thinking about changing from a class A to a 5er

[fatman71]

i am thinking about going from a class A to a 5er with bunks. has anybody done this and can offer some advice. pros and cons

Thanks

[txdutt]

Made the switch this past summer from a Itasca 38' gasser to our 5'er. They each have certain advantages over the other in different areas but I'm glad to have made the change with all things considered on how we've RV'd over the years...

[Traveler_II]

dubdub07 wrote:
We actually went from a Montana HC 36 ft. bunkhouse to a 40ft MH Bunkhouse. There is not much living room space in a fiver bunkhouse. I do miss the second bathroom but when you are on the road, sometimes 8 hours or more, you are not in the fiver. The MH, IMO, has a ton more space all around! I don't know what MHs you all got rid of to get a FW, but I have a lot more room in my MH with the living area being used the second we leave to the second we arrive to the second we get back home. And I can carry more passengers and sleep them all.....

food for thought.

Our last MH was a 40 Holiday Rambler Navigator and we loved it. Our present trailer is a 34 Carriage Cameo and we love it. It’s true when you are moving down the road you can get up and move around and all but the driver can use the restroom. When you’re set up our fiver has more living space for the only reason the slides are bigger and extend out further than a MH. That is what I war referring to about more living space in a fiver.

[hone_eagle]

Me Again wrote:
Funny, I have noticed over the years that MH people come outside their rigs less than 5th wheelers when parked! Do not know why, but have seen it over and over!

Chris

motorhome people are anti social 😉

[Michelle_S]

Personal preference. We thought about a MH at one time, but it just didn't fit our style, but who knows, maybe down the road we'll go that way.
Overall upkeep is most likely a little less with a 5er as only one motor to worry about, but not sure about the initial investment. Very easy to approach $200K on a higher end 5er and new TV.

[Dennis_M_M]

Leeblev wrote:
I have had both. I like the fact that there is more usable room in a 5er and you have a vehicle you can unhook and drive around easier than a toad. My major issue with a 5er is my wife. She invariably will tell me just after I pass the exit to a rest area, that she needs to go to the bathroom. now, in the MH, no issue-she just goes
!

No offense, but it looks like you have a slow learning curve there Lee, I NEVER pass a rest area without singing out for a pit stop:B - of course I can run five or six days without a fuel stop either.

[dubdub07]

We actually went from a Montana HC 36 ft. bunkhouse to a 40ft MH Bunkhouse. There is not much living room space in a fiver bunkhouse. I do miss the second bathroom but when you are on the road, sometimes 8 hours or more, you are not in the fiver. The MH, IMO, has a ton more space all around! I don't know what MHs you all got rid of to get a FW, but I have a lot more room in my MH with the living area being used the second we leave to the second we arrive to the second we get back home. And I can carry more passengers and sleep them all.....

food for thought.

[Traveler_II]

One last thing, when you push the button and level your MH it’s rock solid inside, but when you push the button and level your fiver there is moment when you walk around. Now you can add some supports, but it’s and extra step and we’ve just got used to it. Really not a big deal but a surprise from the MH at first.

[Traveler_II]

We’ve had 3 motor homes and are on our 2nd fiver in retirement. Both have advantages and disadvanges. We like the more living space in the fiver; we liked the more storage in MH’s. I like driving the tow around for shopping and exploring compared to a big truck. I liked the ride better in the MH vs. the fiver. I liked backing up the MH vs. a fiver into a campsite. It’s easier to get repairs done on the truck vs. the MH. I think the setting up time for both are about the same, especially if you get the self-leveling system on a fiver. The big difference is price, a nice MH cost far more than a truck and nice fiver. Maybe that gives you some bragging rights.

One thing I miss from a MH is that MH driver will always wave at you when you meet them on the road, but rarely can I get a fiver to wave. 🙂

The main thing is we love RVing and I really don’t care what I’m using, just as long as I’m on the road.

[larry_barnhart]

Leeblev wrote:
I have had both. I like the fact that there is more usable room in a 5er and you have a vehicle you can unhook and drive around easier than a toad. My major issue with a 5er is my wife. She invariably will tell me just after I pass the exit to a rest area, that she needs to go to the bathroom. now, in the MH, no issue-she just goes
!

Our friend decided to go to the rear to pick up a dog toy. After she picked herself off the floor she has no use of her left shoulder because of the hit to the cabinet corner. shoulder had work done on it before and it never has worked for her.

chevman

[Leeblev]

I have had both. I like the fact that there is more usable room in a 5er and you have a vehicle you can unhook and drive around easier than a toad. My major issue with a 5er is my wife. She invariably will tell me just after I pass the exit to a rest area, that she needs to go to the bathroom. now, in the MH, no issue-she just goes
!

[Me_Again]

Funny, I have noticed over the years that MH people come outside their rigs less than 5th wheelers when parked! Do not know why, but have seen it over and over!

Chris

[JTrac]

Wiscampsin wrote:
^...and if you can deal with the stairs as the years go by.

Our motorhome actually had 5 steps to get to floor level, 2 on the outside and 3 inside. We have a 4 stepper on our fiver and I actually think it is easier, especially with the big, folding grab handle.

We made the switch a couple of years ago and haven't looked back. Going down the road is not as good for the passenger but we spend a whole lot more time parked than we do driving. We also find our expenses for upkeep and maintenance to be exponentially less.

[Wiscampsin]

^...and if you can deal with the stairs as the years go by.

[Aridon]

We are in the process. Nothing wrong with wanting a better living space which fivers have. All a function of how many days you spend on the road and if you can deal with the truck vs toad.