I’m soooo confused..........

[nodepositnoretu]

Wife and I have the house going on the market in the spring. We expect to full time shortly there after. Now here is the tough part for me. I own a 2003 Dodge Dually 4x4 and only has 10,000 miles on the motor. The truck has 100,000 and is shiny and nice looking . No pollution stuff.

My initial thought was to get a preowned 5th wheel about 40 foot with 4/5 slides.

I read and have head many times full timers trading in their 5th for a A for what reasons I don’t know. Our general thoughts are to stay the summer in AZ and the Summer someplace else. We are not going driving every two weeks.

I know I know it’s a personal decision, 5 vs A. But why does it need to be so hard? I have had the truck since new I’m kind of fond of it and would rather not sell it. I do have a old Toyota as a toad but the manual says do not tow it flat.

So those with years and years of wisdom and a multitude of mistakes under their belt , please feel free to help me down the path to full time glory.

All others feel free to blow smoke up my butt??

[Kavoom]

Since Class A's are so high off the ground, the accident will happen below your feet right? If you are strapped in, you are good to go...somewhere... Half kidding.

[mr__ed]

Having full timed in both class C and class A motorhomes, all I can say, when it comes to choice, MH vs fiver, each mode of travel has something to recommend it. I finally wound up with a 2007 Hitchhiker fiver towed by a 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel. That combination worked best for me since I usually visited certain areas for a month or few months at a time. The fifth wheel was truly a home on wheels and I wish a sudden disability hadn't taken me out of the picture. I'm now forced to live in long-term hotels. I don't know how anyone can stand living in an apartment, but that's just me.

Back on the subject, I agree with the observation made by others on this thread, that your proposed fiver may be a little heavy for your tow vehicle. If there's any chance you could downsize the fiver, it may make your experience safer and more pleasant. my Hitchhiker was 29' long with 3 slides, but I was a solo traveler. Two could have been comfortable in it, IMHO.

[Scottiemom]

I would start with the equipment you have. Buy a 5er and take off. We have several friends who did just that. We have been fulltiming for 14 years. During that time a couple of them eventually traded for Class A's. But there are still people out there who prefer the 5er. Maybe you are one of them.

We have a class A due to my DH's health. I can do everything on this rig. Some of the things on a 5er require more strength than I have, but I can push buttons which is literally all I have to do on the motorhome.

I really do like a lot of the 5ers though. I really like the toyhaulers, but they are out of the question for us.

You can always trade on down the line. But for now, buy something and get out there. Don't overthink the issue. Happy Trails!

Dale

[et2]

beemerphile1 wrote:

Veebyes wrote:

...Sitting up there in that luxurious drivers seat of a class A really nice what with that huge windshield & all, but then there is the thought of what if I hit something. There is NOTHING to give me any protection. Just a few inches in front of my toes is air. No engine. No front end that has crumple zones & is designed to protect or at least minimise injury....

Excellent point.

The truck has very rigorous standards based on crash testing and many safety restraints/devices. Most class-A MH aren't much more than a stick built box on a chassis with very minimal safety devices and zero crash testing.

So they crash test pickup trucks with a 40' ft fiver weighing 16,000lbs plus to test the trucks crash ratings ... ? Man I'd just love to see that one. Hey, at least you won't see it coming.

Let's be honest. Either way, your pretty much going to have a bad day. Personally I practice safe and defensive driving. It goes a long way in avoiding problems. That wasn't ever a deciding factor in our buying decision. If I was that scared I'd never of owned a fiver with a dually either.

[beemerphile1]

Veebyes wrote:

...Sitting up there in that luxurious drivers seat of a class A really nice what with that huge windshield & all, but then there is the thought of what if I hit something. There is NOTHING to give me any protection. Just a few inches in front of my toes is air. No engine. No front end that has crumple zones & is designed to protect or at least minimise injury....

Excellent point.

The truck has very rigorous standards based on crash testing and many safety restraints/devices. Most class-A MH aren't much more than a stick built box on a chassis with very minimal safety devices and zero crash testing.

[et2]

It boils down to your preference. Many of the comparisons are opinions and obviously debatable one way or the other. More often than not it boils down to the cost. Your situation is probably already halfway solved. Unless your willing to spend more.

For our decision, we've had 4 fifth wheels, and now on our second MH, was made for simplicity. As I aged the truck fiver just got to be more work and worry ( various reasons) and bad on my body climbing around it. The suspension and braking on a MH is way superior to the towed fiver combo ( talking decent diesel pusher).

The MH is much easier on the body ( even just driving it) and more pleasurable to travel in. Our current MH has way more room and storage than any of our 40' fivers ever had.

