Looking to spend a couple of years on the road, seeing the sites, working probably @ 9 months a years (DW is a nurse, will do the travel nurse bit)...with our 1.5 year old daughter. I will do the driving, planning, maintenance, child care, etc...mostly west coast, definitely plan on spending a summer in Alaska.IME, a diesel Class A with toad is better for those times when we'll be moving from place to place, exploring, etc...but a 5th would be better once we set up someplace for a 3 month contract.I think the initial outlay of $ would be pretty similiar, though with a Class A I would like to get a newer Jeep unlimited as a toad ...with a truck/fifth wheel combo, we would probably be able to get away with just the truck. We would probably finance the Jeep, trading in her car which will be a hassle to sell anyways.Long term, the 5th/truck combo would probably be cheaper, but it's so convenient especially with little ones to just find a place to park and sleep for the night as we did when we had a class C.The idea is to see the country and explore, not necessarily make a bunch of money, just enough to survive. We do have a decent savings/equity in the house to pay for either a diesel class A or truck/5th combo. That being said, the Jeep payments are money that would need to be earned/not spent on travel. We plan to do this for at least 2-3 years, working no more than 9 months out of the year and plan on buying used wither way.Help me decide which way to go, I've changed my mind 10 times in the last 2 weeks.

We looked into it and went 5th wheel.The only reason I might go MH is if you have a strong dislike of driving a truck around town or if you have a particular toad that you must have.Cost will almost always come out better for a 5th wheel. Initial cost for comparable units is less. Ongoing maintenance is less because you have 1 drivetrain to keep up and it doesn't sit for months rotting when you aren't moving. If something happens, you can find a new truck just about anywhere with large selection. MPG is less than you might think as most big MH's only get 6-8mpg where as most 5th wheels get 8-12mpg making up for the advantage of driving a fuel efficient toad around (remember going from 6 to 10mpg will save a lot more gallons towing than going from 20 to 35mpg driving around town)Assuming you have a toad, ease of setup and tear down is about the same (try backing that toad into a site some time). You can get all the auto leveling devices on a 5th wheel if desired. If you are just crashing in walmart, the only burden is you have to get out of the truck and walk back to the trailer. You can sleep in a 5th wheel while hooked up just as easily as sleeping in the MH while hooked up. Day stops while traveling, they are about equally difficult to park except you can back out of a situation with a 5th wheel.

Sorry, but the people with a 5er will say go with a fifth wheel and those with a DP will say go with a Diesel Pusher. Having owned every type of RV other than a Toy Hauler there is no way I'd go back to a 5er. A MH is the nicest and most expensive way to go RVing. You will probably put more miles on the jeep so you're overall MGP will be 13+ (8 + 18/2 = 13). If you bought a toad that gets 30 then your overall would be 19+. Not sure you need a Jeep for use during the three months. The newer diesel PU will get as good a MPG as the Jeep around town and will tow in the 9-12 range assuming a fairly large 5er.I understand why you've been going back and forth as for the nine months it's a 5er pretty much sitting and for the three months it's a DP traveling. If it's going to be 9/3 always then the 5er. If it will get to 6/6 then a DP. If you are willing to get something with much better MPG than the Jeep then DP.

what you are saying is what many people say....what is best.what is best is what you and your DW feel comfortable in. 3 months in a MH isn't a big deal...lots of people come here to mexico for 6 months and live in their MHs without any issues.again, it is what YOU and your DW want.

Over the yrs, I have had a camper van, 25ft C, truck camper, and now a 5er/truck. For me, from a cost-benefit view I would go with a used 5er/truck. I have more confidence that I can find a good for 5yrs 5er/truck combo than that I can find a good for 5yrs Class A. I have a 5er and know I can inspect it for problems before purchase, with a Class A I THINK I know what to look for but....I'm not as confident. Maintenance on a 5er/truck is DIY and requires no special facility. I do like the travel comfort of a Class A though and if I was going to Alaska I would take a Class A over a 5er (I used a camper van when I went in '80s). That said I have never had any problem just stopping in rest stops, WalMart, etc. with the 5er and going to bed, eating, etc. The chief travel comfort advantage to a Class A over a 5er, for us, is the ability to nap while the spouse drives. I am not sure I would try the toilet while moving in a Class A so stopping for the potty is equal in my opinion, although in an emergency, the A has a proximity advantage. Another consideration is will your wife be comfortable driving either a pickup or the A? My wife, also a RN, drives the truck/5er combo with no problems and enjoys it. She also likes driving the truck around our somewhat rural town but neither one of us finds it easier to maneuver than a car. The final and most important factor is "what will make your wife the happiest".Ask her and then buy what she wants.

