Travel Trailer vs. Motorhome (my situation)

[DallasSteve]

I did a search in the Search box here for "travel trailer vs. motorhome" and it gets zero results. You can try it for yourself. I even tried "travel trailer motorhome". Nada. (that's Spanish for nothing) I added a space in "motor home". Same thing. I even tried to Google "rv.net travel trailer vs. motorhome". Not much there, either. So that's why I'm posting a new thread about this often discussed subject.

I'm leaning towards a big truck + big trailer, but I wish I could find what I want in an economical Class A + Jeep Wrangler. (I was going to retire a year ago, but decided to wait another 18 months) I will only buy new, but money is still an object for me in retirement. I might go fifth wheel, but they cost more and I don't want to give up so much truck bed storage. I'll explain how I plan to use it and what I've seen so far (I started looking about 3 years ago). My planned purchase date is March, 2020. Maybe someone will see a solution that will change my mind.

I'm early 60s and retired. I plan to sell my furniture when my apartment lease is up and live in the RV. I will put some small, important personal possessions in a small storage space. I plan to travel South to North in the Spring, then North to South in the Fall. I want to see some smaller cities and maybe get back to (cheaper) apartment life in a few years in a smaller city that I like. Dallas is a great place to work, but I wouldn't want to live here. 🙂

I plan to travel about 1 to 2 hours every few days and then explore the area a little. No 4 to 8 hour trips. I'm interested in the small/medium cities as much as the state/national parks. I think I should be able to find places to check out in a 1 to 2 hour transit and then spend 1 or 2 days exploring the area. Then in the Winter and Summer we will either set up camp in an RV park, or visit Latin America using AirBnB for medium term rentals. Yo hablo español muy bien.

Pros and Cons of big truck + big trailer:

Pros

1 - Cheaper any way you cut it (I used to be a CPA, so I'm confident about the numbers comparing travel trailer apples to motorhome with a toad apples).

2 - I love the Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS; it checks all my boxes, except that it's very big. I wish it could be smaller, but I have a lot of boxes to check. I don't see any motorhome with a similar layout because they have the seats up front.

3 - Only 1 motor to maintain.

4 - Slide outs are a little deeper.

5 - If the motor breaks we still have our home (yes, I've heard that with a motorhome you can arrange to live in the shop parking lot sometimes).

Cons

1 - I would rather drive a Jeep Wrangler than a big a$$ truck.

2 - The motorhome would probably have a generator which I would want to purchase extra for the trailer (still cheaper).

3 - Set up would probably be a little easier with a motorhome + Jeep.

4 - The ability to walk back to the kitchen or bath is nice in a motorhome, but for us it won't matter as much because we won't be making long trips between camps.

I've seen some motorhomes that wow me inside, but they have been in the $200,000+ range. Too rich for my pockets. Otherwise, the GD 312BHTS wows me more. I still love doing its online walk-through tour.

Any alternate suggestions before I make my big plunge?

Thanks, Steve

[DallasSteve]

2012Coleman wrote:
To the OP: Why are you considering a bunk house? Are you thinking of using the bunk room as an office? The Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS is 37 feet. If you want to consider a fifth wheel, consider the GD Reflection 337RLS which is only 35 feet long.

Are you planning on boondocking, or only using sites where at least electric is available?

2012 Coleman

Good questions. I'll answer and I'd like to ask a question or two about Grand Design pricing for anyone to answer.

I don't expect to use the bunk house much for guests, but since we will be living in the rig full time I like to have more closet and storage space, plus it gives the outdoor kitchen which I want. To me a bigger space waster is the sofa at the end of the 337RLS fifth wheel you posted. We won't entertain much to need that either.

As for boondocking, I want to give it a try in some parks, but we will probably use full hookups mostly, unless we like boondocking a lot. So we might not even need a generator.

I just browsed the two Grand Design models on RV Trader and the fifth wheel is about $10,000 more. I like it, but probably not that much. My question is about the pricing. I've read that Grand Design dealers are prohibited from discounting new models. It looks like they can discount unsold new models from last year (2019).

