Fifth Wheel vs. Class A Motorhome

[cemmett]

What are some of your thoughts about Fifth Wheel vs. Class A Motorhome for soon-to-be full-timers? We hear positive and negative comments from some locals but would like to hear from you guys.

[northmeck0255]

From a safety standpoint, unless you are in a Bluebird, Newell, Foretravel or Prevost it is safer to be towing the Fiver. With the fifth wheel, your tow vehicle is equipped with airbags and has certified rollover protection.

Most plastic motorhomes, even those with BIG pricetags will splinter into a pile of kindling if you roll it off an exit ramp.

[John_Joey]

cemmett wrote:
What are some of your thoughts about Fifth Wheel vs. Class A Motorhome for soon-to-be full-timers?

How long do you plan on FT'ing? If for a short time then MH, longer then 5'ver.

[wintersun]

azdryheat wrote:
One disadvantage to 5th wheel - my dually is huge to drive around sight-seeing.
One advantage to my toy hauler - the folding ramp doubles as a covered patio giving me 49 feet of living area, more than you get in any Class A.

I make a practice to count trucks pulling 5th wheel travel trailers on the highways when when traveling and always 80% or more of the trucks are SRW. Many people pulling 35 foot 13,500 gross weight 5th wheel trailers without need for a dually.

Two standard E rated tires support loads of 6400 lbs. and there are E tires from Toyo, BF Goodrich, and Nitto that are rated at 7500 lbs. for the two at the rear axle that are supporting the weight of the trailer. Subtracting 3400 lbs. for the truck and that leaves a load capacity of 4100 lbs. or enough for a 16,000 lb. 5th wheel trailer.

As for ride the biggest gain in comfort for the people in the cab of the pickup is from using a shock absorbing kingbox like the ones from Trailair. More effective than having DRW at the rear axle.

With either the 5th wheel or the Class A motorhome you will be towing something. The primary objections to the 5th wheel trailer are the amount of steps to get to the first level and then having to go up and down a level to get to the bedroom area. Two sets of friends who towed 5th wheel trailers for years have moved to using a Class B motorhome and towing a small sedan.

A third option that was not mentioned is towing a travel trailer with either a SUV or a pickup truck. With the trailer everything is on one level inside the RV and the trailer can be towed with an SUV as well as with a pickup. With a pickup you have the bed available for a fiberglass cap and or a rack to carry bicycles, boats, ATV, dingy, and other gear that would be very difficult to have with you if traveling with a motorhome or a 5th wheel trailer.

Consider also the size of the holding tanks, fridge, and battery bank, and the options for installing solar panels on the roof, a satellite dish, and other items. Much easier to do with a trailer roof than the average motorhome and no problems when it comes time to sell the RV.

It is also possible to mix and match a new versus a used tow vehicle and trailer.

[FunnyCamper]

reason for toyhauler 5th wheel right now:

bring golf cart
kayak
second bedroom for child, inclues 1/2 bath in garage.
have truck for driving

when retirement comes: OH BOY we are on the fence.

what to do?

Motorhome. put hydraulic lift on back for golf cart. pull small vehicle also.
get Toyhauler motorhome (but honestly I don't like the floorplans to date for full timing like we will be doing)

bigger luxury 5th. same set up as motorhome with hydralic lift for golf cart and truck for travel.
OR go luxury toyhauler 5th, bring our toys as we do now and have the truck for sightseeing.

I think it comes down to how do you want to travel? what do you want with you?

once you know that, fit the camper/vehicles to your needs.
you didn't mention how you want to retire? slow pace etc. or do you want your toys like we do...kayaks, fishing rods, surf fishing buggy and all that jazz.

[janstey58]

Advantages of a class A:

Pull in, press a couple of buttons to put down leveling jacks and slides. Bad weather? Start genny, open beer, stay inside in comfort. Leaving the site and moving on? Again, push some buttons. Additionally, upon arrival coach air already has the MH cooled down on hot days. Most 5vers cant do that.

Contrary to previous post, going to the bathroom or getting a snack w/o pulling over is a BIG plus! And the kids can watch TV, even SATV if properly equipped, while rolling down the road.

[Ivylog]

Post this question in the Class A section and the majority will say Class A. By the time I need water (7-10 days) I'm ready to move on, resupply, and do laundry. Take a look at 10 year old 5ers and 10 year old DPs to see which are better built. Having two engines is nice if one stops working and my combined MPG is 14 as we put about the same miles on each. I have 9,000 lbs of CCC and there is not a 5er with anywhere near that amount of storage.
*Yes I still own a 5er that my kids get to use as I'm not going back to it... even spending three months in Fla. A DP is the nicest and most expensive way to go down the road and I worked hard and saved so I could. I see no reason why my 10 year old DP will not go another 10-15 years without major problems.

[Alfred622]

I love the feeling of driving a Class A.... The huge all glass panoramic window - the riding high - the feel of the engine throbbing as we cruise down the road - it is a magical experience.

I love having a refrigerator handy for a cold soda while driving. Or, a quick pull off into a rest area to use our own bathroom, fix a quick sandwich, then continue on down the road.

I love having a regular car with me - so we can leave the MH at the campsite and take the car into a city to attend a concert, tour a Mint, or visit a shopping center.

For us, the MH + Toad was the right decision!

[amandasgramma]

mlts22 wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
To me it comes downtown how much you intend to travel. If you intend to move a lot and put a lot of miles on it, then MH. If you are more likely to stay a long time at each destination and only travel a relatively few miles each year, then 5er.

