burningman wrote:
Minor point, you estimated a 20' truck and 34' 5th wheel at 54 feet. It would be less than 50, a lot of the 5th wheel is over the rear of the truck.
I like the truck and bigger trailer option. It's far more versatile and it's the best towing setup.
You can get a 4 wheel drive diesel pickup that is a far superior powertrain than most small motorhomes.
A bigger trailer vs. two small RVs is kind of like the situation where you remodel old houses that are all divided into small spaces by knocking out walls to give you a larger space.
The truck is a whole lot better to drive around when the trailer is parked than a motorhome will be.
The truck is safer in an accident than a small motorhome.
Plus - you get a truck that you can drive anytime.
I also like that since I drive my truck regularly, I know what shape it's in. I know the tires are good, the alternator is charging, it's running right, etc. When you have an RV that sits parked most of the time, you don't always know what dried up or corroded or failed as you head out on a long trip.
And here's a whole new option for you: if you go with a truck, you could put a large camper on it and still tow your travel trailer. Then you still get all the benefits of using a truck - better powertrain, better safety, better towing performance, a truck that can do everything from commuting to work daily to hauling junk, and you still get a separate space to sleep.
That's what I do, I have a 10,000 trailer and I tow it with a diesel dually carrying an 11.5 foot camper, zero problems. And I drive the truck to work every day.
Thank you. You make good points. You are right about the overall length being a bit less. We actually just brought home the 34' fifth wheel and are going with that and our Ram 2500 for now.
I still like the concept of a tow vehicle with more room and convenience, like a short motor home. Maybe at some point I'll end up with a 3500 and camper with a pass-through window so at least the small dogs can roam during travel :)
