric/water/sewer.
We chose a 5er due to our travel. 2,500-3,000 miles per year and only actually on the highway 10-12 days per year. Did not make sense to have a MH sit idle 355 days per year.

Thanks everyone. I can see there is really no pat answer. Guess we'll have to roll around what our needs might be when that time comes. We lived on the road in a 13' trailer when I was a traveling Silversmith for about 1-1/2yrs. At the time I retire (when?) I do believe we will look for a bit more space. :-) The road fever has bit us again. These units with slide outs have changed the Mrs. mind a bit.

Thank you again for your time!!
Steve

The choice is between having a tow vehicle pulling a 5th wheel trailer and a Class A motorhome pulling a small vehicle. When you stay at a campground you will want to have either the tow vehicle or the towed/toad vehicle to get around.

The 5th wheel trailer will provide the most space though it will be on two levels. It will also have a greater load capacity for water and gear as the axles do not have to support an engine and heavy coach. The 5th wheel trailer is also going to be better insulated and easier to heat or cool year round.

Best to go to campgrounds and talk to as many people as you can find using each type and see how they use them, how storage is accomplished, what they like and dislike, what they had before it and what they plan to have next.

With kids? a 5th wheel.. Nice bunk room at the rear, and nice bedroom for us up front.
Haven't seen a class A yet that has decent bunks and some level of privacy for mom and dad..

Not a big deal to have a F350 as a truck up here in NH..
Plows in the winter, tows the camper in the summer.
We've got a family car as well for daily needs.

Once the kids are grown and we don't need that bunk space, we may switch to a Class A
and travel more, but for now we are loving the 5th wheel.