From a class A to a 5th wheel

[danrn]

Hi,
I have had three class A motorhomes over the years. My present one is a 38 footer. I feel very confident with my motorhome, and knock on wood; I have never had any issues. My wife on the other hand has become uncomfortable traveling in the motorhome, mostly due to winds. Sometimes I will try to sedate her with Benadryl when I know we will be hitting winds. So, on our last trip we talked about this and I suggested looking into a 5th wheel. I have heard that 5’ers don’t feel the wind as much as a motorhome, and the ride in a pickup truck would be smoother, quieter, and stabiler. If I did get a 5’er I believe I would want at least a 38 footer or longer.
I have so many questions, but I will just ask a general question. What should I consider going from a class A to a 5’er, and is the information I heard about 5’ers true that I mentioned in the above paragraph? Thanks in advance for your information.

[ReneeG]

danrn wrote:

ReneeG wrote:
We currently have a fifth wheel and we love it. Yes, with the right setup - tow vehicle and hitch, you will hardly feel it back there. With the wrong set-up, it will push you around, enough that it's unsettling. Before we bought our rig, we test drove a Class A and I didn't like the feeling. I thought for sure that I was going to get motion sick each time - it rocked and rolled. I'm sure we could've installed stabilizers to prevent it but that was more money. We opted to not buy the Class A because of the lack of storage space. Other things to consider it the hitching and backing. - it's going to be a learning curve and sometimes a challenge. You will not always find a pull through site. I've always thought that as we get older, a move to a Class C or Class A would be the choice for us for ease in getting in and out of sites for me, when my DH couldn't do it.

ReneeG, thanks for taking the time to address my questions. You mentioned having the right equipment. Could you provide a little more information on this.Although I have had three class A's over the years, I know little about 5th wheels.
Thanks

By the right equipment, I mean hitch and TV (Tow Vehicle). Invest in a good hitch, one that will be secure as well as give you a smooth ride. We have a Hensley BD3 TrailerSaver and just like their slogan says, "the name says it all". It prevents chucking and bucking. The other piece of equipment, the TV is very important. Make sure you have the right truck for the size of fifth wheel. When we first bought our fifth wheel, we had an F250 V10 SRW. Dealership said it would work but suggested airbags to level it. After a "butt pucker" factor of 10 going up and down hills, and blowing the air bag lines due to the pin weight, many times, we bit the proverbial bullet and bought an F350 (1 ton) DRW Diesel. What a difference! Plenty of power, no need for air bags, Tow Assist going down hill so all we have to do is tap the brakes to engage braking (really engine compression holding you back) and stability with the DRW. With the SRW, we would feel the unit sway a little, kind of a mushy feeling. With the DRW, the support and stability are there giving a solid feel going down the road. Hope this helps.

[et2]

DRM796 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

silvercorvette wrote:
Thanks for posting this I am very happy with my 5th wheel set up but had thoughts of getting an "A" in a few years. As a matter of fact I have been afraid to step inside of an "A" because I may like it too much. In a couple more years I would like to visit Alaska and thought making the trip in an "A" would be nice, now I appreciate what I have a lot more.

PS I have been un-hooked from my 5th for over a week and the truck ride is real harsh without the extra weight of the RV sitting in the truck bed. When I am hooked up the truck rides great but when you un-hook it is not a pleasant ride.

Run your rear tires at 45psi when unloaded! I have a similar truck and mine rides like a limo!

I run 55psi loaded with 4,500# pin weight and is where it should be based on weight chart.

Tire psi makes a huge difference in ride quality. Also if you have air bags run them at 5 psi unloaded.

Change your shocks to Bilstien's Blue and Yellow forget the #.

Some one once told me that running your tires at the lower pressure when unloaded would create the sidewalls to wear quicker due to the extra flexing at the lower pressure. So I have me rear tires at 80 psi and it is like riding on bricks. Does any when know how much truth if any to what I was told. Would much rather ride at the lower pressure when not pulling.

I had mine lower. I did notice the outer edges wearing faster. Particularly in the front. Once I raised the pressure it has stopped additional advanced wear. The cummins engine is heavy. That might be my reason for the wear

[Cummins12V98]

If you want to know what I am saying is fact just look up your weight chart for your tire and if that is not enough then call GY Tech support or whoever the tire maker is.