X2.

The only exception is the fact that with a MH, one can get a high MPG toad, so when the "A" is parked, running around an area isn't as bad.

However, there is always that rule of thumb -- if moving around often, a class "A" + toad. If staying in one place, the fiver and a one ton.

The reason is that it is a lot easier to go from camped to on the road with a class "A". Pretty much disconnect cables, pull slides in, lift jacks, hitch the toad, and be off. On the road, one can pull in a parking lot with an "A", and take a quick nap, harder to do than with a 5-er. Hitching and unhitching a trailer can take 30-45 minutes, and it is a process that cannot be hurried (lest one forget some doodad sticking out and cause thousands to tens of thousands in damage.)

If camping more than on the road, a trailer is better, because it is one less motor and drivetrain to keep maintained, fluids topped off, and registered.

We had our 5er up and ready to go today in 20 minutes. 🙂 BTW -- we hit a record.....left at 9:30 with the rig to go to DMV (2 miles away), get licenses and vin verified, and back and set up in 1 hr and 40 minutes.....yeah, a DMV that's fast!!!! I believe the setting up and taking down is totally personal. One person doing it, 10 chairs around the camp, pit fire, BBQ, yeah, it'll take longer. We find it doesn't take any longer for a 5er than a MH and hooking a toad (btw..be sure to add time if the toad is on a dolly) 🙂 🙂

[doxiemom11]

Go look at some of each. I think once you start looking that one or the other will appeal to you more. We purchased a motorhome as that is what appealed to us. Don't know about others, but I have plenty of inside storage and do not have to store any equipment outside. Maybe that just depends on which mfg you buy - ours is a gas 36'. We are in our 4th year full-time and this size works for us. You may find that a 5th wheel appeals to you more -- all personal taste I think.

[Horizon170]

Long stays in one place=5th wheel.
Short stays and more travel=Motor home.
Forget Tag, taxes, repairs, etc and that will balance out more than likely.
Marvin

[ol_Bombero-JC]

YOU have to decide which will work best for YOU.

I tow a 34' 5th with a SRW short-bed pickup (not a dually).
It does just fine for parking and sight-seeing everywhere.

If you want to bring along M/Cs, ATVs or a jeep, or? - you need a
MH - or a Toy Hauler (5h wheel).

If you have a long bed pickup, you can put some toys in the back, but you're pretty much limited to bicycles.

If you want to bring along anything larger than a "fold-a-boat, (unless you want to double tow) - - you need a MH.

As others have indicated, drive-line repairs on MHs can be quite pricey. Then there's tires and brakes.

Buy a new pickup - need warranty repair work? - find the nearest dealer for your brand. A bit tougher with a MH.
(One MH poster blew an engine in his gas powered Class A. The town where he was, did not have a facility capable of pulling an engine from a MH - resulted in a lengthy tow to another town).

Ten of one, half-dozen of another.
It's up to you to decide which works best for what you want to do, as well as your budget.

Decisions, decisions..:h

~

[mlts22]

BB_TX wrote:
To me it comes downtown how much you intend to travel. If you intend to move a lot and put a lot of miles on it, then MH. If you are more likely to stay a long time at each destination and only travel a relatively few miles each year, then 5er.

X2.

The only exception is the fact that with a MH, one can get a high MPG toad, so when the "A" is parked, running around an area isn't as bad.

However, there is always that rule of thumb -- if moving around often, a class "A" + toad. If staying in one place, the fiver and a one ton.

The reason is that it is a lot easier to go from camped to on the road with a class "A". Pretty much disconnect cables, pull slides in, lift jacks, hitch the toad, and be off. On the road, one can pull in a parking lot with an "A", and take a quick nap, harder to do than with a 5-er. Hitching and unhitching a trailer can take 30-45 minutes, and it is a process that cannot be hurried (lest one forget some doodad sticking out and cause thousands to tens of thousands in damage.)

If camping more than on the road, a trailer is better, because it is one less motor and drivetrain to keep maintained, fluids topped off, and registered.

[L2R]

I would give it some thought as to what type of camping you will do and it will help you decide on the right rig.

Are you going to be on the road a lot or setting up camp for weeks at a time in one place?

What is your preferred mode of transportation when you are set up at camp or will you even need additonal transportation?

Will you do any boondoggin'?


Example: If you are making infrequent trips to town for food and free water, you might need a pickup to haul the 80 gallons of water back for the week. (that might be extreme for you but we don't know what you envision and many do just this so for them, a 5th wheel and truck make a lot more sense than a class A with a smart car in tow).

IF you are going to spend just a night or two here then there, a class A is pretty easy to set up and tear down. As you are on the road a lot, making a pit stop for groceries, isn't a problem and might not need any additonal transportation as you will not need to move the motorhome once you are set up.

For us, having our Goldwing to ride around was a big deal for us. (very theraputic to ride the backroads or seaside) We also like that we can move about and enjoy the frig, bed and bathroom while going 60 mph.

So a Class A was the only way for us but would be a rotten set up for a group of 3, those with animals or someone who needed to haul in water.

Hope this helps.

[Water-Bug]

In some states, trailers including 5ers have PERMANENT plates. That means that there is no annual tax on the trailer. MHs on the other hand are taxed as motor vehicles, with the fees based on weight and original sales price. The difference can be significant. The permanent plate fee for my fiver in Michigan was only a little over $200.