How much will the Grand Design dealers usually discount the new year models?

Thanks, Steve

[2012Coleman]

To the OP: Why are you considering a bunk house? Are you thinking of using the bunk room as an office? The Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS is 37 feet. If you want to consider a fifth wheel, consider the GD Reflection 337RLS which is only 35 feet long.

Are you planning on boondocking, or only using sites where at least electric is available?

[valhalla360]

gbopp wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
Next I recommend you reconsider buying only a new unit. RVs depreciate rapidly. Mine was in like new condition and cost less than half the cost of a new unit. Also RV construction and parts are often way less than perfect. New RVs always seem to require a shake down period and fixing issues. Let someone else do that for you. If you decide on a TT you should have lots and lots of choices for used units. A lot of families buy TTs and sell them after a few years and relatively little use as the kids grow up and refuse to travel with the parents.

You told the OP to buy only a new unit. Then you tell him the benefits of used units. :h

Makes perfect sense to me...how will I have a supply of nice used rigs in a few years if people aren't buying new rigs?

But yeah, he said "reconsider" buying new.

PS: Don't count on a new rig being trouble free. Everyone we know who has bought new rigs, have had more problems than we have buying used ones. Keep in mind just because it's under warrantee doesn't mean they won't let your rig sit for 3 months before they actually do the repairs. They already have your money.

[valhalla360]

DallasSteve wrote:

Cons

1 - I would rather drive a Jeep Wrangler than a big a$$ truck.

2 - The motorhome would probably have a generator which I would want to purchase extra for the trailer (still cheaper).

3 - Set up would probably be a little easier with a motorhome + Jeep.

4 - The ability to walk back to the kitchen or bath is nice in a motorhome, but for us it won't matter as much because we won't be making long trips between camps.

1. This is one of the big reasons in my mind to consider a MH...especially if you are into off roading a big 1 ton truck is a lousy platform.

2. A lot of 5th wheels can be had with a generator, so not really a con unless you are set on a model that doesn't have the option...but really if you are staying in parks with power most of the time, a good inverter generator in the truck bed is nearly as good for rare times when you need it.

3. Setup is about the same...assuming THE SAME BELLS AND WHISTLES. You can get autoleveling systems on 5th wheels. Backing into a site, you still have to disconnect the toad on the MH. Both you still have to hook up the utilities exactly the same. If you are moving a couple times a week, after the first month, backing into a site is just as easy with either (it's the weekender who does it 2-3 times a year that struggles as they don't develop a good feel for backing)

4. Absolutely agree. Unless you are doing long road trips in a short time, the ability to walk back to the kitchen/bathroom is over rated.

[Nv_Guy]

While you do lose bed space with a 5W, even with the hitch, I still have room for an aux fuel tank / tool box, a 2nd spare & other stuff. The other advantage of a 5W-truck is once you unhook, you can find cheaper fuel, with a large MH getting into smaller fuel retailers can be difficult.

[n0arp]

gemsworld wrote:

I have never seen any travel trailer or fifth wheel set up as fast as a moho/toad combo.

We are usually backed into our site and leveled faster than people in class a rigs even get their toads off. It’s amusing to me how long people tend to take to set up these “faster” rigs. It has more to do with how fast you work at it than the equipment you are working with, when we are comparing a fifth wheel with auto leveling and a motorhome with the same and a toad.

[DallasSteve]

gemsworld wrote:

Edd505 wrote:

gemsworld wrote:
If you're going to move often, get a motorhome.

If you're going to be at one place for extended periods, get a fifth wheel.

Whats the difference on how often you move? You setup & take down with either to move. Setup times very similar, I have a buddy in a class A. We set up in about the same time, we both have auto level. Once setup we end up in my 5W with more room and seating.

His advantage is he can make a sandwich w/o stopping. I prefer the short break.

I have never seen any travel trailer or fifth wheel set up as fast as a moho/toad combo.

How much longer do you think it takes to set up a travel trailer. I won't be on a tight schedule so a few minutes more won't bother me. 30 minutes extra every time would be a drag.

