Trading a 5th Wheel for a Truck Camper

We did this very same thing last year. Well we didn’t trade our fifth wheel in but sold it privately and moved to a triple slide TC. Very happy with the move after most of one season with the TC. We had a 35 foot 4 slide fifth wheel that was almost 16k and already had a truck that could handle the heavy triple slide TC with a few mods . No more tires ,brakes, hitches, property taxes and no sales tax for us because of the state we purchased the TC in. The fifth wheel was beautiful and we also had 10 great years with it but felt we wanted to downsize heading into retirement and hopefully doing more traveling and less time spent in one place. I will say that the smaller TC’s even some of the models with one slide would not have worked for us coming from such a large fifth wheel. The bigger TC’s are heavy so a big truck is needed for the move and a 5500 would be best if your plan is to tow anything with a Big TC . It has worked out great for us so far and can’t wait for spring to arrive here in the northeast , good luck with your plans , also just a heads up on selling or trading your fifth wheel as of last fall the market for fifth wheels was not very good , I could not even get dealers to take mine on consignment at it was in mint condition, I was told there are too many out there for sale . It took 6 months to sell it . Our truck camper dealer does not take trailers in trade so we had to sell it privately which was an adventure in itself, but I don’t think your
going to get what you exspect for your current trailer on trade.
Mike

If a truck camper fits your needs, go for it. At some point we would like to drive the Pan-America Highway and will likely switch to a truck camper to do it.

Tires? That's not really a valid reason in my mind. If you were blowing tires regularly, something was wrong that slapping a replacement tire on the trailer wasn't solving.

Tires or not, if you travel more than park, you'll think the TC is a godsend. if you get a big one with real couch or recliner and a decent size bath, it's pretty luxurious.
And you'll be able to take it way more places than a big 5ver.

That is exactly what we did, 32' fiver to a 10.0 TC. Oh yeah, there will be adjustments. IMHO there are trade offs and to us it was worth it. I don't believe there is one perfect rv. We are going on 5 years with our TC and it serves it's purpose very well. Good luck!

LT tires will end your tire troubles, but that is not the point of your post so I will add 2 more cents.

We went from a popup TC to an S&S 11.5, then to a fiver. There are times we still wish we had a popup TC. You can go anywhere with them, and they don't knock your mileage down. Our S&S is now basically an apartment at my parents. We sleep too good in it to get rid of it.

Saying that, if it is a campground, I can get our fiver in almost any site, but we really like boondocking, and there are places we just can't take our fiver.

We moved to TC from bus conversion, but "lost" 3 boys from the family, while small dogs take way less space.
I had the same impression about TC in the past, but once I saw 12-footer with slide, dry bath and decent holding tanks, I was all for it.
Convenience of driving that thing without size restriction beat smaller storage space.
Set of good tires for my previous conversion was more than $5000, although I could buy used way cheaper as this was the size semis use.

Before purchasing our new TC we considered a small 5th wheel. In the end and for many of the reasons you conclude we went with a large 3 slide camper the we almost full time in. Really not wanting for anything.

How do I say pre- welcome, welcome to the club.





























Welcome to the club.
Welcome in advance, You won't regret it.

Everyone has to row their own boat in life and no one else can do it for then, you, me.

I hope you have great success with the new TC and it fits your changing life style perfect. I think your biggest adjustment will be getting use to the smaller space, but the trade off for your intended use is a good trade off. Good luck withe the adjustment and wish you Many more years of happy camping.

Congrats on the new camper!