Going From 5th Wheel to Class A

[JCGibson]

We have been 5th Wheel owners for a few years now and we are contemplating going to a Class A in the future. We would like to hear from previous 5th Wheel owners who made the move to a Class A. We would like to know why you did it, what you like better, and if there is anything you miss from a 5th Wheel.

Thanks in advance.

John

[dezolen]

I am in the same boat you were with a 2014 DRW F350 Crew Cab and a 39 ft. Triple slide Landmark Full Body Paint with one side being almost a full slide. Get tired of driving the big truck and white knuckles towing thru busy towns like Atlanta this Friday going to Disney World. DP might be in our near future with a Ford Escape to tow.


Never heard of anyone towing a 5th wheel and having the white knuckle syndrome. A pull trailer yes. Don't get me wrong we love our new gasser coach but it can be scary driving it with toad thru downtown streets. We would never go back to a 5th wheel now that we experienced a class A and ours is at the starter class. Pure luxury as far as we are concerned.

[Passin_Thru]

5th wheel towed like a sled on pavement, head room in the sleeping area, hooking and un hooking, had to buy new tailgate every time for some reason. I don't know why! Like the rear engine and quiet going down the road at 70. Like to take the Prius and get that 50 MPG touring around.
I don't like paying more for fuel, campgrounds and if you worry about fuel mileage don't buy one. 7-8 Max MPG downhill, down wind in Texas.
Buy a MH and a enclosed deck, put the car on the bottom and stack your******on the top deck.

[jswat]

After 6 1/2 years towing a 33' 5er we sold it and bought a 2004 DP (HR Ambassador). We've been in the DP 6 years now and I wouldn't go back. The ride is much more comfortable, set-up and take down is so easy, and my DW loves having a bed and bath while going down the road.

[larry_barnhart]

I feel it is not needed to ask anybody what to do because they will always think the best is what they have and that can be true. The facts are how much money you can afford to spend on rving as it will be much more to maintain a DP. So be happy and buy what you can afford and enjoy.

I just heard we are not supposed to live back 75 so live it up.

chevman

[Ford_Man]

et2 wrote:
Have owned 2 travel trailers - 4 fivers & now our MH. Our last fiver was a Cameo with three slides one was almost a full slide, it was 41' long. We love the MH as it's way easier to get in and go. Ours has just as much room inside as any fiver we've owned but way more storage. Much more pleasant driving than the truck trailer combo. One thing in ours that is noticeable - the air conditioning seems way quieter as well as the two furnaces. They don't wake us up at night like our trailers did.

Way better view and not as tired and white knuckle traveling. We went with the DP as I already experienced the benefits of a Diesel engine. Plus trying to get that dually everywhere was getting old, and I grew tired of climbing all over trying to get things hooked up. The toad makes getting around a great plus.

I am in the same boat you were with a 2014 DRW F350 Crew Cab and a 39 ft. Triple slide Landmark Full Body Paint with one side being almost a full slide. Get tired of driving the big truck and white knuckles towing thru busy towns like Atlanta this Friday going to Disney World. DP might be in our near future with a Ford Escape to tow.

[1BryNelson]

Good times & bad times in the Navy. Not easy to do a career in the Service to ones country. It demands a lot of sacrifice to those that choose that life.

For those of us that went down that road, salute.

[JCGibson]

NeverHome2 wrote:


BTW... Thank you for your service to our country! 🙂

I appreciate it. It is nice to hear from time to time as anyone who has been in the military knows, it isn't the easiest at times.

[JCGibson]

2gypsies wrote:
Now you need to do a post in the 5th Wheel section and see what they have to say. 🙂

Well we already know everything about 5th Wheels as we have had three since 2008. Just wanted to get likes and dislikes from previous 5th Wheel owners.

[JCGibson]

Ivylog wrote:
A DP is the nicest and most expensive way to travel and once I could us an RV 100+ days a year, the 5er is now used by my kids. No way would I go back to a trailer as driving the MH is a pleasure. Much easier and nicer to boondock in a MH... generator, converter, big tanks.
OP, get a 40' DP with a stacker trailer so you can take two cars.

Once the wife retires from teaching, getting a DP and stacker is probably the way we will go, but that is a few years away. Can't justify the price for all that as we wouldn't use as often as should. We are only in our 40s now.

[2gypsies1]

Now you need to do a post in the 5th Wheel section and see what they have to say. 🙂

[Ivylog]

A DP is the nicest and most expensive way to travel and once I could us an RV 100+ days a year, the 5er is now used by my kids. No way would I go back to a trailer as driving the MH is a pleasure. Much easier and nicer to boondock in a MH... generator, converter, big tanks.
OP, get a 40' DP with a stacker trailer so you can take two cars.

[et2]

Have owned 2 travel trailers - 4 fivers & now our MH. Our last fiver was a Cameo with three slides one was almost a full slide, it was 41' long. We love the MH as it's way easier to get in and go. Ours has just as much room inside as any fiver we've owned but way more storage. Much more pleasant driving than the truck trailer combo. One thing in ours that is noticeable - the air conditioning seems way quieter as well as the two furnaces. They don't wake us up at night like our trailers did.

Way better view and not as tired and white knuckle traveling. We went with the DP as I already experienced the benefits of a Diesel engine. Plus trying to get that dually everywhere was getting old, and I grew tired of climbing all over trying to get things hooked up. The toad makes getting around a great plus.

[NeverHome2]

We had a 2011 Voltage (3200) and sold that to go to a MH. We love it. We wanted a little more room. The garage in the Voltage took up 10' of the 36' trailer. We were getting cramped in the 26'.

There was a debate on whether to go to a high end 5er or MH. The MH won out because we can still take our Harley with a trailer behind.

Now we have 38' of room! It is awesome! Our Featherlite trailer will haul either the HD or the Corvette or the Ford Escape.

Good luck with the decision.

BTW... Thank you for your service to our country! 🙂

[JCGibson]

Thanks for all the responses. We do a lot of local car shows and one of our main reasons for wanting to go to a MH is so we can tow our car to shows that are farther from home and stay longer than a day. Not sure this is the way to go however, since we wouldn't really drive the car around town to get "supplies" as it is a Shelby Cobra replica and it isn't exactly one I want to leave in a parking lot, plus there isn't much space for stuff anyway.

Our best option for this might just to keep our truck and rent HomeAway homes at car show locations. Then use our 5th Wheel for other trips.

Another option we thought about is getting a MH and when getting to a location, rent a car for our around town trips.

Just not sure what to do.