If there is less load there is less stress!

Lighten the air pressure and you will have a much improved ride and your tires will last longer.

[silvercorvette]

danrn wrote:
I also want to thank everyone that posted to my questions. I have learned so much in the class A world from forums, now I want to learn 5th wheels.
Thanks

I have been running my dually at 75 PSI regardless of whether it is hooked up or empty. I would also like to hear opinions of adjusting pressure to load.

[DRM796]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

silvercorvette wrote:
Thanks for posting this I am very happy with my 5th wheel set up but had thoughts of getting an "A" in a few years. As a matter of fact I have been afraid to step inside of an "A" because I may like it too much. In a couple more years I would like to visit Alaska and thought making the trip in an "A" would be nice, now I appreciate what I have a lot more.

PS I have been un-hooked from my 5th for over a week and the truck ride is real harsh without the extra weight of the RV sitting in the truck bed. When I am hooked up the truck rides great but when you un-hook it is not a pleasant ride.

Run your rear tires at 45psi when unloaded! I have a similar truck and mine rides like a limo!

I run 55psi loaded with 4,500# pin weight and is where it should be based on weight chart.

Tire psi makes a huge difference in ride quality. Also if you have air bags run them at 5 psi unloaded.

Change your shocks to Bilstien's Blue and Yellow forget the #.

Some one once told me that running your tires at the lower pressure when unloaded would create the sidewalls to wear quicker due to the extra flexing at the lower pressure. So I have me rear tires at 80 psi and it is like riding on bricks. Does any when know how much truth if any to what I was told. Would much rather ride at the lower pressure when not pulling.

[danrn]

I also want to thank everyone that posted to my questions. I have learned so much in the class A world from forums, now I want to learn 5th wheels.
Thanks

[danrn]

ReneeG wrote:
We currently have a fifth wheel and we love it. Yes, with the right setup - tow vehicle and hitch, you will hardly feel it back there. With the wrong set-up, it will push you around, enough that it's unsettling. Before we bought our rig, we test drove a Class A and I didn't like the feeling. I thought for sure that I was going to get motion sick each time - it rocked and rolled. I'm sure we could've installed stabilizers to prevent it but that was more money. We opted to not buy the Class A because of the lack of storage space. Other things to consider it the hitching and backing. - it's going to be a learning curve and sometimes a challenge. You will not always find a pull through site. I've always thought that as we get older, a move to a Class C or Class A would be the choice for us for ease in getting in and out of sites for me, when my DH couldn't do it.

ReneeG, thanks for taking the time to address my questions. You mentioned having the right equipment. Could you provide a little more information on this.Although I have had three class A's over the years, I know little about 5th wheels.
Thanks

[sk734]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

silvercorvette wrote:
Thanks for posting this I am very happy with my 5th wheel set up but had thoughts of getting an "A" in a few years. As a matter of fact I have been afraid to step inside of an "A" because I may like it too much. In a couple more years I would like to visit Alaska and thought making the trip in an "A" would be nice, now I appreciate what I have a lot more.

PS I have been un-hooked from my 5th for over a week and the truck ride is real harsh without the extra weight of the RV sitting in the truck bed. When I am hooked up the truck rides great but when you un-hook it is not a pleasant ride.

Run your rear tires at 45psi when unloaded! I have a similar truck and mine rides like a limo!

I run 55psi loaded with 4,500# pin weight and is where it should be based on weight chart.

Tire psi makes a huge difference in ride quality. Also if you have air bags run them at 5 psi unloaded.

Change your shocks to Bilstien's Blue and Yellow forget the #.

Good advice-I run mine acording to the axle weight chart from Michelin and you will get a much better ride.

[Cummins12V98]

SolidAxleDurango wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

SolidAxleDurango wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Traveled with friends that have a 38' MH we were in 55 mph winds coming in from the side and we were rock solid with rig in sig below and they were all over the road.

Bottom line get a dually with that length of RV.

While I don't disagree that in general terms, the ride will be better in a truck/trailer than a MH... The above is hyperbole.

