TT or 5th wheel?

After some research, shopping, and feedback from you all, we are now considering a 5th wheel.

They seem to be more expensive than TTs, however, there seem to be more used 5th wheels for sale than TTs in our area, and we can get one for anywhere between $5,000-28,000. What does that mean? Why are there more used 5th wheels for sale and why are their prices so low, compared to their prices when new? Do 5th wheels depreciate a lot faster?

We have seen sooooo many 5th wheels (all we have seen are ones online) with the shower in the bathroom...no wall to separate, which seems very inconvenient in terms of privacy if other members of the travel party wanted to take a shower....it just does not seem to make sense. We do not like this arrangement even for just the two of us. I wonder if this is the reason that they are up for sale???

Also, why are the 5th wheels sooooooo much heavier than the TTs? Wouldn't that force us to buy a more powerful TV than hauling a TT? Does a 5th wheel make the gas mileage worse than hauling a TT due to the greater weight?

If you all could give us some feedback in terms of pros and cons of 5th wheel vs TT, we would very much appreciate it! The ones that we have seen pre-owned and liked (online), are 36-37' long, which seems to be counter-productive to going into Yosemite or some of the national parks. This is really tough, trying to find something that we could live in, as well as go camping in the NPs!! I guess one solution is to take our tent with us to camp in the Yosemite Park valley and park the rig off-grounds in an RV park and leave it there....:( which takes away the joy of having the RV.

Our priorities:
1. We are both avid cooks. We cook 99% of our meals, so we need good counter space in the kitchen.
2. We do not want the bathroom to be part of the BR.
3. We need a space for my office things....full-size computer, large screen
5. Separate space for cat litter box
6. Space to store guitar and camera equipment...preferably not just sitting out in the open.
7. Ceilings taller than 6'6". Preferably 7'-8'.
8. No longer than 30' in 5th wheel(or close to it, if possible...is this possible?
9. Preferably maximum price - $22,000, so it would have to be used, if a 5th wheel, possibly new if a TT.

We will buy the appropriate TV.

Since we really liked the FFs, we were looking at the floor plan, 262BHS, which has a triple bunkhouse, which may be adequate for our needs, but it is 27' 5" long and dry weight is 5,040 lbs. We wonder how towable this unit might be...could we use a Ford F-150 to haul it?

The more we learn, the more questions we have! Thanks to all of you who have been so patient and kind with us to help us in this journey! What a wonderful community we have found!! :B

32 Replies

brulaz
Explorer
Sep 04, 2013
MookieKat wrote:

...
We have called Yosemite and they have the strictest requirements for RVs. Maximum length for trailers is 35'. So, now we are shopping used 5ers 35' and under. They are so much more expensive than trailers!! And yes, so hard to find them without bath in BR!
...

Similar issues, but different resolution here.

Older campgrounds may have some longer sites, but not that many. We have similar issues out East in older Florida S.P.s and Smoky Mountains N.P. The smaller your rig, the more sites are available. And often they are better quality, closer to the water and so on. So I restricted our hunt to trailers less than 28'(ball to bumper).

There are a few under 28' 5'ers that are really nice, but they're all over 12' high. After talking to one guy with a tall RV who didn't dare go to one of our favourite Florida S.P.s because of height, I eliminated the 5ers. Quite a few Florida S.P.s have Live Oaks with long, low hanging branches.

The problem with a 28' and under trailer is that the bedroom gets awfully tight/claustrophobic if you close it off. Most are "open-concept" with the bed at the front and a separate rear bath with lots of space in between. Only a curtain separates the bed from the rest.

But if you move the bath into the middle of the trailer, the bedroom space becomes tiny in an under 28' trailer. That's why we like opening up the bath so the basin and even the shower space is shared with the bed. Our current, favourite floorplan like this has a curtain that separates the bed from the bath area.
MookieKat
Explorer
Sep 04, 2013
Still Searchin' wrote:
Oh the compromises we all have to make! Natl. park size limits vs. wanting a separate shower arrangement usually found in the bigger rvs; high ceilings (5vers) vs. getting into the more primitive campgrounds where lower height TT's have the advantage; wanting a separate office space usually means over 30ft., etc, etc.
IF this is your first RV, I'd consider a used one first because we all learn a lot from that experience. NOTE that some folks never do learn to back 5vers well. Our first used 16ft. TT was purchased because our Ford Ranger could pull it, but the next two tt's were bought because we liked the floor plan and then we went shopping for the tv that could pull them.
From the OP's wish list, I would think that a 30+ft. 5ver would be the logical choice, knowing that some NPs and State parks won't be accessable, though more and more of them are adding longer sites to their mix.

