Motor home vs 5th wheel

[lowfly]

Can anyone that moved from a 5th wheel to a motor home tell me if hook up or tear down is any easier with a motor home or about the same?

[mscamping]

As someone said the hook-ups are the same, water, sewer, and electric.. It's easier when overnighting to unhook the toad and go eat than unhooking the truck to go eat.. If you're going to move around a lot the motorhome is better, if you're going to go set somewhere long term, the 5th wheel is the best option.. It's also harder to get the motorhome chassis worked on that it is a truck.. We've had both, so this is some of our thoughts.. Mike Mathews..

[BigRabbitMan]

Ok, one more convenience factor. Taking a shower while still traveling. I didn't, I was driving! We were headed across the salt flats of Utah. We were running a little late and wife said she needed to take a shower before our evening commitment. I told her to go ahead and take her shower now while still traveling as she wasn't doing anything else anyway. She said "NO WAY".

Now if you have traveled I-80 across the salt flats you know that it is dead level and dead straight for a good 60-70 miles. I promised that I would put the coach on cruise control slightly slower than traffic (which there is little out there), that I would not change lanes, that I would not put on the brakes, that I would not ...., well you get the picture! She took her shower and all was good.

But I havn't been able to convince her to do it again!

Seriously, I have a small TT as well as my coach. I will only travel with the coach. There is simply no comparison due the many convenience factors and the ease of setting up and leaving. I have an '06 pickup with 279,000 miles on it so I know what they are like. I have an older class A as I can afford it. Much, much better than a newer fiver or TT.

[wa8yxm]

I do not know if I posted in this thread so I will say this.

I pull into a CG in the rain, push some buttons and wait for it to let up Do not need to plug in for several hours. Or hook to water, sewer, cable or the like.

I drive down the road 7-10 MPG towing a car... I run to the store 25-30 MPG driving the car.

I pull into a rest area cause... I need to "Walk the dog" (I have cats by the way, no dogs) and I need not set foot out in the rain...

I drive a class A

With a 5-er, Set up is much more involved and most of it outdoors
You got to set foot outside to "Walk said dog".
And, 16-20 MPG going to the store if you are lucky.

I will take the A train myself.

[JimM68]

the guys above have covered it very very well, of course this is the class A forum.

Our first trip, we did the oregon coast, (including back and forth from chicago, in a 12 year old V10 fleetwood)

The friend we went with ran a powerstroke F250 and a 29 foot fiver.

Without exception, we would pull into our side by side sites together. I sit in the drivers seat, punch the level and slide buttons, make a couple margaritas, go outside, hookup, walk around, spread out my matts, get out the comfy chiars and side table, sit down, and wait.

After doing whatever it is fiver drivers do... he'd come for his glass of mostly melted ice.

[CG_Dawson]

Over the past 40+ years we have gone from a pickup slide on to two fivers and now on our third MH. Each had it's advantages, but there is no doubt that we prefer the MH. Hooking up the car and disconnecting it has become a breeze.

[keepingthelight]

dubdub07 wrote:
Biggest issue is cost. The overall cost is huge, but compared to the monthly charge of a truck and fifth, it is actually cheaper!

Now, the skinny. Been fivering it for 6 years, loved my FW. NEVER thought I would go to a MH. Until....I drove one. Wow. What a lovely experience. I can drive, take my four kids.....everyone has a space and can watch TV or read or sleep.......and I am so isolated up front. With my huge picture window of America, I can enjoy the view and when I am thirsty or hungry, DW makes whatever I need. The experience is amazing. The toad is the only work, and it is very little work. As long as I can afford it, I will always be in a MH.

WW07

Well said! You also need to compare a diesel pickup with a diesel MH, otherwise gas and diesel don't mix. I went from a 5th wheel, towed by a Powerstoke, for 10 years to a diesel pusher. No comparison. The MH was far more comfortable and quiet. The kids can roam around, watch TV, use the restroom, get a drink, you name it. My wife can fix me lunch and get me a drink with no problems at all. The fuel mileage is about the same and we have more room in the MH. 4 slides. The MH can be very costly if and when repairs come into play. You are talking about a HD truck chassis like those on the road. All in all I would not go back to the 5th wheel.
Good luck!;)

[msmith1199]

gone2dadesert wrote:

MarcW wrote:

Then there is having a car (or in my case a Jeep) to use when you're at your destination instead of the truck. That will mean nothing to some but in my case, I get to do things and go places I couldn't with the type of truck used to haul a large 5th Wheel.

