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LewTeam's avatar
LewTeam
Explorer
Jan 09, 2016

Now retired: Pulling a camper, or, driving a motorhome????

Ok, here's the point of my post. About 15 years ago my uncle made a statement to me that when I retired I would need to look more to owning a motorhome because it is too difficult to climb into a large pickup and also to pull a travel trailer or 5th wheel. I now have enough aches and pains to certainly understand where he is coming from. But I just wanted to get a feel from those who know best, you who have been at it for awhile. Anyone here started with a TT or 5ver and wished a thousand times that you had bought a motorhome? Thanks.
  • I have a truck (don't pull a trailer) and a DP motor home. I think it might be a little harder to get in and out of the MH than a truck, especially when carrying sacks of groceries.

    Bill
  • I'm not a full timer or retired, but I do know it's pretty much 50/50 what a person decides to use for full timing.

    Yes, motor homes are nice. But you still have to climb 3-5 steps to get inside the door. If you have a toad, you still have to go through the exercise to unhitch the toad, handle the tow bar, and work with that brake controller system.

    In a trailer (TT or 5er), you still have 3-5 steps to get inside the camper, but with power jacks, back-up camera's in tow vehicles, much-much-much better designed weight distribution systems that 30 years ago, auto leveling on some models, slides, and all the amenities, there's really not much difference between towing a trailer with a truck, or towing a car with a motor home. Both take effort, regardless of age or retirement status.

    So, really, it's just 50/50. Basically I think it REALLY comes down to what each person can afford, and how they determine they will use their rig.

    Another reason for a MH over a TT is the availability of all that basement space, especially if one is full timing. On the other hand, 5er's provide a lot of basement space too.

    So, in the end, I still think it's just a personal preference, and how each person wants to use their equipment.