thinking about getting a fifthwheel

humblerb wrote:
We just upgraded from a TT to our first Fifth Wheel.
We actually put a deposit on a MH before we bought the FW, but changed our mind.
We too had about a 35' max on it, due to the size of my storage building.
We just took it out for our first weekender and had a good experience.
I would not have made the purchase without auto-leveling. That one feature was important, as I, too, am approaching retirement. In our Grand Design Reflection, the auto-level, the waste tank handles, water connection, etc is all at waist level. No more crawling around on the ground for an old fat guy to get to everything.

If you are buying a new tow vehicle, I'll share some information with you.
We bought a Dodge RAM 2500 gasoline engine.
The Diesel engine takes up almost 1,000# more cargo capacity (around 3600# to around 2700#).
The 4.10 rear end versus the 3.?? gave us more tow capacity. approximately 2500# more.
If you want to go to a 3500/350, you will be able to tow nearly any 35' FW around.
If you stay with a 2500/250, just look at the cargo capacity difference between gas and Diesel and the tow capacity between rear ends.
I am a lot more comfortable towing our 12,000# (wet) FW with my 2500 than I was towing our 7200# (wet) TT with my F150 Ecoboost.

X2 - this is our first season with our 2018 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS. 33 ft long, rear living opposing slides, auto leveling standard. This system is awesome. We toured a lot of units with this floor plan and the GD was vastly superior. The new models have better appliances, and two electric awnings that are not flimsy. Motion sensing LED lighting, fireplace, recliners that sit directly across from a big screen TV, huge pantry and storage up the Wazoo. We don't have a use for all the storage this thing has. My only complaint is that the LED under awning lights are too bright - so I installed a dimmer.

I paid about 42K - negotiated down from MSRP, plus some addons like forward AC.

Good luck.