True, I've never seen a dually or 1-ton truck on the Rubicon trail or on any of the more difficult rated 4wd trails in Moab. :E

I have a Dodge Dakota (mid-size) 4x4 truck and I used to have a Jeep Wrangler. Even though the Dakota is smaller than a full size truck, it won't go anywhere near the places that Wrangler would go. I wish I never got rid of the Wrangler.

[gone2dadesert]

MarcW wrote:

Then there is having a car (or in my case a Jeep) to use when you're at your destination instead of the truck. That will mean nothing to some but in my case, I get to do things and go places I couldn't with the type of truck used to haul a large 5th Wheel.

True, I've never seen a dually or 1-ton truck on the Rubicon trail or on any of the more difficult rated 4wd trails in Moab. :E

[msmith1199]

WyoTraveler wrote:
Dw said don't remember seeing all this scenery betore in our 5ver. Nope. Huge windows much higher. So much more you can see. Bad weather? Just kick on generator. We're here. No need to go outside. Need a snack? I'll go back and make you lunch on the road. Bathroom? No problem. No need to go outside. Or lets stop some where so I can get in that hot TT or 5ver to make lunch. I.e. wish we had a MH.

It's amazing how sitting up a few feet higher at eye level with the truckers seems to increase the view so much. If nothing else you're looking over the top of most of the other vehicles on the road which is really nice.

[Blaster_Man]

glamisorbust wrote:
Traveling in a class A is a dream. Like others have stated, your own personal restroom 15 feet away, fridge is even closer, and the wife can stretch out and take a nap or read a magazine while you drive. It's paradise, never going back to a 5th.

Ditto. Not to mention the view out the 8' X 4' barless windshield from a luxury Flexsteel chair.

[MarcW]

The biggest difference from a comfort level is the time spent behind the wheel of a motor coach vs a pickup truck. On long days on the road there is a huge difference. If you haven't done it, you might say 'my PU is very comfortable'. LOL... No it's not.

Then there is having a car (or in my case a Jeep) to use when you're at your destination instead of the truck. That will mean nothing to some but in my case, I get to do things and go places I couldn't with the type of truck used to haul a large 5th Wheel.

As far as hook up or set up time and work. The coach is easier and quicker to level, as I just push a button. With my previous 5r, that was much more involved depending on the site.

[Effy]

There truly is no more comfortable way to travel than in a MH. Especially long distances. It's a rolling apartment with all the ammenities. With fiver you are still driving a truck with no bath, bedroom, kitchen, bed or tv. I've seen the time and effort it takes to set up and break camp in a fiver. It takes me 5 minutes in a MH. I am sure I could do it quicker. So, better ride, better view, more comfortable, more ammenities, more storage, easier set up and break down. Unless I already had a dually and did not travel far, a 5er is something I would never consider.

[WadenCeeJay]

Watching the scenery go by with a windscreen that looks like an IMAX screen is
something I wouldn't trade for anything. Not to mention the other things people
have mentioned. I wouldn't go back.

[dubdub07]

Biggest issue is cost. The overall cost is huge, but compared to the monthly charge of a truck and fifth, it is actually cheaper!

Now, the skinny. Been fivering it for 6 years, loved my FW. NEVER thought I would go to a MH. Until....I drove one. Wow. What a lovely experience. I can drive, take my four kids.....everyone has a space and can watch TV or read or sleep.......and I am so isolated up front. With my huge picture window of America, I can enjoy the view and when I am thirsty or hungry, DW makes whatever I need. The experience is amazing. The toad is the only work, and it is very little work. As long as I can afford it, I will always be in a MH.

WW07

[UsualSuspect]

Made the jump a little over a year ago and am happy we did. The 5'er I had to level manually, MH push a button. The bathroom, kitchen and refer are right there, and even though my 5'er had a gen set, I still had to walk from the truck to get in. The MH also has more storage than the 5'er. So much more convenient. The thing to factor in, if you only go a few times a year, rent a car when you are close to your destination. Getting a toad setup for towing is around $3K ballpark. If you go once a month a toad is worth the setup cost.