Choosing a 5th Wheel or Class A for a Second RV Journey

[vlstrock3]

In 2007 we sold our home and traveled the country for a year with our 4 young children. It was the journey of a lifetime. 19 years later the kids are grown and we’re (my wife and I) are thinking about doing it again. To help in that process, I remember how much wisdom I gleaned from forums like this as we consider this possibility. It’s very early with a lot of steps to be executed first, but it has us excited. In 2007 we bought a class A and towed a suburban - it was what worked best for our family of 6. Now, with just the two of us and occasionally the grand kids, I’m leaning toward a 5th wheel. That is the essential first question - 5th wheel or class A?

 

[DonTom]

That is the essential first question - 5th wheel or class A?

Only you can decide, as no matter which way it is done there will be many advantages as well as disadvantages.

5Th wheels are a lot more common than Class A's. But I prefer the Class A with an electric motorcycle carried on the hitch. Not many others will do it the way I prefer.

But you must decide for yourself by the way you prefer.

I have a bad case of towphobia, so I do not tow anything. But most others do tow.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Larry N.]

That is the essential first question - 5th wheel or class A?

As Don says, so much depends on you that we cannot answer that directly. However a general statement, which is at least partially true in most cases, is that 5th wheel operation tends to favor people who make longer stops, since the setup is usually a bit more involved, but they often have more living space, though not necessarily more (or even as much) on board storage as a class A.

The other half of that generality is that a class A tends to favor the folks who stop for shorter periods, since the setup is relatively quick, often just pull into place, level (auto leveling on many (most?) rigs), extend slides, hook water/sewer/electric and you're done, outside.

So you need to evaluate what kind of operations you expect to do, then evaluate setup requirements vs space/storage/floor plan then, perhaps with specific questions that you want answered evaluate any other things that occur to you.

Reading through the large base of questions answered here, often via searching for specifics, in addition to questions you post for answer/discussion can help get you informed.

Also, I'd visit as many dealers and/or RV shows as you can to look over the various choices, and once you have a general idea of what's out there, spend time in each type (perhaps also different sizes of each type) as if you were actually living in it for a while sitting on the couches/chairs to watch TV (it it comfortable viewing?), to cook in the kitchen (how handy are things? Does it have a pantry or enough storage for pots and pans? How about counter space?).

Maybe you'd sit on the toilet lid, step into the shower with the door closed, check where you'd put your linens, is the bed comfortable, how tough is it to make the bed, etc., etc. etc.

The class A's tend to do better in cold weather, if that's in your plans, but that's not universally true either, but expect the best one's for cold weather are usually the higher end units.

Well, that's a few thoughts for you to evaluate, and I'm sure that others will have other suggestions/viewpoints.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Biggest disadvantage to a 5th wheel - you can (in fact, have to) use your towing vehicle to run around when the trailer is parked. No towed Jeep or high MPG car to use as a runabout. Plus it takes somewhat more time and exertion to hitch up a 5th wheel than hitching a toad to a motorhome. And the whole backing a trailer thing.

Biggest disadvantage to a motorhome - if the drivetrain takes a dump you either have to fix it or lose your total investment. Non-running motorhomes have no value. And your home is in the shop for however long the fix takes.

With a truck/5th wheel you can leave your trailer in a campground and live in it while the drive train (the truck) is in the shop. And if the repair is too extensive you have the option of replacing the truck without also losing the equity in the house (trailer).

 

[Utclmjmpr]

All depends on circumstances Lou,, example,, after leaving Quartzsite one year I had to stop in Las Vegas to have a broken fuel line repaired at Rocky Mountain Cummins.. I simply loaded the Jeep I was towing with items I did not want to leave behind and continued to my home in Cedar City (172Mi.).. Three days later I returned in the Jeep to pick-up the M/H for the trip home towing the Jeep,,piece of cake ,<<<Dan

 

[LarsMac]

I've seen a couple of rigs that had a small 4 wheeler pulled along behind a 5th Wheel rig. Is that legit?

 

[Lou Schneider]

I've seen a couple of rigs that had a small 4 wheeler pulled along behind a 5th Wheel rig. Is that legit?

Only in a few states - for the most part, no.

 

[RayIN]

From an older folks point of view. Traveling in a MH for use, is best. To set-up the MH all I have to do is park, push one button and the auto-level does the rest. while traveling, us older folks require more bathroom breaks. Our MH makes it very convenient, nuf-said.
I used to dislike the 7MPG of the MH, but it's either DW and I enjoy the money We worked hard for and the scrimping we underwent to save. It's either we enjoy that money or our children will. I watched my sisters children after she and her husband died, the children went to Bermuda for 2 weeks. My sisters only trip was to Hawaii in 1967 to meet her husband on R&R from Vietnam.
A MH is much easier to park in a CG than our 40' 5er ever was. We went AK in 2012 with our 40' 5er and dually truck. I could not help but notice all the MH's were parked, set-up, and out visiting, while we were still completing the setup process.
We went to the Canadian Maritime in 2014 with our MH and towed. This time we were set-up and relaxing while watching those with 5ers completing the setup process. I also noticed I was not nearly as tired at the end of a days travel driving the MH.
You may not desire a full 40' diesel pusher, and that's fine. Many couples have full-timed in a gas chassis MH. On both of those extended trips, about half were DP's and half gas chassis. Never heard a complaint from either type. IMO, buying used is much better than buying new, but used has it's drawbacks too.

Sit down and you both list what you desire in a RV; continue the process from there. Best of luck, and welcome back!

 

[TheBar]

I much prefer a motorhome but a 5ver lasts until it rots away. A MH drivetrain ages out quicker. I no longer feel comfortable going long distances in my old C.

Shorter trips are better when you get older so it doesn't really affect us. Older people do much better with a motorhome. They require so little setup and easier backing up with old eyeballs. But not as much an advantage for younger people.