[Community Alumni]

Edd505 wrote:

gemsworld wrote:
If you're going to move often, get a motorhome.

If you're going to be at one place for extended periods, get a fifth wheel.

Whats the difference on how often you move? You setup & take down with either to move. Setup times very similar, I have a buddy in a class A. We set up in about the same time, we both have auto level. Once setup we end up in my 5W with more room and seating.

His advantage is he can make a sandwich w/o stopping. I prefer the short break.

I have never seen any travel trailer or fifth wheel set up as fast as a moho/toad combo.

[n0arp]

No it is not. It is hard to find a TT with auto-level.

[DallasSteve]

Edd505 wrote:

gemsworld wrote:
If you're going to move often, get a motorhome.

If you're going to be at one place for extended periods, get a fifth wheel.

Whats the difference on how often you move? You setup & take down with either to move. Setup times very similar, I have a buddy in a class A. We set up in about the same time, we both have auto level. Once setup we end up in my 5W with more room and seating.

The Grand Design model I like says it has "Power Front & Rear Stabilizer Jacks". Is that the same as auto level? I thought it was.

[n0arp]

DallasSteve wrote:
It is a little shorter overall with the hitch in the bed, but only by about 5 feet based on my studies.

I didn't realize we were talking about length, but sure - you get 5-7ft additional space in the same package. What you aren't mentioning here and are perhaps unaware of is that the towing experience of a fifth wheel is far superior than a bumper pull. I'd much rather tow a fifth wheel all over the place than a TT (I've owned multiples of both, and have a 24' offshore boat on bumper pull so still bumper pull regularly).

DallasSteve wrote:
One other thought I didn't mention is I don't like what the hitch might do to my truck bed, and I've heard of a few mishaps hooking up a fifth wheel on this forum.

You're not any more likely to drop a fiver than you are to side swipe a lamp post, street sign, or other car. That is to say that as long as you pay attention, it won't happen. Worrying about that is a far-fetched excuse not to get one. It's even easier to pay attention here: you aren't moving when hooking up, and, depending on the hitch have (varying degrees of) clear indicators of successful connection.

[Edd505]

gemsworld wrote:
If you're going to move often, get a motorhome.

If you're going to be at one place for extended periods, get a fifth wheel.

Whats the difference on how often you move? You setup & take down with either to move. Setup times very similar, I have a buddy in a class A. We set up in about the same time, we both have auto level. Once setup we end up in my 5W with more room and seating.

His advantage is he can make a sandwich w/o stopping. I prefer the short break.

[SDcampowneroper]

For often moves ,access to comforts, MH. Time to hook up/ unhook towed, then Coach, longer and more troublesome than a trailer. You first have to have a level place to disconnect the towed, then still have to hook up the coach on site. Potentially costly tow system . Pros, smaller cheaper car, more campsite availibility, easier parking.
Cons . Larger depreciation, less storage, complexity, as it is a complete home and vehicle in one package. One thing breaks down, you are stranded.
For depreciation truck / trailer wins as better, has advantages of lesser cost, better resale, more storage and flexibility. Something goes wrong with either, you still have one to find an option for the night.
Cons is maneuverability, large tow vehicle for daily driver. Backing an articulted unit, longer sites for disconnected units.
I could explain more, it would take a book.

[SDcampowneroper]

gbopp wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
Next I recommend you reconsider buying only a new unit. RVs depreciate rapidly. Mine was in like new condition and cost less than half the cost of a new unit. Also RV construction and parts are often way less than perfect. New RVs always seem to require a shake down period and fixing issues. Let someone else do that for you. If you decide on a TT you should have lots and lots of choices for used units. A lot of families buy TTs and sell them after a few years and relatively little use as the kids grow up and refuse to travel with the parents.

You told the OP to buy only a new unit. Then you tell him the benefits of used units. :h

I think he mistyped. recommendation for newer used units.

[Community Alumni]

If you're going to move often, get a motorhome.

If you're going to be at one place for extended periods, get a fifth wheel.