5th wheels vs motor homes

[smokeater46]

My wife and I are planning to buy a new RV that we can use for extended travel. We've looked at both 5th wheels and motor homes but can't quite decide which type is better. We've pretty much decided on a 5th wheel, but there's a little doubt still. I'm a little leery of pulling a 5th wheel since I've never pulled anything that big. We have a pop-up now, so I can tow. However, I drove straight (fire) trucks for over 30 years and feel comfortable driving large vehicles. We are also skiers and plan (hope) to use our RV for that, so snow covered roads may be encountered.
We'd love to have opinions/reasons for selecting a 5th wheel vs a motor home. Pros and cons of both

[Lowsuv]

when i owned my 36 foot beaver diesel pusher i did not like towing a toad .
it was mental , i know.
a heavy duty single rear wheel late model pickup towing a 5th or conventional that is not too big is my answer .
we use a duramax with snug top canopy and tow a 21t komfort conventional .
easy to drive

[valhalla360]

Av8orlouTX wrote:

rsg63 wrote:

tomousecap wrote:
If some "Goon" threatens us, I can just sitdown and drive away. I don't have to confront him while trying to get to the tow vehicle.

Also the DW refuses to drive a truck when we get where we are going. 🙂

That is by far the 2 funniest reasons to own a motor home vs. a 5th wheel. I keep picturing you 'saving' yourself by slowly raising your landing gear, firing up the diesel, slides slowly coming in, hoses ripping out of the ground... all the while the DW is saying "thank God I'm not running to get in a truck to get out of this Compton gangland campground!" hahahahaha.
Thank you for that post. Just awesome.

This cracks me up. Too funny. I can picture it now:B

If they do a sequel to RV, they need to include this. I can just picture Robin Williams face as half the campgrounds wiring follows them out of the campground.

[Bird_Freak]

Vulcaneer wrote:
"A MH is just too complicated when it comes to having breakdowns and making repairs."

We hear this a lot. But I don't believe it. A MH is not any more complicated than a 5'r and a diesel pickup truck. And the drivetrain, brakes, tires, suspension and frame on a MH is much more robust than your average pickup truck.

Most fivers are very poorly built. Compare most 10 year old 5'r and 10 year old DP's. Generally, the DP will be in much better shape.

All Mh's are not DP's and look at the cost difference between DP and 5er. I would only comare a 5er to a gasser if it were me. I have to say I have had fewer build quality issues with my 03 5er than I had with my 04 Pace Arrow. Both Fleetwood products.

[sue_t]

We like being able to "drop" the fifth wheel and go exploring with the truck. Or DH can take the truck to go fishing (or whatever) and I can stay back at the campsite content to do my own thing.

With the motorhome it was convenient for the pets when travelling with us but other than that, we prefer to fifth wheel.

We've travelled on snow-covered roads with the fifth wheel too. If doing this, have a good brake controller installed that works effectively with slippery roads.

Plus DH is always going to have a full-size pickup in his life, so economically it just makes sense to have a fifth wheel.

[Av8orlouTX]

rsg63 wrote:

tomousecap wrote:
If some "Goon" threatens us, I can just sitdown and drive away. I don't have to confront him while trying to get to the tow vehicle.

Also the DW refuses to drive a truck when we get where we are going. 🙂

That is by far the 2 funniest reasons to own a motor home vs. a 5th wheel. I keep picturing you 'saving' yourself by slowly raising your landing gear, firing up the diesel, slides slowly coming in, hoses ripping out of the ground... all the while the DW is saying "thank God I'm not running to get in a truck to get out of this Compton gangland campground!" hahahahaha.
Thank you for that post. Just awesome.

This cracks me up. Too funny. I can picture it now:B

[homedad]

I've been traveling in tents, pop ups,tt's and mh's. As a kid my father never drove more than 5 hours then we stayed in a campground. I enjoy driving and like vacationing on the east coast. We aren't retired so we don't have unlimited time to travel. The family can sleep whenever they are tired in a motorhome. I pull into a rest area get a few hours sleep and keep driving without anyone having to get out of bed. If I traveled like my Dad did I'd need at least 2 weeks to make New England or Cape Hatteras a worthwhile trip or never leave Michigan.

