Camper and Fifth Wheel????

If you get a set up like this you can take both, no more tears. Just replace the boat in the picture with the TC. If you live in a state that allows double tow you can take the boat too :)

My set up doesn't exactly match want you want

still use the camper or find yourself just using the 5er because of the room and comfort?

Our situation matches pretty close...

We have tiny class C (used Majestic) 24 steps overall bumper to bumper. It is actually a chassis mounted camper on a F 350 frame, not a van "Econoline". Here is a pic http://delta.britishcolumbiaads.com/trailers-mobile-homes/25-ft-class-c-2004-four-winds-majestic-23p_2002813.html

It is great as a traveling machine as it fits into most anything. Totally love the freedom of a small unit. But on longer trips it is just to small for us. Longer trips for us is anything over 3 weeks. Wife and I envy people that can snowbird in a small unit. And I'm not saying one way is better than another. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Wife started looking for something bigger for our longer trips. Here is what our experiences good and bad and some of the trade offs.

Totally dislike..... dragging a trailer around. After driving 400 miles in a day feels like I've driven 800. Just can't zip into something we see, have to make sure we can get around in tight parking lots, fuel stops, and now we're also to long to fit into kids driveway to spend a night. Last trip we had to actually make reservations when visiting popular places. And make sure the campsite is large enough. We're now 52 feet overall with a 30 foot trailer.

Totally like...if you forget to pick something up at store or other short trips, no big deal. Don't have to put stuff away, just go. More than once wife has stayed in trailer and read or worked on her projects and I've gone fishing or whatever. She now has a lot bigger kitchen and more storage and bigger water tanks. Can go a lot longer especially with bigger black tank.

So there are many trade offs, some good some not so good. We feel that we are getting the best of both worlds now. Other than having to wash 2 RV's.

I wanted a 5th wheel for longer trips but I ran out of pick up truck (3/4 ton) before I ran out of 5th wheel. So we honed in on trailers but only 1/2 way looking.

Wife spotted a used Arctic Fox 2012 model that was hardly used. Long story short... our travelling camping machine, which is the Majestic is parked next to what I call "The wives big doll house".

Unless you need the TC to get into the areas for hunting & fishing, I'd just stick with the 5'er. Upkeep, insurance etc. for two RV's doesn't make sense to me. JMO

I have both a fifth wheel and a camper and use both regularly. The fifth wheel gets used with the family and the camper is pretty much mine for solo trips or to a place with the family that the fifth is just not feasible. Both setups are set to go on a moments notice. The only issue is dealing with the hitch in the bed. I can take mine out on my own when needed so its not a big deal but it is heavy. I know that's not for everyone. If I plan ahead knowing the camper is next to be used I do lift out the hitch leaving it attached to the pin on the trailer. Mine is an under mount hitch leaving just small pucks behind in the truck bed.

I have a 5th wheel and have been thinking of getting a TC for "little trips".

It's no big deal taking out the 5th wheel hitch but I wouldn't want to do it every day.

caseyhoward wrote:
I would stay with the travel trailer my friend bought A fifth wheel couple years back and decided it was just too much work.. too big of a hassle to take on long trips so they sold it went back to the travel trailer.

Casey, the OP doesn't have a travel trailer...he has a camper. So many people use the word "camper" to include all types of rv's whereas they really are the units that fit in the back of a pickups bed.

OP... I too would be concerned of not only the weight of your current camper, but also any 5ver over 10,000 lbs. In addition, installing and removing the 5th wheel hitch would be real bothersome over time.

IMO, I would go with one or the other, but not both.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Ron

I am thinking of getting a bumper pull trailer around 23 feet. That will fit in the parking space I have.i love having a TC but we are getting older and I have knee and shoulder problems. That and we have three dogs from 30 to 60 pounds. After traveling in this TC for fifteen years we both want more room to sit down in comfort. TC's are great for traveling, eating and sleeping but not so much for hanging out in. A short toy hauler might fit my needs because I can equip it to my specs. Has to be a bumper pull so I can use my trailer tug to shoehorn it into a very tight space at home

I would stay with the travel trailer my friend bought A fifth wheel couple years back and decided it was just too much work.. too big of a hassle to take on long trips so they sold it went back to the travel trailer.

I am not sure why you would want a 5th wheeler for long trips. Towing a big vehicle long distances seems like a downer and expensive. What more comfort are you looking to achieve? My camper has a great Queen sized foam mattress, heat, A/C, kitchen, frige/freezer and a wet bath. All I am missing is a big recliner and when the weather is decent I have the zero gravity chairs to make up for that.

That is a very heavy camper for a 2500 series truck. Even a fifth wheel will have to be a very light one - say under 10,000 pounds to avoid overloading the truck with to much pin weight.

You might want to stick to a travel trailer.

Fred.