Camper or 5th wheel ?

I'm enjoying reading this thread. When my wife and I bought our Arctic Fox 990 back in 2006 with thought it was the best solution for our RV need at the time. We pulled our toys behind in an enclosed trailer for about 6 years and 55k miles.

*Although we had 19.5 tires and a "beefed" up 1 ton, I was never truly comfortable driving the thing. The thought of a blow out freaked me out. I didn't want a DRW because I use my truck all the time as a daily driver.

*I'm a bigger guy; 6 foot 250 pounds. The camper always felt cramped, even with a slide. Besides the bed, I had no place to really relax.

*Even though we usually had our dual sport motorcycles, we didn't have use of a vehicle when we arrived places.


Enter our 30' fifth wheel toy hauler. Even though it's not perfect, our Ragen has proven to fix most of the issues that I had with the TC. The only other way I might ever get another TC is if I go DRW, but my then I hope to be pulling a jeep behind a pusher... We'll see how that works out.:)

BTW.... Some (if not many) of the folks I ride and hangout with are going from fifth wheels or motor homes to TCs. For each his own.

homefor2 wrote:
Quote: With the camper off the pickup one has in theory a regular pickup truck for daily use but with a DRW long-bed crew cab pickup truck nothing could be further from reality. "

Not my reality. My DRW long-bed crew cab pickup is my only vehicle and daily driver. Both my DW and I have no problem with it. Sorry we don't share that opinion.

Agree with homefor2, over 15 years went from a CC, long bed, gas and lifted F250 to a CC long bed, diesel F250 to a CC long bed diesel DRW F350. Now I commute on a motorcycle most of the time but any time I need a cage I take my truck (approx. 25k a year) and I see no difference between the previous 250s and the DRW 350. I actually prefer the truck over my wife's Grand Cherokee.

Quote: With the camper off the pickup one has in theory a regular pickup truck for daily use but with a DRW long-bed crew cab pickup truck nothing could be further from reality. "

Not my reality. My DRW long-bed crew cab pickup is my only vehicle and daily driver. Both my DW and I have no problem with it. Sorry we don't share that opinion.

billtex wrote:

rkortes wrote:

bka0721 wrote:

Then Darwin thins just another person out of the Truck Camper herd. It is good learning early who are worthy of the TC Brand and who are not.

Now scoot along little fella, your herd is back there, waiting for you. For you truly don't know what is out there and from your comments, it would just scare you.

b

Huh? :h

An appropriate response to redskywintersunelkhornsun...

I guess it looked like he was just coming up with objective points comparing a DRW with camper to a class C. The condescending remarks seemed inappropriate to me.

rkortes wrote:

bka0721 wrote:

Then Darwin thins just another person out of the Truck Camper herd. It is good learning early who are worthy of the TC Brand and who are not.

Now scoot along little fella, your herd is back there, waiting for you. For you truly don't know what is out there and from your comments, it would just scare you.

b

Huh? :h

An appropriate response to redskywintersunelkhornsun...

bka0721 wrote:

Then Darwin thins just another person out of the Truck Camper herd. It is good learning early who are worthy of the TC Brand and who are not.

Now scoot along little fella, your herd is back there, waiting for you. For you truly don't know what is out there and from your comments, it would just scare you.

b

Huh? :h

Redsky wrote:
In theory the pickup has more ground clearance but who in their right mind would take a super long wheelbase super wide DRW truck offroad even if it is allowed and in many places they are not allowed including on many public beaches.

I do this exact thing with both my TC and 34ft 5th TH in the SoCal desert, ISDRA, and Ocotillo with my Dmax. As for C's, I have pulled out stuck ones several times, they suck in the sand. The TC is way more versatile than any MH or C. It just depends on how adventurous you are and how far you wish to push your limits.

You can absolutly get 4x4 in a C, if you buy new. Theres an outfit that converts C's or anything new to 4x4 in Pennsylvania. They do quality work, forgot the name at the moment. C's have advantages ,but Im happy with my C and wouldnt consider switching to a C. In certain circumstances a large TT would work for me, but not with the type of camping I do now. A TT would be for extended and perminant/semi-permanent stays, which could happen in the future. But I'de still keep and use my TC.

Redsky wrote:

btggraphix wrote:

Redsky wrote:
Once you get to a large camper with slides that requires a dually truck you might as well get a class C motorhome.

In theory the pickup has more ground clearance but who in their right mind would take a super long wheelbase super wide DRW truck offroad even if it is allowed and in many places they are not allowed including on many public beaches. Better to tow a small SUV like a Suzuki Brat behind a motorhome and have a truly capable off road vehicle at your camping area.

You need to read some of the trip reports. For example:

Long bed DRW off-road.

As for beaches, no restrictions out here:

Redsky, I'm glad you found what works for you. Unfortunately, what is obvious to you is just wrong for me and many of the rest of us here.