New RV'er

[rvbubba]

Just starting out as an RV'er with a small Thor Wanderer Lite.  We're planning on upgrading to a 5th Wheeler next year and purchase a new truck.  Interesting to read about the various units and the size of the truck.

Wife and I are in Texas and looking forward to retiring in about two years and become fulltimers.  New to the RV Forum and find it very interesting and helpful.  Look forward to hearing from everyone.

 

[Tom]

Hi Ffloyd and welcome to our forum. Feel free to join in the discussions or ask any questions related to RVing and we'll try to get them answered.

 

[Frizlefrak]

Just starting out as an RV'er with a small Thor Wanderer Lite.? We're planning on upgrading to a 5th Wheeler next year and purchase a new truck.? Interesting to read about the various units and the size of the truck.

Wife and I are in Texas and looking forward to retiring in about two years and become fulltimers.? New to the RV Forum and find it very interesting and helpful.? Look forward to hearing from everyone.

Welcome to the forum and to RV'ing.  The wife and I started out just like you....with a small bumper pull, and eventually bought a fifth wheel.  Once you've owned a "fiver", you will never go back to pulling a travel trailer.  Fifth wheels tow much easier, are more stable, and you generally gain the area over the truck as the bedroom.

We just took our 5th wheel up to Cloudcroft, NM this weekend.  Weather was beautiful the whole time we were there, but it got quite windy on the trip home....about 20 MPH crosswind with about 30 MPG gusts.  The fifth wheel barely noticed the wind.

When you get ready to buy your new truck and fifth wheel, the temptation is usually to buy the biggest rig with the most features.  Try to temper that by considering that the larger units will require more truck to pull them, and will be more difficult to back.  Some campgrounds cannot accomodate large RV's either.  Try to buy the unit that best fits your needs, not the salesman's needs.  Ask a lot of questions here about your choice of truck and trailer, you will get lots of informed advice.

Again, welcome to the world of RV'ing.  Have fun!

 

[rvbubba]

Thanks for the info on type of RVs and trucks.  We're looking at a 34' to 36' 5th wheel.  How do feel this handle when pulled by a F250 Ford Diesel?  Wife wants a little more room and comfort. 

 

[Carl L]

Thanks for the info on type of RVs and trucks.? We're looking at a 34' to 36' 5th wheel.? How do feel this handle when pulled by a F250 Ford Diesel?? Wife wants a little more room and comfort.?

The whole thing hinges on weights:  the traveling weight of the trailer;  the tow weight rating of the truck; the gross combined vehicle weight of the truck.  The truck ratings depend on engine, cab configuration (standard, crew, etc.), rear end ratio,  2WD/4WD and model year.

There is a general source for truck towing  data on the Trailer Life website at www.trailerlife.com.  We might be of some help if you can give us the specs.

 

[2006F350]

Frizlefrak - Do they still have tours at Sunspot? Used to be stationed at Holloman, and everytime we had visitiors (friends, family, etc), we had to visitor destinations for them - Sunspot and Carlsbad.

I actually 'downgraded'. Went from a MH to the 5W. Always felt cooped up in the MH no matter what we did. Granted going from 22' to 36' help immensly, but the MH was like living and driving a breadbox no matter how you looked at it, and before you ask, no, it didn't have popouts.

Larry

 

[Carl L]

About your proposed truck.  In another thread here, one member bought himself a nice 4WD tow vehicle.  The problem is that the trailer he is proposing to get will not couple with the truck because the extra height of the 4WD configuration.  So if you want a 4WD truck, you are going to have to be careful on matching it to the trailer.