5th wheel trailer vs class A motorhome- advice please

[rfuerst911sc]

OK guys my wife and I have decided it's time for an RV . Goal is for the two of us plus doggie to travel/camp locally and long distance . Growing up my parents had several travel trailers so I am familiar with those . But I am leaning towards a 30 foot plus or minus 5th wheel or class A motorhome .

We have a 2001 GMC diesel dually 4x4 with gooseneck hitch with towing package . The 5th wheel would be an easy conversion to gooseneck . Obviously this option allows the truck to be the sight seeing vehicle or grocery getter . So far the 5th wheels we have looked at my wife likes that general layout .

Haven't started looking at class A's yet but will . That scenario means towing a vehicle behind to do sight seeing and grocery runs . Regardless of which we choose we will buy used . I know that some 5th wheels have frame issues but it looks like most ( not all ) are the 38 - 45 footers . With fall/winter coming up that's a good time to buy .

I have been looking on FB marketplace for several weeks just to get a feel for what's out there . It looks like model years 2000 - 2010 are within " pay cash " range which is what we want . I have a guy lined up to cut a new driveway/parking spot on our land for whatever we end up with . I am have a 30 ' x 80 ' spot carved out with the plan of a 24 x 36 RV carport put up . So that's the scenario , would love to hear feedback on those 2 styles of rigs and the pro's and cons.

[cantdrv55]

I heard it’s hard to find sites in national parks with rigs larger than 30’. I could be wrong though but you might want to check that out if NPs are a destination for you guys.

[HobieMarty]

Today is your lucky day!!! I happen to have a 2003 Mountain Aire by Newmar class A RV for sale, actually not even listed yet. It has 48,000 miles on it, is 38 feet long, comes with a tow dolly, and has 2 slides.
It has the leather package inside, microwave/ convection oven, and washer/dryer combo unit.

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[CurtEgerer]

We lived in a 40-foot 5th wheel for 4-5 years. It was great. I can't remember where I heard it first but it stuck with me .... even in a high end motorhome, you're kinda sleeping in your car.

Realistically, you've already got the dually, 5th wheel is a no brainer.

[Icemaster]

A trailer you go to a destination and drop it then have the tow vehicle to drive around. Motorhome you have to tow a vehicle with you if you want that flexibility. Pick your poison.

We have a trailer.

[billybek]

We are having a similar dilemma.
Right now we have a travel trailer (bumper pull) and it has been a great for what we use it for now. The downside is spending any extended periods of time in the shoulder seasons in this trailer there is really no place to sit down other than the dinette.
Looking at a short 30' fifth wheel with 4 seasons capability. Arctic Fox and Glacier Peak (outdoors RV) are on the wish list.
Have enough truck to pull the fifth and might as well get good use from it.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I heard it’s hard to find sites in national parks with rigs larger than 30’. I could be wrong though but you might want to check that out if NPs are a destination for you guys.

I have read the same , some parks it's an issue and others not . That's part of the reason for me thinking around a 30 footer would be good .

[rfuerst911sc]

Hobiemarty that's a nice looking rig . A bit bigger than I want though and probably more than I want to spend . But we can chat via PM if you want .

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

We lived in a 40-foot 5th wheel for 4-5 years. It was great. I can't remember where I heard it first but it stuck with me .... even in a high end motorhome, you're kinda sleeping in your car.

Realistically, you've already got the dually, 5th wheel is a no brainer.

I am leaning 5th wheel because of my truck .

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by billybek

We are having a similar dilemma.
Right now we have a travel trailer (bumper pull) and it has been a great for what we use it for now. The downside is spending any extended periods of time in the shoulder seasons in this trailer there is really no place to sit down other than the dinette.
Looking at a short 30' fifth wheel with 4 seasons capability. Arctic Fox and Glacier Peak (outdoors RV) are on the wish list.
Have enough truck to pull the fifth and might as well get good use from it.

Yeah the lack of a dedicated bedroom is why I am ruling out bumper pull . The 5th wheel concept with the dedicated bedroom is a nice design . You walk downstairs and there is a kitchen/dining room/living room . Just makes sense . The Lippert frame issues is the stumbling block for me . But that " may " not be an issue on 27 ' to 30 ' size .

[herr_oberst]

If you get a motorhome and you want to be one of the kool kids, you'll need a Jeep to tow behind it. I've seen everything from a Compass to a Gladiator. But it seems like these days, at least in the PNW, it's very often a newer Jeep.

[greglepore]

The person not driving is MUCH happier in a Class A.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

If you get a motorhome and you want to be one of the kool kids, you'll need a Jeep to tow behind it. I've seen everything from a Compass to a Gladiator. But it seems like these days, at least in the PNW, it's very often a newer Jeep.

The reason you see so many Jeeps being towed is that they don’t need to have driveshafts disconnected or anything special done to tow at freeway speeds with all the wheels rolling.

[Icemaster]

Unless your this guy:

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39794/rv-driver-annihilates-their-new-jeep-wrangler-by-flat-towing-it-in-4-low

[HobieMarty]

Dad used to tow the RX300 behind the RV.

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[billybek]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Yeah the lack of a dedicated bedroom is why I am ruling out bumper pull . The 5th wheel concept with the dedicated bedroom is a nice design . You walk downstairs and there is a kitchen/dining room/living room . Just makes sense . The Lippert frame issues is the stumbling block for me . But that " may " not be an issue on 27 ' to 30 ' size .

Arctic Fox makes their own frames for all the trailers they offer and they also manufacture the frames for Outdoors RV.
I have heard some bad things about Lippert quality control. Not just for the frames.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by Icemaster

Unless your this guy:

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39794/rv-driver-annihilates-their-new-jeep-wrangler-by-flat-towing-it-in-4-low

The first comment on that article was hilarious...
"That is what you call cylinder de-activation"!

[GH85Carrera]

I have no personal experience, however, my great aunt and uncle did. He retired, and they sold their house, and bought a small plot of land and had a pad and the RV hook ups installed. Thy lived in Oregon. They kept the Oregon address as their legal permanent mailing address. He said one had to own property in the state, and live there a few months per year to claim that as their residence. The rest of the year, they were on thee road.

He went through many iterations of RVs over 20 years of traveling North America in the 1970s and 80s. In his opinion, the best choice was a big pickup and a 5th wheel trailer. Just unhook and they did not have to drive the house to the grocery store. And after a mileage that the truck needed to be replaced, a new pickup was easy to get.

They traveled to every US national park, and many state parks. As far north as Barrow Alaska, and they even traveled to Panama.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by billybek

The first comment on that article was hilarious...
"That is what you call cylinder de-activation"!

Compound issue. Left it in 4 low and in gear…..

[rfuerst911sc]

^^^ thanks for that info