I have no personal experience but will offer what a fella told me at a campground.- He had just cashed in his retirement after 20 years with some company and decided to be a traveling Project Engineer....sensible choice- He didn't want to spend more than he needed to so he got a "Class A" on the cheap: gas engine, low range W&&nne^(&*go, etc for he and his wife and 2 young teenagers. - After a year on the road (of his planned 10 year sojourn), there were so many irritating problems with his cheap Class A that he was looking for an apartment in the SC area (where his current project was) and was willing to take real hit on the Class A just to get rid of it.Moral of the story...pick whichever you're comfortable with, but I wouldn't go cheap on the MH. I think that one can get a higher level of comfort for any given $$ spend in a 5th Wheel than for a MH.

5th or Class A ???? - Work and travel rig | Good Sam Community

NMDriver
Explorer
Mar 03, 2015
Over the yrs, I have had a camper van, 25ft C, truck camper, and now a 5er/truck.

For me, from a cost-benefit view I would go with a used 5er/truck. I have more confidence that I can find a good for 5yrs 5er/truck combo than that I can find a good for 5yrs Class A.

I have a 5er and know I can inspect it for problems before purchase, with a Class A I THINK I know what to look for but....I'm not as confident.

Maintenance on a 5er/truck is DIY and requires no special facility.

I do like the travel comfort of a Class A though and if I was going to Alaska I would take a Class A over a 5er (I used a camper van when I went in '80s). That said I have never had any problem just stopping in rest stops, WalMart, etc. with the 5er and going to bed, eating, etc.

The chief travel comfort advantage to a Class A over a 5er, for us, is the ability to nap while the spouse drives. I am not sure I would try the toilet while moving in a Class A so stopping for the potty is equal in my opinion, although in an emergency, the A has a proximity advantage.

Another consideration is will your wife be comfortable driving either a pickup or the A? My wife, also a RN, drives the truck/5er combo with no problems and enjoys it. She also likes driving the truck around our somewhat rural town but neither one of us finds it easier to maneuver than a car.

The final and most important factor is "what will make your wife the happiest".

Ask her and then buy what she wants.
edbehnke
Explorer
Mar 03, 2015
what you are saying is what many people say....what is best.

what is best is what you and your DW feel comfortable in. 3 months in a MH isn't a big deal...lots of people come here to mexico for 6 months and live in their MHs without any issues.

again, it is what YOU and your DW want.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Mar 03, 2015
Sorry, but the people with a 5er will say go with a fifth wheel and those with a DP will say go with a Diesel Pusher. Having owned every type of RV other than a Toy Hauler there is no way I'd go back to a 5er. A MH is the nicest and most expensive way to go RVing. You will probably put more miles on the jeep so you're overall MGP will be 13+ (8 + 18/2 = 13). If you bought a toad that gets 30 then your overall would be 19+. Not sure you need a Jeep for use during the three months. The newer diesel PU will get as good a MPG as the Jeep around town and will tow in the 9-12 range assuming a fairly large 5er.
I understand why you've been going back and forth as for the nine months it's a 5er pretty much sitting and for the three months it's a DP traveling. If it's going to be 9/3 always then the 5er. If it will get to 6/6 then a DP. If you are willing to get something with much better MPG than the Jeep then DP.
valhalla360
Navigator
Mar 03, 2015
We looked into it and went 5th wheel.

The only reason I might go MH is if you have a strong dislike of driving a truck around town or if you have a particular toad that you must have.

Cost will almost always come out better for a 5th wheel. Initial cost for comparable units is less. Ongoing maintenance is less because you have 1 drivetrain to keep up and it doesn't sit for months rotting when you aren't moving. If something happens, you can find a new truck just about anywhere with large selection. MPG is less than you might think as most big MH's only get 6-8mpg where as most 5th wheels get 8-12mpg making up for the advantage of driving a fuel efficient toad around (remember going from 6 to 10mpg will save a lot more gallons towing than going from 20 to 35mpg driving around town)

Assuming you have a toad, ease of setup and tear down is about the same (try backing that toad into a site some time). You can get all the auto leveling devices on a 5th wheel if desired. If you are just crashing in walmart, the only burden is you have to get out of the truck and walk back to the trailer. You can sleep in a 5th wheel while hooked up just as easily as sleeping in the MH while hooked up. Day stops while traveling, they are about equally difficult to park except you can back out of a situation with a 5th wheel.

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5th or Class A ???? - Work and travel rig

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