We have called Yosemite and they have the strictest requirements for RVs. Maximum length for trailers is 35'. So, now we are shopping used 5ers 35' and under. They are so much more expensive than trailers!! And yes, so hard to find them without bath in BR!

I have found more with more kitchen counter space, but those are the higher-end, more expensive ones... Hopefully, we will be able to find one that meets our needs and most of our wants at a good price.
MookieKat
Explorer
Sep 04, 2013
Thanks everyone! I have defected to the 5th wheel forum, after some of your testimonials and suggestions : ) We appreciate all of your input!!
Doug33
Explorer
Sep 03, 2013
There are three reasons I didn't buy a 5'er:

1) I don't have a TV to pull and don't want to spend the money (and don't want to lose pickup truck bed space).

2) Very few 5'ers have bunks.

3) I don't like the bathroom as part of the bedroom, as mentioned.
Still_Searchin_
Explorer
Sep 02, 2013
Oh the compromises we all have to make! Natl. park size limits vs. wanting a separate shower arrangement usually found in the bigger rvs; high ceilings (5vers) vs. getting into the more primitive campgrounds where lower height TT's have the advantage; wanting a separate office space usually means over 30ft., etc, etc.
IF this is your first RV, I'd consider a used one first because we all learn a lot from that experience. NOTE that some folks never do learn to back 5vers well. Our first used 16ft. TT was purchased because our Ford Ranger could pull it, but the next two tt's were bought because we liked the floor plan and then we went shopping for the tv that could pull them.
From the OP's wish list, I would think that a 30+ft. 5ver would be the logical choice, knowing that some NPs and State parks won't be accessable, though more and more of them are adding longer sites to their mix.
rfryer
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
"What size do you have and what model? Did you buy it new or used?"

Smaller than you’d like, I think, MookieKat. But it’s a Fleetwood Yukon 16’ and I bought it new in 1989. I’ve thought of inching up a couple of feet with a newer one that I’d probably buy used. But my bathroom is on the side. Granted it’s small, but time spent in a bathroom is negligible and the TT is open the full length. Newer ones have beds and bathrooms front and back and I actually feel more cramped in them. Besides, I’ve kept it in good condition and there’s no real justification to replace it.

My decision was easy compared to many. My absolute requirement was to be able to get it almost as far back in national forest roads as my PU. So that dictated 16’ to maybe 19’. And low enough to clear the tree limbs and that’s where the FW failed. That’s always dry camping so all the amenities of a bigger rig were redundant unless I wanted to run a generator constantly. And I didn’t. A side benefit was most of my camping is in the mountains and the TT is light, only 3000# loaded. So my F150 pulls it easily on the mountain grades.

It sounds like you need more space than I have and actually one could park closer to the road with a bigger rig and still drive back in. I just wanted to camp where most people have to drive.:)
TomG2
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
The OP has that covered in his/her original post, "We will buy the appropriate TV."

That makes more sense that than buying any tow vehicle first, as even a 3/4-1 ton may be insufficient or maybe not necessary. The OP has it right, get the trailer first. Not a lot of analysis to that, just decide on the trailer that meets their wants/needs/budget, and that will be fun.
goducks10
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
In stead of running around in circles trying this and that. Just buy a 3/4-1 ton truck. Then you will be able to tow just about anything that meets your needs. Then you can get any size TT or most 5th wheels you want. When you start analyzing the situation too much then it all gets confusing. What your doing is what most newbies do and that's to try and tow the most with the least. They all end up trading up for a bigger truck. IMO if your full timing you need something fairly large. Even a 30' 5th wheel will be too much for a 1/2 ton when full timing. Most guys that tow 5th wheels with 1/2 tons usually say they travel lite. You won't be traveling light full timing.
Slownsy
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
With the Fw u get longer available space as u don't have the drawbar behind vehicle, and if you look at Titaniums u get even more space wit out the length, a 26/31 gives u 31' of internal space but only 26' from pin to rear off FW, so really no longer than towing a 20' TT .
MookieKat
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
rfryer wrote:

The decision to go with a small TT worked great for me. I can get well into the back-country with it and having my F150 4x4 bed free expanded my options. I put a shell on it and had a mattress made for it. So I can load up some of my old camping gear and go even further back in and stay if I like.

What size do you have and what model? Did you buy it new or used?

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TT or 5th wheel?

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