We are beginner rvers and are looking at both tag along travel trailers and 5th wheels. We do not want anything too big. I am retired and 70 years old. My wife is 60. We don't have a tow vehicle yet, waiting on what we decide for a RV. We do want one with "all season" with adequate insulation and heated tanks for winter use. We will mostly be camping in the north Georgia, Tennessee area, but may be up there sometimes in the winter. I know there is probably a post on here somewhere that makes a comparison, but I don't know where it is. Probably want to stay less than 30 ft. Due to my age and some Vietnam combat injuries, I would like to have something with electric levelers and as easy a set up as possible.. Adequate storage and good name brand. I am not a millionaire, but I don't want to go cheap on our selection of RV and ruin our experience. Comments? Recommendations? Any help will be appreciated. Be mostly just me and my wife. May be an occasional grandson. I know that I have not given you much info to go on, but please offer any and all advice.Thank you

You need to visit some large RV outlets and just look around and find something that will fit into what you want. There are no real comparison charts because everyone is different...some want large living areas, some want large bathrooms, bedrooms. Some want an outdoor kitchen, others think they are a waste of space. Well, you see where I am going with this.Find a good dealer and then just go take a look at what they have. If you aren't sure you will like this lifestyle, purchase a good used, two to three year old model. That will save you from having to fix the things that come from the factory wrong and you won't be paying a premium for "new".

Pros and cons to either choice, both can be had with 4 season capabilities including heated tanks and both can have the option of powered stabilizing/leveling jacks. Not in all cases but fifth wheel rigs usually require a bigger tow vehicle due to their pin weight which puts you in 3/4 or 1 ton truck territory, especially if you do decide to get one designed for extended or fulltime RVing.Floorplans between the two are becoming evermore similar over last few years but fifthwheel rigs tend to have more abundant storage although TTs are catching up on this issue. Other variances are if you want to have your truck bed totally clear and if stairs might be something you may find troublesome now or down the road. How the rig tows down the road causes many to also consider the type of rig they want. Take your time figuring out all the pros and con of each. Good luck and here's hoping that the rig you choose is all that you expected and then some. Happy future camping and many thanks for serving our country!!

The major differences are 5th wheels tow better than bumper pull travel trailers, but you get more bang for your buck with travel trailers.More importantly, is either you already have a large truck, want one, or can afford one as a 3rd vehicle, and/or you can use it for your daily driver. OH, and you have room for it...be it 3rd vehicle or not. For me, I don't have parking for a 145+ long wheelbase truck, I have a long commute to work, my wife wont drive a pick up, and we cannot feasibly have 3 vehicles. One of which is only use 3-6 months top per year! So, a pick up truck and 5th wheel trailer is out of the question for us right now, for the above reasons.NOw in coming years...if we travel more miles per year and all year round, then a pick up and 5th wheel is now sensible. Or a motorhome.

first. thank you for stepping up when so many others ran. You sir are a real American. so I don't know what your injuries are. But think about this. The 5ers are much higher than TTs, and have more steps to enter. also once inside. You will be climbing up, and down stairs constantly, Go to bed, go to the bathroom, get out of bed go outside. You are looking at a unit that is really hard on your knees, and back. however. they do have more storage, but need larger TVs. Travel Trailers on the other hand. Do have less storage. But they are closer to the ground. Most have only 2 steps up and in. and once in. they are flat. Not nearly as hard on your body. And many can be towed with full size SUVs, or F150s, or 1500 GMs, and Rams

Lots of good info already from previous posters.I'll add...we picked a travel trailer because we still wanted the full use of the bed of our truck..bikes, etc.But, both have their pros and cons (it's about compromise).Go to an RV show and poke around....and keep researching, researching, and researching...just like you have started doing here.

Travel Trailer vs 5th Wheel | Good Sam Community

Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Aug 20, 2015
Pros and cons to either choice, both can be had with 4 season capabilities including heated tanks and both can have the option of powered stabilizing/leveling jacks.

Not in all cases but fifth wheel rigs usually require a bigger tow vehicle due to their pin weight which puts you in 3/4 or 1 ton truck territory, especially if you do decide to get one designed for extended or fulltime RVing.

Floorplans between the two are becoming evermore similar over last few years but fifthwheel rigs tend to have more abundant storage although TTs are catching up on this issue.

Other variances are if you want to have your truck bed totally clear and if stairs might be something you may find troublesome now or down the road.

How the rig tows down the road causes many to also consider the type of rig they want. Take your time figuring out all the pros and con of each.

Good luck and here's hoping that the rig you choose is all that you expected and then some. Happy future camping and many thanks for serving our country!!
Merrykalia
Explorer
Aug 20, 2015
You need to visit some large RV outlets and just look around and find something that will fit into what you want.

There are no real comparison charts because everyone is different...some want large living areas, some want large bathrooms, bedrooms. Some want an outdoor kitchen, others think they are a waste of space. Well, you see where I am going with this.

Find a good dealer and then just go take a look at what they have. If you aren't sure you will like this lifestyle, purchase a good used, two to three year old model. That will save you from having to fix the things that come from the factory wrong and you won't be paying a premium for "new".

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