Too many questions

We live comfortably in our 35' fiver for 4 months, and I Drive our diesel 350 around town while wintering in south Florida. We get decent enough mileage towing and not.

Lots of times the dealers just list the length by the model numbers.
i.e Solitude 384GK-R might be on the website as a 38'. When in reality it's 40'7". Why some do this and some don't is a question for the dealer.
As for the truck. If you're not traveling much then IMO a SRW 1 ton gasser would be the ticket. You may end up in a cold climate area and doing short trips only for several months in a row isn't good for a diesel.
You'll be limited on what you can tow with the gasser though. Max tow ratings are around 15,500-16,000lbs with 4.10 or 4.30 rear end gears. Without those gears you won't be able to tow either of the two you listed.

If budget is a concern, seriously look into used models. A 5yr old model will be much cheaper and still in good shape. Since you aren't familiar, pay an RV tech a couple hundred to go over the unit once you find one you think is good and are ready to make an offer.

agesilaus wrote:
No reason why you cannot commute in a diesel especially with current fuel prices. If you ever think you'll tow in mountainous areas then you want a diesel. Gassers get horrendous mileage towing but with your plans that may not be a big issue. Expect 5-6 mpg towing tho.

We get around 9mpg pulling a 34' with a gas V10 (haven't updated signature below). A diesel isn't a bad idea but if it's in the weight ratings, don't worry about getting gas.

Neither is cheap on fuel but as long as it isn't along commute, it should work fine for daily driving.

If you get close to 40', you are probably looking at a 1 ton dually. reality, is you need to look at the FULLY LOADED trailer weights and the truck ratings. There is a lot of variability and full timing, expect to use the full cargo capacity.

We thought about toy haulers but unless you have the toys, they simply eat up too much space. We have friends who just got a 40' toy hauler and our 34' rig has more living space with what we feel is a better layout.

Shrek51 wrote:
In reference to what else you will need look on YouTube or search for RV Check List.

Your dealer may include a new owner package with some common items. You will need:
1) 2 25 ft potable water hoses (usually white) and one hose of a different color for hose flushing--Walmart
2) Septic tank dump hose kit--Amazon
3) You'll want two hoses and a support from the above page.
4) Folding lawn chairs-one per person
5) Water thief: Amazon
6) Black tank treatment--Walmart
7) Water pressure regulator--Walmart or Amazon
8) Surge Protector: Amazon
Look on the above page you'll want one of those transparent black hose connectors so you can see what's going on

I undoubtedly have left some items off but now I've primed that pump others will chip in

In reference to what else you will need look on YouTube or search for RV Check List.

I know the Keystone Montana web site states that the length noted in their specs is from the king pin to the rear of the back bumper. However that does not include however much is in front of the king pin or behind the bumper (i.e. the ladder.

Maybe the dealer is using the model number to claim the length. However model numbers rarely accurately match the actual length. My 3075RL is 34'-8" according to Keystone.

Thanks everyone for the input.. Right now it's looking likely to be a Grand Design Solitude or the Jayco Pinnacle. Looking at the 2016/17 ones. Only thing confusing me is I see them listed on dealer websites as 38 feet in length, yet on the manufacturer's website it says most are around 42'. Is there a difference in measurements or are dealers just incorrect?

We are leaning towards the 2017 Jayco Pinnacle 38FL. It is pretty much exactly what we want and has a lot of amenities. Only issue is it says 42' on the Jayco website. But we are struggling to find what we want below this. Another question I have in regards to 5th wheels is what would we need to buy to go with it? I know most do not come with a generator, but we will be hooked up to a camp site 95% of the time. Also, I will list some of the stats for the Jayco below in regards to a truck.. I don't have a brand preference at all as I am not a truck guy. But I want something for all around utility, not necessarily JUST towing the 5th wheel.

Here are the 2017 Jayco Pinnacle 38FL specs in regards to weights..

Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs) 13740
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs) 3115
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs) 16995
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 3255

EDIT: Just wanted to throw a couple other brands in here to get some opinions. We have found a few brands with the floor plan we want. The brands are: Forest River Sierra, and the Keystone Montana (in addition to the two above of course). We are looking for ones that have front living. I care more about build quality than anything as I want it to last us and be comfortable for full time living.

Again, thanks for all the help!

There are some really strong Gas HD trucks now. These things will flat smoke a Diesel of not that long ago. Yes...the MPG isn't that great but heck, it's a truck for crying out loud!

IMHO if you can keep the trailer light enough...say 10-12k lbs loaded then the right Gas Combo would work well. Get much north of 10k and a Diesel really starts to shine. I also think that a Dually would be the right truck once you get much north of 12k but that's JMHO.

IMHO...if I were in your shoes I'd look at some of the Jayco HT and the Couger XLight trailers as a starting point. These fivers are 7-8 ish k lbs dry which is well in the wheelhouse of a short bed SRW truck (gas or diesel) in a 250/2500 or 350/3500 series truck.

Thanks and good luck.

Jeremiah

The best move you made was considering all the parameters before choosing what to buy. I suggest you spend the bulk of your time finding the right 5th wheel trailer for your needs. Once you narrow it to 1-2 choices, then get back on here with the details of each...and find out what trucks you need to consider to pull it safely. Honestly I am not a fan of brand wars, and dont want to discourage anybody from this lifestyle...but ask as many questions before committing your dollars to either the rv and truck.

best of luck in your search