[Veebyes]

There is this common belief that a 5er is better for fulltiming & sitting still & the class A is better for travelling. Maybe it is the other way around.

The argument is that unhooking & hooking up takes longer in the CG. No it doesn't. The procedure is about the same timewise. The difference is that the class A can't reverse with it's toad so the unhooking etc. happens outside of the campsite in the road. Besides, you are retired. What difference does a few minutes make either way?

Then there is the argument that the DW can make a sandwich for you as you hurtle down the highway. Yeah, that sounds like a benefit. Maybe she can pass that sandwich to you as she flies from the galley out through the windshield when you slam brakes. Eating while driving is always such a good idea anyway.

Then there is the one about using the bathroom while on the highway. Autonomous vehicles are coming but they are not here yet. Better hold it & stay in that drivers seat.

Sitting up there in that luxurious drivers seat of a class A really nice what with that huge windshield & all, but then there is the thought of what if I hit something. There is NOTHING to give me any protection. Just a few inches in front of my toes is air. No engine. No front end that has crumple zones & is designed to protect or at least minimise injury.

Oh yes, there is that 5 ton plus trailer behind that wants to keep moving but it has to lose alot of energy coming forward destroying the 5th wheel, crumpling the back of the truck & crumpling the back of the cab before it gets to the people in the front seats.

Just a few things that people don't seem to consider often when comparing a 5er to an A.

[RVRoamer428]

MH sucks up a lot of gas....like 6,7, maybe 8 gallons to the mile. you move a lot you are going to put a lot of money into that gas tank 🙂
Your truck will get better gas mileage than a MH even towing a bigger 5th.
You need no second vehicle. Your tow vehicle is your drive vehicle. No need for second motorized vehicle at this point.

Cost for MH motor and all its trouble could be alot higher than a truck/tow trailer.

If you find a nice 5th then ya got it made in the shade. just always be sure your truck can EASILY handle what you buy...it is NOT about pushing the limits of the truck at all 🙂 It is about being able to stop, go up and down mountains extemely easy and not tax your truck.

a 5th is a great starting point for sure 🙂

but again, it truly boils down to what do you truly want 🙂 🙂

[Kavoom]

jarata1 wrote:

Kavoom wrote:
We are anticipating retirement and looking. We like Class A's but then you got to get a toad and suddenly you are looking at a 100K plus etc. Whereas, we just saw a new Puma fiver that meets our needs for 27K (286 rbss). I can get a really nice 3500 Ram either low miles or new for 45K AND have something to drive once we set up. So, I'm looking at 75K and we have everything we want.

You, in your situation, don't even have to get a truck.

You will have something to drive with the class A setup also in your senerio

BUT, it will cost a 100K plus new.

[2gypsies1]

Veebyes wrote:

If your class A breaks down you are in for a whole heap of problems finding a place to take care of it plus losing your home when you do.

Seriously, this is no issue. Repair shops let you stay on their property overnight; most often with electric. No motels involved. They will also get you in for the repair fast if they know you're traveling.

[BarbaraOK]

Veebyes wrote:
If the truck breaks down you don't necessarily have to take it to a deal. Every small town has a reputable garage that knows & has the equipment to take care of your truck.

If your class A breaks down you are in for a whole heap of problems finding a place to take care of it plus losing your home when you do.

Sure some truck stops have garages, but when they have they have trucks that need to be back on the road earning money guess who gets pushed to the back of the line.

So obviously our 12 yrs of experience are wrong?
BTW - do your trucks always break down on you?

[BarbaraOK]

newman fulltimer wrote:
A breaks down your in a hotel truck breaks down you still have your home

No. We've found that most facilities that work on Class A motorhomes have facilities for you to plug in at night, they take the coach during the day while we take the toad and go explore things.

[Veebyes]

If the truck breaks down you don't necessarily have to take it to a deal. Every small town has a reputable garage that knows & has the equipment to take care of your truck.

If your class A breaks down you are in for a whole heap of problems finding a place to take care of it plus losing your home when you do.

Sure some truck stops have garages, but when they have they have trucks that need to be back on the road earning money guess who gets pushed to the back of the line.

[jarata1]

Kavoom wrote:
We are anticipating retirement and looking. We like Class A's but then you got to get a toad and suddenly you are looking at a 100K plus etc. Whereas, we just saw a new Puma fiver that meets our needs for 27K (286 rbss). I can get a really nice 3500 Ram either low miles or new for 45K AND have something to drive once we set up. So, I'm looking at 75K and we have everything we want.

You, in your situation, don't even have to get a truck.

You will have something to drive with the class A setup also in your senerio