In a earlier post, I mentioned that we were thinking of trading the 5er in on a MH. Since I have never driven a MH, I'm wondering about the ride differences. Even though I have a Trail Air hitch on my 5er, some roads will beat you to death with bouncing and chucking. How do motorhomes behave on those same roads? I would imaging air ride would be better than non-air ride. Does a tag axle MH handle differently than one without a tag? And, speaking of bouncing, how does a MH compare to a 5er during the spin cycle of the washing machine? Even though we have the 5 ram level up system, we rock quite a bit when doing the laundry. One last question for now: My DW wants to know if MH's are easier for the vertically challanged? She has a lot of trouble reaching cabinets, freezer section of frig, etc. Thanks y'all!

I will try and address some of your questions.The ride on a diesel pusher can be very good. The air suspension really helps. But the best thing is to just test drive a number of them. You will know whether you like the ride or not.I have used the spin cycle and there is some vibration but not much. I do not know if this is the same for all coaches since I have only had this one.Riding in the coach is more comfortable than pulling a trailer. You have a large cockpit and the navigator can get up while you are going down the road.The back of a fifth wheel has a higher ceiling so the coach should be better. The best thing is to walk through the ones you are considering and seeing what she can reach.

bumper sticker "If this vans a rocking don't come a knocking" lol

While air suspension does a lot for a smooth ride, it is also a function of the weight of the coach. Our 35,000 pound coach has air suspension and rides significantly better than our 16,000 pound previous coach. We have test driven 46,000 pound coaches with a tag axle that did ride smoother than ours, but the difference was not as drastic. When we use our washer/dryer, we hardly feel it running at all.

Even our basic Class C rides so much better than our truck pulling the fiver ever did. Night and day better.

You can answer most of your questions just by going to a dealer and driving a large tag axle mh.If the load in the dryer is not perfectly balanced, we will feel the vibration throughout the coach. However, not nearly as bad as it was with our combo unit in our previous coach.My DW is also vertically challenged and she compensates by having a small step stool available. I plan on putting in slide out trays in the overhead compartments that should make it easier for her.Ron

5th wheel and MH comparisons, again. | Good Sam Community

nemo45
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
dezolen wrote:
Don't understand why so many say their 5th wheel rigs handled so badly. In the 5 years we towed never once did I have any of these problems. Obviously they were never set up properly, cheap hitch or overloaded.

I don't think they are saying the 5th wheel rigs handle or ride badly. Just that by comparison heavy DP's with air bags ride and handle better. And after having three 5th wheel rigs, a Gasser motorhome and a diesel pusher, I am inclined to agree. Hence the progression.
dubdub07
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
All real Jeeps can be towed as they have a transfer case with neutral. The cars that have a "Jeep" moniker cannot be towed 4 down as they are a car and have no transfer case.
YakFishMo
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
JimM68 wrote:
YakFishMo wrote:
Tntman wrote:

The DP doesn't really change much loaded or not. You're talking a much smaller percentage weight charge, and the air ride adjusts to the correct height automatically, it compensates for more or less load.

Air ride- that's something else I've wondered about. How reliable are those systems and what is the life span? If you buy a 5 to 8 year old coach are you looking at replacing numerous air bags, hoses, etc.? My Mother had a Cadillac with an air ride system and it cost a fortune in maintenance, but then that was about a 1985 model.
JimM68
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
YakFishMo wrote:
Tntman wrote:
A consideration for you if driving a dealers motorhome, that coach will be empty of water, full fuel and your belongings. It is going to ride somewhat better than when loaded.

So an empty coach will drive better than a loaded one? Seems like it would be the other way around?

Our first (F53 gasser) for sure rode better loaded, but "better" was a relative (and kinda silly) term in this context.

The DP doesn't really change much loaded or not. You're talking a much smaller percentage weight charge, and the air ride adjusts to the correct height automatically, it compensates for more or less load.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
YakFishMo, thank you, TRANSFER CASE is the word I was trying think of but it was buried in all the sawdust in my head. LOL!

MM.
YakFishMo
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
Tntman wrote:
A consideration for you if driving a dealers motorhome, that coach will be empty of water, full fuel and your belongings. It is going to ride somewhat better than when loaded.

So an empty coach will drive better than a loaded one? Seems like it would be the other way around?
YakFishMo
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
Thanks Mr. Mark. I'll check carefully, if I go that route. And, as far as I'm concerned, a jeep would have to be a 4X4. I think a transfer case is the requirement for 4 down towing.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
YakFishMo wrote:
soren wrote:
One thing that doesn't get mentioned often is how much nicer it is to have a reasonably compact toad to tour in, compared to a big pickup. There are many places on the road where we can squeeze our CRV into a spot that a full sized pickup would only pass by. Last week we were in Charleston and parked next to a guy in a new Tiffin. He switched just to get rid of the big dually truck and was thrilled that he could take his little toad into the heart of town without all the headaches finding a place to park.

That is actually a great motivator. I love my big dually truck, but it can be a big problem when it comes to parking. Also, my DW does not like driving it. In researching Jeeps for a toad, I am amazed at how many different models of Jeeps there are.

YakFishMo, just be aware that not all Jeeps are towable. My understanding that if it does not have a 'disengage' lever/button, it can't be towed. A couple of years ago, only the Jeep Liberty and up were towable and they had to be 4x4's. The Compass and Patriot could not be towed four down.

MM.
dubdub07
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
afrescop wrote:
The ride is better in the MH but the 5ver seemed more stable in cross winds.

Not in a DP. My DP in bad winds is merely the steering wheel is cocked a bit into the wind. The truck/FW combo was like bathing a dog that didn't want to be washed. Gasser MHs seem to be susceptible to wind like FWs....

And we love sightseeing in a Jeep vs my big MegaCab RAM.....
YakFishMo
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
soren wrote:
One thing that doesn't get mentioned often is how much nicer it is to have a reasonably compact toad to tour in, compared to a big pickup. There are many places on the road where we can squeeze our CRV into a spot that a full sized pickup would only pass by. Last week we were in Charleston and parked next to a guy in a new Tiffin. He switched just to get rid of the big dually truck and was thrilled that he could take his little toad into the heart of town without all the headaches finding a place to park.

That is actually a great motivator. I love my big dually truck, but it can be a big problem when it comes to parking. Also, my DW does not like driving it. In researching Jeeps for a toad, I am amazed at how many different models of Jeeps there are.

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