Interior Space Questions - 5th vs TT

[AnthonyNYC]

Hello All,

I currently have a 25ft lightweight travel trailer that my tow vehicle is a Yukon Denali 6.0. We are a family of four. My wife and I have two daughters, ages 10 and 14. We need more room now since my older daughter no longer fits in the bunk beds.

Here is my question. I am going to purchase either a Ford F350 with the 7.3 motor or a Ford Excursion with the 7.3 motor. The choice I make there will be determined by the camper I get.

I am not sure if I should get a large 5th wheel or a longer travel trailer. I really don't have that many RV places near me otherwise I would have checked them out in person. Here is my question, thanks in advance for the help.

I am not sure if I should get a 5th wheel or longer Travel trailer. Ideally I would like 2 bedrooms or 2 separate sleeping areas. I don't mind converting a sofa to bed but not the dinette. In addition to a bedroom I need room for a teenager who needs a bed not a small bunk and my 10 year old who is tiny and and still sleep in a bunk.

I will have more than enough towing power and price is not an issue. My main concern is that I need the room. The 5th wheels I see on ebay seem to have a really nice bedroom and large living rooms but don't seem to cater too well to a 2nd sleeping area.

Can you please help me with deciding? I would also love to hear from those that have migrated from a travel trailer to a 5th wheel setup.

Thank you in advance!!!

Anthony

[kerseysteve2]

Theres a lot of bunkhouse floor plans out there that are really nice. But good luck on finding a 7.3 , best engine ford ever made and nobody is selling them because they make them anymore. So if you find one ask yourself why are they getting rid of it.

[taybrynn]

Good choice! We just got a wildcat 337fb and it's perfect for taller kids or adults as the front bunks are 7' and plenty heavy duty for adults or tall teens

[AnthonyNYC]

Thank you all for the responses. I read them all to my wife and we decided on a 5th wheel setup.

Great news is we bought one today. It's a 2007 Coachmen Wyoming 40'. I will start a new thread in this section as I have more questions.

It was nice to step up from a TT to the 5th wheel and your responses helped me decide. Thank you all very much.

Anthony

[bedardtr]

Heritage Glenn 356 QBQ
2 bedrooms 2 Baths

[Napria]

We outgrew our bunk beds in our previous fifthwheel a few years ago. My youngest, who is 16 years old now simply refused to sleep in the top bunk anymore. We looked at toyhaulers, but the living room space is smaller and the units are generally heavier and more expensive.

Our solution was to get a front lounge fifthwheel with opposing Queen size sleeper sofas. Just a suggestion, since my kids are enjoying the new fifthwheel so much, and so are we!

(That's a storage ottoman in between the sofas)


P6170380 by napria, on Flickr

[AnthonyNYC]

Thank you all for the replies!

Anthony

[skipnchar]

You can get a trailer that will meet the needs you describe in either version. The features will depend entirely on the particular make and model. I would suggest you do some shopping on line from a major dealership like RV Direct or RV Wholesalers (both have a fairly wide variety of brands available). Find some models that fit your needs then look around in your buying area for that model.
Good luck / Skip

Here are some suggested sites

http://www.rvdirect.com/index.asp
http://www.rvwholesalers.com/
http://www.forestriverinc.com/#&panel1-1
http://www.jayco.com/

[laknox]

Seattle Lion wrote:

laknox wrote:
Not only that, but I've read were some people have completely sealed the ramp door and added a "man door", to convert the garage of a TH to another full bedroom, an office or a workshop. I'm kinda liking the THs that have an "add-a-room" using the ramp as decking.

Lyle

There's one issue with a toy hauler, when not carrying a toy, the weight on the kingpin goes up. The trailer is designed for a certain load in the back.

Understood, but if you used it as living space, with fixed furniture, you'd counter-balance some of that. It's definitely a trade-off.

Lyle

[Seattle_Lion]

laknox wrote:
Not only that, but I've read were some people have completely sealed the ramp door and added a "man door", to convert the garage of a TH to another full bedroom, an office or a workshop. I'm kinda liking the THs that have an "add-a-room" using the ramp as decking.

Lyle

There's one issue with a toy hauler, when not carrying a toy, the weight on the kingpin goes up. The trailer is designed for a certain load in the back.

[laknox]

caberto wrote:
"the bear II" has a great suggestion... if I had to do it again and had a 3500, I would look for a toy hauler with bunks in back and second bath... with our 2500, our choices would've been narrower due to pin weight, but you won't have that issue with a 3500.

Not only that, but I've read were some people have completely sealed the ramp door and added a "man door", to convert the garage of a TH to another full bedroom, an office or a workshop. I'm kinda liking the THs that have an "add-a-room" using the ramp as decking.

Lyle

[caberto]

"the bear II" has a great suggestion... if I had to do it again and had a 3500, I would look for a toy hauler with bunks in back and second bath... with our 2500, our choices would've been narrower due to pin weight, but you won't have that issue with a 3500.

[the_bear_II]

For a family I would be looking at a Toy Hauler. The garage area provides lots of flexibility and converts into a great size kids room when emptied out. Many come with beeds that drop form the ceiling or fold down from the side.

Some have a 1/2 bath in the rear for the kids to use.

The garage allows you to easily transport all of the "toys" you need to have a good time and give the kids something to do.

[caberto]

Our 5th wheel has a second bedroom on its own slide with a queen size sofa/bed, and a loft for little(er) ones as well, and a second (half) bathroom attached to the second bedroom, that is also accessible through its own door from the outside.

It has worked great for our family.

[statehoss]

I have two kids - 14 and 12. Went from 31' TT to 33' 5th wheel last year. I absolutely love the 5th wheel. Much more preferred than the TT. My unit has two queen bunks in the back, a living area super slide, and full queen bedroom on the "second" floor with wardrobe slide. A bathroom I can actually move around in. There's just so much more living space and it has a feeling of being wide open. Will never go back to a TT. And although the hitch takes up space in the bed, I find that I still have pleny of room for firewood and whatever else under the bed rails. The fiver itself has so much storage, I have some cabinets that are empty.