5th Wheel Length - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

5th Wheel Length

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Are you looking at some directory where you are coming up with a 35' max? Depending on the location of the public parks, it can vary widely.

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, glad to hear this doesn't generally seem to be an issue. Yes, I have a smart phone app and perhaps a place or two on-line. But I have seen this limit once or twice, even shorter. This is based on our newbie limited experience though. We've spent about three weeks so far of actual travel days on the road. This was from Oregon to Colorado and back.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

It is really not an issue. We have had a 38' or bigger 5er for 14 years fulltiming. We currently have a 45'. 36' should not be any problem at all.

Glenn West · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've not seen an issue in 6 years but we have never been in national parks.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

We started with a 35' RV and there were a few places that said we were too long, but the number has not increased much now that we are 40'. We have little trouble and have stayed in state and national parks. People who frequent public parks find that 33' is about the maximum to get in anywhere you want. But many go longer and leave the few percent they can't go in for others.

I would say the majority of fulltimer couples have RVs between 35' and 40', and more run larger than 40' than smaller than 35'.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Keep in mind there are usually a few private RV Parks/campgrounds near (30 minutes or less driving distance) national and state parks. Most private facilities will support big rigs. We like the private RV Resorts due to the amenities vs. most National & State parks. We camp outside the park and drive in for sight seeing.

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks so much for all for your replies. Given we'll be full time, sounds like perhaps I should not worry too much on the length. The main thing is I didn't want to find myself regretting it because of a measly foot (difference between 35' and 36'). Our goal date right now is to be on the road on January 15th. I hope this is realistic!

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

No, don't start worrying about length at this point. In fact, I'd suggest that you back up some and seriously consider how you will full-time. Will you be moving frequently, or will you stay in one place for long periods of time? Do you need a big truck for other work, or just for towing the 5'er? These, and many other questions will need to be discussed and answered before you are ready to begin thinking about what you need.

Remember that with a 5'er you will use your truck as your daily driver, unless you go with a heavy duty truck and put a small car on the back of it. Generally the 5'ers that are better for full-time use are on the heavy side, so you will be looking at something in the F350 or bigger class. You may want to consider a MH, which can tow a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle for daily use.

Once you get down to the class of coach you need you can start looking at floor plans. It doesn't matter whether you are looking at the latest million-dollar coach or one that is a refugee from a junkyard. You are just looking at layout. It won't take you long to figure out which arrangements will work for you. Once you know that, you can start looking at high-quality coaches.

You are wise to look at used coaches. Most people don't get it quite right the first time around, and the depreciation on a new coach can be huge.

Pay close attention to weights. Not all trucks and coaches are created equal.

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes, we have been doing a lot of this, for years in fact. Although a motorhome with smaller tow vehicle solves some problems, it breaks our biggest non-negotiable, which is fuel mileage. And we don't see any way around this with larger motorhomes. If money were less of an object, than we would probably choose this route. We've been driving a 35' motorhome, which we like a lot and like much about the layout. But there are so many details that have gone into the decision to go for the truck and 5th wheel, that I won't bore everyone with all of those here. One thing we definitely found is that there are certain things we don't like about every single configuration, which you just can't really get around. So one has to assess your pros and cons and fit them to your unique requirements. And like I said, some things you can live with, some you just won't. But long story short, is we've decided on the truck and 5th wheel. You are right, the truck is a downside as being the only vehicle. We are not ready to get into a truck/5th wheel/tow vehicle, but won't rule it out for the future. In the meantime, we will add a bike, moped, etc. The particular truck we are looking at has very good gas mileage (as trucks go). It is an F250 however. Also has a jake brake. The 5th wheel we're considering has been used with this truck for years, and belong to older highly conscientious neighbors of my father's, which is one reason we're looking closer at their particular 5th wheel. We really like the truck, and they will only sell it either with the 5th wheel, or after it sells. No, it's not a reason to get a 5th wheel that isn't what you want, but we will certainly take special consideration of it. I am always opened to anything I haven't thought of or am not aware of though, that's for sure. We pretty much expect that some time down the road, we will want to upgrade to something that works better for us based on actual usage, which you just can't fully know until you've lived it, I'm sure.