More confused than ever! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Airplane Guy · RV-Dreams Family Member

More confused than ever!

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

There is no right answer. I prefer a Class A. I have friends that prefer a 5th wheel.
What are you going to use it for, camping or living?

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome ... one of the biggest dilemmas. There is no perfect answer. So much will come down to how you anticipate you'll travel. Search around the forums, this topic has been discussed many times before :)

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Make a list of the positives and the negatives of each type unit. And, where exactly are you hanging up on making the decision? Maintaining two engines is often the anti-motorhome since most take a toad and for the 5th wheel, to me, when parked you are stuck with driving around the mammoth tow vehicle. It does depend on how you plan to use it, where you will travel, etc.

Airplane Guy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good input, I plan to start by using it to travel 12 to 15 times a year with the plan for 6 months out of the year. I don't have a tow vehicle. I'm leaning toward a DP.

Thanks

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

This is a VERY general "rule of thumb" with regards to traveling and a type of RV. It is thought that if one is going to be in any given area for 2 weeks or more, then a towable seems to be more popular. If one is traveling every few days or up to a month, a motorhome seems to be preferred. However, all "rules" are to be broken. I know of a few full-timers that spend all summer in Colorado and all winter months in Oklahoma and Texas and they own motorhomes.

In our case, we live in ours and are pretty much in one place. We currently have the vehicles listed in our signature, and even when we get to travel and enjoy this country more, we'll probably still keep a similar situation of two vehicles and one trailer.

Some prefer fifth wheels because they seem to be more "roomy" and also give that "room feel" by having different areas sectioned off. In our two years of research, we looked at both the fifth wheel and motorhome options. Price is what led us most to buy a fifth wheel and truck.

Terry

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

And here we are, one of the "rule breakers"!! We move every 3-13 days, don't see that changing in the near future, we originally thought we would need a MH with a toad, so we weren't even looking at 5th wheels. Last fall's RV Dreams rally in Harrisburg OR changed that after the Big Rig walk thru. We felt the 5th wheels were more livable, more homey. We both work from the RV so having a floor plan that better catered to that was our deciding factor.

Pros and cons with each decision, it took us 2 months of FT RV'ing before we downsized enough to get rid of the extra car, but we hate driving separately. If we had to do it again??? We'd probably still go with a 5th wheel, but perhaps one with a more accessible bathroom and kitchen while enroute.

Who knows, next rig - if there is a next one and we don't just keep this until it literally falls apart, we might make a different decision. It's one only you can make, all I can advise is don't make it too quickly, look, shop, pretend to do "day to day life" in every rig you walk thru.

List the pros / cons, costs, etc. and then just realize it's not irreversible down the road even if it takes financial planning to make sure you aren't in a hole if you change your mind.

Airplane Guy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, thanks; that was kinda what I was looking for, some kind of general rule. NWescapee, I agree, it will take some time. I plan to attend some RV shows this winter.

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

I had this kind of discussion with my wife several years ago, both have pros/cons. To our opinion 5th wheel floor plan is often better compare to a motorhome, on the other hand driving a motorhome is comfortable compare to sit in a pick up truck. There is many difference between both types. I would suggest that you sit down and clearly indicate on a piece of paper what do you intend to do with? What kind of travel you intend to do?, etc.. In our case we read books, attented seminars, RV show, browse the web, read forums like this one and our decision went toward a class A. One thing is for sure don't let any motorhome owner or 5th wheel owner convince you that they have the best it is BS. Don't forget you will buy for your need. Good luck in your search.

Airplane Guy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have been looking at a 43' Tiffin DP (5 years old) they want $165K. That's about my price range but I'm not sure about the fancy interior. Does someone make a Motorhome that is comfortable with good quality mechanical systems but is still nice without be too opulent?

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

You might look at some Winnebago's. They're nice but more scaled back than the Tiffin. Monaco would be another brand, usually a little nicer than Winnebago.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

We also liked the Newmar's when we were considering MH's.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Fleetwood (American Coach) and Monaco (Beaver, Safari, Holiday Rambler) are no longer made by the same people after they went through bankruptcy. If you are looking at new ones and comparing to pre-2008/9 models you are not going to get the same product.

Airplane Guy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill, so what are you saying? Are they better after the reorganization? Or are they built cheaper?

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have no idea since everything has changed except the names. On an individual model basis they could be better or worse, or about the same. I don't see many mentions of the new RVs from Fleetwood or Monaco and their other brands. On motorhomes the three well liked and reasonably priced brands that weathered the downturn, Newmar, Winnebago (Itasca) and Tiffin are still getting mentioned, with mostly positive news.