Thanks everyone for all the useful and informative responses.
The messages I'm getting is the following:
- MH route is costlier. Another way of saying this is that if I want to keep the ownership cost the same for both, then I will need to significantly sacrifice the room. Cheaper gas cost on the toad drive doesn't offset enough to the overall cost.
- MH is more pleasant on road, including access to the rest of the cabin. It is also easier to park.
- MH is more pleasant when you are driving locally around the site (due to a toad)
- MH has two engines which is nice because you have a backup option. But more headache since you need to do maintenance on both.
- FW is more pleasant on site (at the same price point).
- Maintaining a pickup (even a dually) is much easier than MH.
- Setup and pack-up time are about the same. High-end FWs use similar automated setup as MHs.
Overall, there's more +ves for MH than FW based solution but one of the BIG negatives for the MH is the cost. Yes, you can go used route but you can say the same for the 5th wheel which will make the setup even cheaper. I think it's only fair to compare the two scenarios of equal cost and equal age.
Here are our priorities (in order):
1. Cost but only to a point. We are willing to spend $170k on a setup so we are obviously not looking for the cheapest possible solution.
2. Less headache.
3. Comfort & Convenience. This includes smaller local drive.
4. Comfort & safety while on road.
We can obviously force #1 to be the same on both. MH looses out #2 battle. #3 is about same since FW offers better comfort at destinations but MH offers more while on roads (both MH and toads). #4 is better for MH obviously.
So, I think for me, FW setup is better.
Did I overlook at something obvious?
