Bunkhouses - TT vs 5th Wheel - help tell us what to buy!

[alesis]

The wife and I may be looking for a newer used camper.

We are looking at the bunkhouses with a larger 2 person bed and a smaller 1 person or two 2 person beds for the bunks. We also need a bunk area that more of a room, w plenty of clothing storage. Larger refrigerator a plus.

Basically, I've not looked for a new rv in a long time and am looking for pointers. I have the capability to pull a 5th wheel, but in a small amount of research I've found that they're just priced much higher than a comperable travel trailer. But I'm definitely open to suggestions either way. Looking to spend $20000 max , preferably less, including our current trailer as trade.

Let me know your opinions on TT vs 5er as well as any suggestions on make/model.

Thanks in advance!

[gazingm42]

APT wrote:
There are very few TTS that offer larger than 6.3cf fridges. A couple Primtime Lacrosse, Open Range TTs, and maybe a couple Jayco Eagle models. So if that is a priority, then it will narrow down your choices in TTs. Many more 5ers offer 10-16cf ones.

There are many more bunkhouse TTs than 5er because that's what the market wants. Crew cab pickup 4-5 people to pull a 5er bunkhouse that sleeps 8-12 doesn't make much sense, and at $5-10k over a comparable TT. But choose a TT vs. 5er because of features, floorplan, steps, use of truck bed, etc. A premium 5th wheel receiver costs about the same as a premium WDH and both tow very well.

I think the bunk house in TT vs 5th is a cost point with families. As younger families or even teenagers can afford the TT but can make a jump to 5th cost.

I was talking to my dealer last spring in Utah and he says they sell bunk houses now 2 to 1 here.

[APT]

There are very few TTS that offer larger than 6.3cf fridges. A couple Primtime Lacrosse, Open Range TTs, and maybe a couple Jayco Eagle models. So if that is a priority, then it will narrow down your choices in TTs. Many more 5ers offer 10-16cf ones.

There are many more bunkhouse TTs than 5er because that's what the market wants. Crew cab pickup 4-5 people to pull a 5er bunkhouse that sleeps 8-12 doesn't make much sense, and at $5-10k over a comparable TT. But choose a TT vs. 5er because of features, floorplan, steps, use of truck bed, etc. A premium 5th wheel receiver costs about the same as a premium WDH and both tow very well.

[pappcam]

For some reason there are many more bunkhouse options in TT's than there are in 5th wheels. I've never been able to figure the reason out.

[Stovepipe]

I'm in a similar position as the OP, looking to buy a bunkhouse in either a travel trailer or fifth wheel (although I'm still two years away from the purchase I like to research the heck out of things). Here are my thoughts for what they are worth.

There are certainly great bunkhouse floorplans in modern day fifth wheels. In fact, I'd say there are more interesting ones to choose from than travel trailers given there is generally more room to work with in the fivers. Jayco in particular makes some very neat double over double bunk designs.

I also really like the idea of a fifth wheel in terms of easy hitching, safer towing, and (for me I think) slightly easier backing. But I'm convinced that my family will opt for a travel trailer for two important reasons: having the truck bed open for bikes, and fivers tend to cost at least 7 grand or more than the equivalent travel trailer. Also, the height of the fiver means having to be more paranoid with trees and low underpasses.

Just some things to consider.

[calewjohnson]

Keystone Outback 323BH may be a good choice also. Big bumper pull, two bunks in the back, plus a couch with an air bed. We live in ours and it does us quite well.

Cale

[Doug33]

crcr wrote:
I was unwilling to give up the use of my truck bed, both when camping and when not camping, so I went with a travel trailer. With a backup camera and a power tongue jack, hooking up is a quick process for me.

same here - the truck bed was invaluable on my last trip

Also, since I have an Avalanche, I cannot tow a 5er. Although I like them in general, I've never found a 5er floor plan that fits my needs and budget. And I'm not in a financial position to buy a new truck to pull one.

While my TT does not have a separate bunkhouse room, it does have a queen master bedroom and two large bunkbeds that accommodates me, my wife and my two grown daughters.

[MontanaCamper]

Love ours, it has 4 bunks in the back and a queen in the front. HUGE slide and is a bumper pull. Wife found it for well under 20K and was only used once by the mother in law for one weekend before we picked it up. Its 34' long, its only down side...and a good sized fridge.

good luck

[doxiluvr]

You might want to look at the Keystone Outback 301 BQ. It has 4 bunks and you could use the 4th top bunk to store some of the kids stuff on if needed, but it has 2 slideouts; 1 in the queen bed room for you and your wife and one in the living/dining area. I just thought it looked like a nice family trailer.

[tatest]

I've been in TT's that had a separate bunk room (Keystone Outback, bunk room up front, big bed in rear slideout) but haven't seen it in a fiver. Of course there are hundreds of fiver floor plans I've never looked at, someone might be making bunkhouse fivers.

Thirty foot length or so, you should find a lot of bunkhouse models in brochures, but tracking one down used may be difficult. Nash/Arctic Fox 32D, old Jayflight 31BHS, Rockwood 8317 all had bunk rooms with 4 to 6 beds. That's just three old brochures I had at hand, but most of the time, each manufacturer is making at least one TT like this. There is a market there, large families and youth groups.

[gazingm42]

We have a Bunk house in the back. It has 2 Full size beds that sleeps 2 per bunk. So we can get 4 in the bunk house with the queen in the front and the
dinning bed and soft fold out. All included in the travel Trailer. We opt for
the TT vs 5th ourselves which was all price driven at the time.

[crcr]

I was unwilling to give up the use of my truck bed, both when camping and when not camping, so I went with a travel trailer. With a backup camera and a power tongue jack, hooking up is a quick process for me.

[oughtsix]

I couldn't find anything for the 4 of us in a new trailer 5th or bumper pull for $20K. So I went for a private party used bumper pull and paid half of that.

Around here used bumper pull trailers seem to cost more than comparable 5th wheels. I attribute this to there being more of a market for a used bumper pull because many more rigs are capable of towing them. I was seriously considering a 5th due to getting more for my money on the used market but ended up with a bumper pull. The main deciding factor was not wanting to hassle with taking off the canopy from my pickup and loosing the bed storage space. I still think a 5th has many advantges over a bumper pull especially when you consider over all length of tow rig plus trailer.

[alesis]

Thanks already for the suggestions. I know that list was long. That's actually why I asked here. I figured some of you would have that setup and direct me toward a few to check out.

My dads old trailer had a larger lower bunk that would sleep 2 and a small upper bunk that would sleep one. This and a storage closet/drawers were houses in the rear slide. I have 3 kids so that nearly perfect. However my mom can't remember what it was they had. 😉

[APT]

Primetime Lacrosse 319 may fit you well. It has 203 bunks in L-shape, 12cf fridge standard plus outdoor kitchen with dorm fridge. Should be had for under $25k, so probably in your budget with trade.