FULL TIMING IN A FIFTH WHEEL

We live full-time in our 5th wheel and also run a business needing good internet access. Our RV has an LP generator that we mostly use while traveling on the road, either to keep the RV cool or while stopped at a rest area. Most times we overnight in campgrounds with electric.

We use a Verizon JetPack 4G for our internet service. With traveling all over, we've found pretty good access anywhere we go. Of course, there are remote areas where even cell service is not great. We have determined that Verizon really does have the best coverage for our needs. The jet pack has a very good battery life. At one time, I had another brand of cell service and my husband had Verizon...he always had service, no matter where we were, even walking on a trail in the Great Smoky Mountains N.P. and my cell phone did not. We share the data allotment with our smart phones and the jet pack. It can certainly be expensive in comparison to have home cable internet service. We try to use as much of the Wi-Fi available at campgrounds. However, many times the service is very slow.

There is also a service called Boingo. They have many plans for internet access while traveling. The website is www.boingo.com check it out to see if they have a plan that might better fit your needs. We use it when we are traveling out of the country to find hotspots for use.

We're finishing up our 17th year fulltiming in our 1996 Carriage Conestoga 5th wheel. We did do a "redo" in 2010 having the exterior repainted and the graphics painted on and new carpeting and counter tops on the inside just to freshen things up. We personally wouldn't have anything else. We have plenty of room.
"My slide" houses my recliner and Dutch made a cabinet for me that houses my computer, printer, etc. the shelf slides forward for easy use and when done, I push it back and relax in my recliner.
There is an area in some of them for a desk but for me they were too close to the TV.
We bought new but it really depends on the 5th wheel itself. One owner, well kept and maintained, does it look like it was taken care of and things like that.
We had our Carriage ordered with Generator Prep then Dutch bought a used Onan then had Onan install it. It has held up very well for 17 years with proper maintenance.
We also have a Heart/Xantrax inverter. Our 1st on just bit the dust so 17 years was great performance. This time we went with a True Sinewave inverter over the Modified Sinewave one we had. There is a marked difference and in hindsight I wish we had started with the true sine-wave. Especially for electronics. We don't do it daily but we have turned on our genny and run the a/c. Some of how long you can do that is how much room there is where it is housed. Our area has both the inverter and generator so we have to watch that it doesn't get too hot.
We have a verizon Samsung Galaxy phone and a data plan. It is extremely rare that I don't have phone/internet. My unlimited phone/text and a 4 gig data plan with 2 phones and 2 lines is around $160.00 a month. You can add 2 gig of data at a time for $10.00 a month or go for an unlimited data plan. There may be better plans with them but this one works for me. I haven't checked other phone companies so I don't know about pricing for them.
Hope this helps. It sure makes our life much easier. Di
ps. we only stay in an area for about 2 weeks at a time preferring to explore when I'm not working

trobertson wrote:
I am planning on full timing it for a couple years starting next year. I have been looking at RV's vs. 5th wheels and am leaning towards a 5th wheel for the main reason I am still working at Freelance Work and need a space for my computer and monitors. I like the 5th wheels with a desk area. I have a lot of questions both about 5th wheels and full timing, so I appreciate any feedback.

1. Would you recommend a 5th wheel for full timing?
2. Buy new vs.used (how old is too old, newer than 2005?)
3. Since I will be on the computer part of each day power is important to me. Is it recommended finding a 5th wheel with generator pre-installed, install an after market model, or use a series of 2 2000w inverters (big enough for AC?)
4. Internet access is also a must as i handle the tech support and orders for a client. What gives the best access and best data usage for a good price.

Please add anything I have missed.

Thanks,

Tom

We are about 3 weeks from going full time. We bought a new fiver. DW couldn't stand any of the interiors of the used units we looked at. Lipstick maybe, but it makes her happy. Well worth the $. Plus the used high end full time units were going to be too heavy even for our dually when fully loaded with our junk.

Inverter and solar when dry camping but we plan to be on AC 1/2 to 3/4 of the time. One or two 2000w generators as backup but I hope to never need them. If it's too hot i'm going to move to the beach (at least during the week).