What the he!! is "hyperbole" ?

http://bit.ly/sQHqP4

The only hyperbole part of my post was about them being "all over the road " The driver said he was constantly correcting the steering to stay in his lane. But the rest was fact.

Well maybe instead of "rock solid" I should have said very stable????? And it was!

Thanks for the info, good word!

[Cummins12V98]

silvercorvette wrote:
Thanks for posting this I am very happy with my 5th wheel set up but had thoughts of getting an "A" in a few years. As a matter of fact I have been afraid to step inside of an "A" because I may like it too much. In a couple more years I would like to visit Alaska and thought making the trip in an "A" would be nice, now I appreciate what I have a lot more.

PS I have been un-hooked from my 5th for over a week and the truck ride is real harsh without the extra weight of the RV sitting in the truck bed. When I am hooked up the truck rides great but when you un-hook it is not a pleasant ride.

Run your rear tires at 45psi when unloaded! I have a similar truck and mine rides like a limo!

I run 55psi loaded with 4,500# pin weight and is where it should be based on weight chart.

Tire psi makes a huge difference in ride quality. Also if you have air bags run them at 5 psi unloaded.

Change your shocks to Bilstien's Blue and Yellow forget the #.

[silvercorvette]

mobilcastle wrote:

silvercorvette wrote:
Thanks for posting this I am very happy with my 5th wheel set up but had thoughts of getting an "A" in a few years. As a matter of fact I have been afraid to step inside of an "A" because I may like it too much. In a couple more years I would like to visit Alaska and thought making the trip in an "A" would be nice, now I appreciate what I have a lot more.

PS I have been un-hooked from my 5th for over a week and the truck ride is real harsh without the extra weight of the RV sitting in the truck bed. When I am hooked up the truck rides great but when you un-hook it is not a pleasant ride.

Maybe air bags would help you or different shocks. My Ford was like that,but my new Chevy in the sig is not.

I am not sure if it would be worth the money, on this particular 1,500 to 1,700 mile trip I probably drive the truck less than 100 miles unhooked. When I get home the truck is parked with a battery tender connected and I drive my Chevy Volt. Next Fall when or if I make my trip to Tucson the percent of hooked to un-hooked my change and I may feel differently.
Before I got the Volt the Dodge was my every day driver when I wasn't pulling the RV, it wasn't a comfortable ride but I put up with it.

[SolidAxleDurang]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

SolidAxleDurango wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Traveled with friends that have a 38' MH we were in 55 mph winds coming in from the side and we were rock solid with rig in sig below and they were all over the road.

Bottom line get a dually with that length of RV.

While I don't disagree that in general terms, the ride will be better in a truck/trailer than a MH... The above is hyperbole.

What the he!! is "hyperbole" ?

http://bit.ly/sQHqP4

[sk734]

silvercorvette wrote:
Thanks for posting this I am very happy with my 5th wheel set up but had thoughts of getting an "A" in a few years. As a matter of fact I have been afraid to step inside of an "A" because I may like it too much. In a couple more years I would like to visit Alaska and thought making the trip in an "A" would be nice, now I appreciate what I have a lot more.

PS I have been un-hooked from my 5th for over a week and the truck ride is real harsh without the extra weight of the RV sitting in the truck bed. When I am hooked up the truck rides great but when you un-hook it is not a pleasant ride.

Maybe air bags would help you or different shocks. My Ford was like that,but my new Chevy in the sig is not.

[silvercorvette]

Thanks for posting this I am very happy with my 5th wheel set up but had thoughts of getting an "A" in a few years. As a matter of fact I have been afraid to step inside of an "A" because I may like it too much. In a couple more years I would like to visit Alaska and thought making the trip in an "A" would be nice, now I appreciate what I have a lot more.

PS I have been un-hooked from my 5th for over a week and the truck ride is real harsh without the extra weight of the RV sitting in the truck bed. When I am hooked up the truck rides great but when you un-hook it is not a pleasant ride.

[Cummins12V98]

GON2SKI wrote:
We have moved from a 5th to MH and now have a new 5th on order. Wife likes 5er best. A 2014 Arctic Fox 27-5L is being built at La Grand OR.

I have heard your story from many people!