Forum Discussion

AndyLyyc's avatar
AndyLyyc
Explorer
Sep 02, 2013

Back to basic 5'er Mfg'er?

Need some direction from some of the RV shoppers around here...

We outgrew our 80's Frontier 20'er, our new little guy needs a berth

Started some looking, but everything we see is completely inappropriate for our camping scenarios... Everything I see is way too massive to even consider getting NEAR our trails.

this is our current rig:

(layout with a rental last year - mine was in for a transmission at the time)

I want - the same darn 5th - just one bed bigger and maybe with a better layout. :)

My "wish list" - I want a basic RV - no slides, no generator, no A/C or TVs or toys, largely we need a place to sleep... Low profile like mine (it's now MASSIVELY pinstriped, we like our jeep trails). But pre-wired for solar would be awesome, and if it's not insane $ - maybe an outside kitchen (happy wife happy life scenario)

Any thoughts? My perusal of the usual suspects shows - the big RV park type 5th wheels only on their websites.
  • AZ_T_T's avatar
    AZ_T_T
    Explorer
    Sep 02, 2013
    We lifted our Jayco and take it into some pretty rough areas. Check out the Jayco Eagle HT, they are on the small side.
  • deleted-2's avatar
    deleted-2
    Explorer
    Sep 02, 2013
    Just convert a cargo trailer like this one >>> click here
    You could customize any way you'd like.
    Almost any trailer dealer would be able to build or find one.

    I've seen some really sweet homebuilt set-ups.
  • KSadler1's avatar
    KSadler1
    Explorer
    Sep 02, 2013
    Look at the Scamp 5th wheels. They are about the same size as your current 5er and seem to have a decent following for the smaller 5er club. I think they'd be perfect for what you need. The others mentioned will be too big and probably too heavy.....
  • AndyLyyc's avatar
    AndyLyyc
    Explorer
    Sep 02, 2013
    Yeah, the arctic fox has a slide... no slides.

    I've spent way too much time helping others get their fubared slides closed, after looking at 20+ of these, I've decided they're for highway use only, take them out into the rough - and they'll fail in short order.

    Would love a scamp - or another oldie - but reality says i should go newish - dont have the time for maintenance/repairs to keep on top of an older unit.

    Edit - that and FRP siding sounds good, getting tired of pinstripes and hail damage :)
  • Copperlisa's avatar
    Copperlisa
    Explorer
    Sep 02, 2013
    Mechanical slides will work when at a slight angle, where hydraulics are much more picky. I'll take my older Jayco any day. If we were only weekending, no slides would be great, like the 96 Terry Expo 21LB5 we sold our friends. But we're fulltiming now, and so the two slides are great.

    It's all in what you want/need. But be picky if going older.

    2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD Ext. Cab 4x4 6.0
    1998 Jayco Designer 2930RKS
  • bpounds's avatar
    bpounds
    Nomad
    Sep 02, 2013
    Why does it have to be a fiver? You'll find a lot more choices in the low end category if you look at bumper pulls. And they should be better off road too.
  • AndyLyyc's avatar
    AndyLyyc
    Explorer
    Sep 02, 2013
    We've found the 5ths way better off the beaten track, when the going gets ugly the 5th plants the rear - and the trailer tends to not slide sideways down the slope when your on wet clay... overall length is shorter, pivot ahead of the rear bumper lets us maneuver the combination better. We've owned and run all 3 - tc/tt/5th - the 5th just works better in our experience...
  • Alley_Fox's avatar
    Alley_Fox
    Explorer
    Sep 02, 2013
    OK, Arctic Fox 21 5R, no slide. Very popular, very rugged, very hard to find. Northwood makes their own steel "I" beam frames so they are tough. Even the bigger ones with slides don't flex enough to bind the slide.

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