Like you, no internet = no cash for me. Wired internet or wifi when available. Mellenicom (Verizon) as primary with AT&T for backup when no other internet is available or if the wifi is a suck. We use VMWare View w/ PCOIP at the office which works well with cellular internet.

We had a motor home and went to a fiver and never looked back,absolutly buy used,let someone else take the depreciation hit also a lot of people buy new rigs and get out aftet a few years due to health problems and such,i hate to put it that way but it's the reality of life,As far as internet is conceren we go from our place in Ontario to our place on Florida so we connect 6 months from the local cable company and a good genny (I have the Honda 3000) I take it everywhere,you never know when the lights will go out again also going down and back up we boon-dock at the Fling J overnight.

1. It's a great option.
2. Used: New toys drop like a rock in value. Between 5-10 yrs old is a nice sweet spot where they have already depreciated but there is a lot of good years left.
3. Generator: Depends a lot on how you like to live. If you are in a campground most of the time, not critical. Even if you boondock occasionally, an inexpensive 100watt inverter will keep the computer running for a pretty long time. If you will be boondocking frequently, then a generator becomes more important. The portable inverter generators are nice.
4. Campground wifi is nice but don't count on it for reliability. You are basically looking at cell plans and it's a fast changing field. Check the coverage maps they provide and try to get an idea now of how much data you use on a monthly basis.

We have fulltimed in our 5er for over 3 years and still love the choice. Very roomy and the high cieling fights any clautrophobia.Forget about using inverters for A/C Your battery bank would have to be rediculous.Most any 5er can come with a generator or get yourself a honda 3000.

We've only full timed in 5th wheels. Since we tend to stay in one place working for 2-6 mos at a time, we can't see ourselves in a MH. In ours, we have a huge basement filled with totes, a large working kitchen and it's comfortable for 2 adults.

We don't eat at our dinette table. I use it for my laptop, do my taxes, pay bills and DH uses it to fill out his expense reports.

How much 'office' area do you need? If a lot maybe a toybox 5er is the way to go. Trouble is most toybox 5ers are spartan when it comes to human accommodation compared to a 5er intended for use by a couple in comfort for long periods of time. 'She who must be obeyed' is going to want a large galley if you want to spend time some distance away from restaurants.

You can't have it all in one. Compromises have to be made.

How long do you intend to sit in one place at a time? Most CGs have at least water & power. The sewer is only needed like once a week if you have decent tankage.

Running the AC off of an inverter is not going to happen. The battery bank would have to be massive. However having an inverter & as large a battery bank as space permits will mean that you are not chained to the grid. Even with a small genny much can be used, except the air, while the battery bank is being charged.

That is only scratching the surface in the decision making. Lots of research needs to be done before putting any money down. The last thing you want is a 'mistake' that will cost thousands more to replace with what should have been bought the first time.

We’ve had both motorhomes and 5th wheels. You’re right about having more room in a fiver than a MH of the same size, but you will have more storage in MH. We never worried to much about weight with a MH, but it is something we are away watching in a fiver. With a MH you can pull a car, nice to get around in, with your fiver you will need a big pick-up, suggest a one-ton maybe bigger depending on what you have for a trailer.

On a fiver look for a good sturdy frame with good suspension and good tires. Having a good hitch and pin will take a lot of stress off both your truck and especially the trailer. A good used rig is a good way to go, just get one that is designed for full timing. Age on a good one is not a real problem, but have it checked out by someone knowledgeable.

On a MH most of the time you need a generator because you need to use the AC when driving to keep cool, not always true with a fiver. The main thing we’ve found with a generator is you need to use them or you will have problems. So if you plan to camp where you won’t have power you will need one.

You can get satellite Internet or check this out Millenicom Sales sales@millenicom.com

I've been fulltiming in a 5er for over 7 yrs but can't compare it to a motorhome or TT since this is my first RV.

Sounds like you'll still be working fulltime from the RV. You may want to check out Millenicom for your internet access and stay in RV parks with FHU near major cities where you can get 4G speeds.