Full timer Class A v. 5er thoughts

[bhivetravels]

Now first off we are full timers, living in a Class A and loving it -- no issues. We are however, considering upgrading to a newer Class A or a 5th wheel. I know all the arguments and the bottom line always comes out to be one of functionality: do you move a lot or stay in one place for a few months at a time? Well we fall in the middle -- so we decided to consider both RVs but my main question is one of overall storage. Which one as a general rule, has the most storage? I'm currently in a 38ft and would probably get a similar size Class A and considering the storage compartments underneath a similar size 5th wheel would be perhaps 35ft? Not sure, but bottom line is given a few feet either way, which one has the best storage availability?

[Sprig]

Well, I have my 2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that is probably going to be the last "car" I ever buy.

The phrase, "It's a Jeep thing...You wouldn't understand" comes to mind.

Since a Jeep can't pull a 5vr, and is so easy to become toad 4 down, ...

Well, I guess simply put, if you are a jeep person, there is only one logical choice.

[Les_Balty]

I would like to be able to get the truck serviced without being out of my house. We have a 35' Travel trailer that we use for a guest house/man cave and short trips to places that the 40' DP won't fit. I would opt for a 5er but the DW still loves her MH. Having 2 RVs is fun. Some folks call us "RV Nuts" but we prefer the term "enthusiasts".

[AuntSmurf]

There are pluses and minuses to both. But, what it boiled down to for us was this: We have 4 "canine kids." If the motor goes out on our truck, we rent a car if we need to get around. And we still have our home. If the motor goes out on a motorhome, we have to find a motel that will take our entire clan! No-brainer for us.

[TimnJo]

I like having the safety of a full frame, airbags etc. of a full size truck around me. Have you ever seen pictures of a MH that's been in a collision - Yikes.

[Jean_S]

We went fulltime for 4 years, 20 years ago, in a truck and trailer. We looked at 5'ers, but we had toys and were not willing to give up the storage space in the truck bed. We found Pull-Rite hitches, which give that same good towing experience with the TT as with a 5'er and we had the vehicle to use for running around.

This time out, we chose a MH and a flat tow. I would have gone back to a TT or a 5'er (not as many toys these days) as I love convenience of not loosing my home to the mechanic if work needs to be done on it, as well as the lower insurance costs of having only one vehicle to insure and maintain. I liked being able to run out and exchange a propane bottle without moving the whole rig. I liked having the portable wheeled tank in the back of the truck so I could walk waste water to a dump site and stay set up.

However, DH, who has health issues, did not want to have to do all the hitching and levelling and whatever and vetoed the trailer/5'er option. He also wanted a shorter rig to get into size-restricted areas. Personally, with the set-up we ended up with - 32-ft MH with motorcylce rack and flat tow car with bicycle rack - I think we may still have been better off with the truck and trailer/5'er.

[GoPackGo]

I have a 5er that I pull with an F350 diesel. I can't compare the inside storage to a motor home - all I know is that I have lots. Cabinets all around, closets and that big space under the bed. And the basement.

As far as setup goes - I have the auto level system and that takes all of about 30 seconds after I unhook and is also really cool to watch how it works. I have a built-in retractible reel for my 50 amp cord and I use those little clicky things to connect my water hose, water softener and filter system. There's another couple minutes.

I have a remote for the 3 slides and awning so I can stand outside to make sure there are no clearance issues. That's another minute or so.

I get about 12 mpg towing.

One of the bigger reasons that I got a 5er for full timing was because with a motor home, you're without a home if your rig is in the shop because of an engine/transmission problem (for example). All I need is a Ford dealer. Even oil changes or getting new tires are easier - I can go anywhere, and get it done while the 5er is set up somewhere.

In the end it all comes down to personal preference. I could be happy either way - both would work well. But I had to choose.

[arnko37]

It is true that class A MH usually have automatic leveling, steps and awnings etc. but that is the very reason I sold our 38 ft Newmar and bought a 5th wheel. Too many things to go wrong and too many big repair bills. I prefer a simpler vehicle that has less to go wrong and I am able to handle more of the things that do. Nothing will ever go wrong with a leveling board and I am able to change a tire on the trailer if needed.

[BarbaraOK]

Larryzv7 wrote:
I have often wondered why they call a Class-A Motor Home a “Diesel-Pusher?” Not all Class-A’s run on diesel. …...

They don't. Class As can be DPs or gassers.

Barb

[Larryzv7]

I have often wondered why they call a Class-A Motor Home a “Diesel-Pusher?” Not all Class-A’s run on diesel. I have a 2012 Heartland Prowler 5th Wheel which I tow with a 2012 Ford F-150 w/Echoboost, a 6-cylinder engine which does very well going over mountain passes, etc., and my towing gas mileage isn’t that bad either.

[Trap]

As I stated earlier we have had both, while our preference is for the Class A DP, I can pretty much guarantee that we would enjoy doing this with a 5'er too. They both are nice and they both work and do the job.

My wife won't drive a dually truck to go shopping with, so we wanted a DP so she could drive the jeep Liberty. There are a bunch of reasons to go either way. Just get what you want and enjoy it.

The biggest benefit the Class A has for us is we find going down the road to be way more enjoyable. Once there and set up it's all about what works for you and what you want.

There really is no better choice other than ones personal preference.

[BarbaraOK]

doglover44 wrote:
With a 5th wheel you have a tow vehicle to see sights with a class A you take the whole thing with you.

Only if you don't have a toad. Never, never would I be without our little car.

Barb

[stickdog]

I'll toss this in. We fulltime and have rig in sig and also have a Ford Focus DW follows me in when we move. We do volunteer and spend 3-6 mos at different locations. We could have had MH but DW didn't like a steering wheel in the living room.

[doglover44]

With a 5th wheel you have a tow vehicle to see sights with a class A you take the whole thing with you.

[RVUSA]

3 class A's then a 5th and now back to a class A.

I just couldnt warm up to the montana. It was nice enough, 3 slides and 31 foot. But it just wasnt what I was used too.

So after 2 years of 5th'ng, I'm gonna sell it and the F350 (I will miss being bigger than most on the road driving the beast). The Class A is a diesel this time as they dont suffer from having too weak of a chassis nearly as bad as gassers do.