[Bumpyroad]

srink wrote:
Each has its advantages. I'm on my 3rd 5er. I use to say, I you park it a lot, get a 5er, if you travel a lot get a MH.

well stated,
bumpy

[Vulcaneer]

"A MH is just too complicated when it comes to having breakdowns and making repairs."

We hear this a lot. But I don't believe it. A MH is not any more complicated than a 5'r and a diesel pickup truck. And the drivetrain, brakes, tires, suspension and frame on a MH is much more robust than your average pickup truck.

Most fivers are very poorly built. Compare most 10 year old 5'r and 10 year old DP's. Generally, the DP will be in much better shape.

[srink]

Each has its advantages. I'm on my 3rd 5er. I use to say, I you park it a lot, get a 5er, if you travel a lot get a MH.
Most MH have more storage in the basements.
Most 5er's have more living area.
MH you're pretty limited on floor plans. Bedroom always in the back. 5er has many different floor plans.
MH you almost always enter thru the drivers compartment. I always feel like there's a dashboard and steering wheel in my living room.
MH you have no rear window. 5er you have no front window.
Pick up truck easier to drive than MH.
MH you can potty while traveling. 5er you have to pull over.
Turning radius is much less in 5er.
in this state, license plates and insurance are much less on a 5er.
medium priced MH & tow are 150K to 300K
I have 2012 Diesel and 2012 39' 5er, under 100K and I use 1/2 my investment 365 days a year.
Don't have to change the oil in a 5er.
as many before have said, it's whatever fits you best.
I love MH's but 5er's fit my budget better.

[WellShooter2]

I seriously considered moving from a 5 er to a MH. But the more I studied it the more I disliked the idea. The MH certainly has the advantage of having the bathroom and refer available while driving but it is a much more complicated piece of equipment.

In fact I can see no difference between a MH and a spaceship, other than the MH does not have to hold air pressure. A MH is just too complicated when it comes to having breakdowns and making repairs. If I could afford a new one every 2 years I might be able to avoid some of the breakdowns and repairs. The 5er is easier and cheaper to repair. The tow vehicle has lots of other uses.

[invstr55]

I can think of good things to say about both, worrying about a goon is not on my list for either. Someone is either parking in the wrong Walmart or has the innate ability to incite rage in normal people.

Happy Camping

Dan & Janice

[rsg63]

tomousecap wrote:
If some "Goon" threatens us, I can just sitdown and drive away. I don't have to confront him while trying to get to the tow vehicle.

Also the DW refuses to drive a truck when we get where we are going. 🙂

That is by far the 2 funniest reasons to own a motor home vs. a 5th wheel. I keep picturing you 'saving' yourself by slowly raising your landing gear, firing up the diesel, slides slowly coming in, hoses ripping out of the ground... all the while the DW is saying "thank God I'm not running to get in a truck to get out of this Compton gangland campground!" hahahahaha.
Thank you for that post. Just awesome.

[lee_worsdell]

started with fifthwheel in 04 then bought our first class a gas. Loved it easy to travel with the kids and friends. Went to a 40 ft diesel pusher with 400 cummins 04 Vectra. if we hadn't built this last house would have never sold it. I think this is the best way to travel pulled our car behind no problems,. we are no back to a fver with bunks and grandkids now so no long trips for a few years

[valhalla360]

tomousecap wrote:
If some "Goon" threatens us, I can just sitdown and drive away. I don't have to confront him while trying to get to the tow vehicle.

Very useful if you are into gangland camping. 😉

[old_guy]

I have a truck driver friend and one of the things he told his wife when she suggested a MH is the fact that fifth wheels bend in the middle thus are easier to turn and park.