5th wheel floor plan advice please - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Fun Boy Tours · RV-Dreams Community Member

5th wheel floor plan advice please

Glenn West · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well rear kitchens get heavy due to kitchen appliances, pots,etc. The rear is also the roughest riding area on a trailer, bouncing and such.

Diana and Jim · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here is why we like our RL: most of the time, if there is a view to be had, it is out the back. We have backed into some spectacular sites, and have literally turned our recliners around to enjoy the view. That is just us, though.

Jim

PD CFK · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ditto, w

What Jim said. And be sure that you can get to the bathroom without opening a slide...sometimes one can be in a hurry.

Enjoy the search. Pat K.

Diana and Jim · RV-Dreams Family Member

Correct on the slides. No matter the layout, make sure you can access the bathroom, the refrigerator and the bed.

Jim

Fun Boy Tours · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well that settles it, RL for us! just like Diana and Jim said we would love to have the view out the window in the back (especially at our favorite camp ground sight in June Lake Ca).

Say, if "the one" has a couch in the rear is it hard to remove it so we can replace it with recliners?

I had no even thought of the "slide test", that is now a must.

Am I thinking correctly that the bathroom and kitchen more forward will give better weight distribution for towing?

Getting excited, thanks for your input everybody.

Diana and Jim · RV-Dreams Family Member

Usually not. Lift it up and see if it moves. Also, make sure that the rear window is big enough. If the bottom of it is too high, you won't be able to see out of it.

TomW · RV-Dreams Family Member

In my previous rig, a motor home, it was just bolted to the floor and fairly simple to remove. I took it out when I got sick and replaced it with a recliner. In my new fifth wheel it isn't even bolted down and it was very easy to swap the recliner & couch positions. Not only is it quite heavy and isn't likely to move around but seat belts aren't involved in a fifth wheel.

Caution: my couch is deeper than the area in the rear where it now sits so it blocks the slides. If/when I move the rig I'll have to put things back the way they were (couch in a slide, recliners in the rear). If your dream rig has rearish slides make sure the replacement recliner(s) won't cause a problem.

Diana and Jim · RV-Dreams Family Member

Very true. We went to the furniture store and bought their cheapest Lazy-boys, just so they would fit our rig. :)

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

Fun boy, the weight distribution of the trailer is taken care of in the design of the floor plan and location of the axels. The only weight problems would be in carrying to much stuff (overweight) or something after market that is extraordinarily heavy. Really thought the RK should be alright as far as weight toward the rear, the axels may be located farther to the rear to compensate for that. Also a RK will typically give you more counter space and a bigger cooking prep area if that is important to you. We had an RK in a small TT and loved it, only once did we find things bounced around a little. At a lot of parks you will be looking at your neighbors out your big rear window. The best floor plan is the one that works for you, what you want in your trailer. How and where you may be using it, and your life style. Maybe the wife likes to cook and needs more room, (RK). Maybe you will be using it a lot at one park and will have a nice view out the rear window (RL). Maybe you are tall and need more head room in the bedroom (RB). Just think about what's going to work for you. Good luck.

Flyone

LandYachty · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our first fifth wheel was a 34' Crossroads with RL. We got it without couch and got a smaller couch. We then could put either put the couch, dining table, or recliners at the rear window. Who says you can't move furniture in a RV. Our newest fifth wheel Toyhauler has a dinette, even though we love the storage of the dinette - it may have to go for a table and chairs. IMHO.

-- Edited by LandYachty on Friday 23rd of January 2015 06:36:39 AM

Fun Boy Tours · RV-Dreams Community Member

Great advice and ideas, as I expected! Thanks everyone.

I just spotted another configuration that has sparked my imagination, a bunk house.
It's only just us two so I could tear out the bunks and use that area for something else like interior storage or an office.

Just wondering about the rear bathrooms these have, any draw backs?

So many options out there. It's not confusing yet, just fun

Andy

Fun Boy Tours · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for that input Jim.

I have learned already to not listen to the salesmen's "No Problem" assessment of my truck!

I did make a typo in my post, my rear end is 3.73. The size 5th wheel I am looking at have @ 8k GVWR and hitch weight in the 1k range.

Our camper loaded out is @ 1600 lb and the truck hardly works even in the mountains. Changing trucks would put a damper on our plans, but I don't want a set up that would be under powered or dangerous. the tow test you suggested sounds like a good idea.

Andy

jlb27537 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Andy, Just a suggestion, read the signatures of the folks on this forum and see what they are pulling with.

Also look at this link for the tow rating of your truck. It shows a 5.7l, 3.73 is rated to tow 6,500lbs. To get the 8K rating you would need a 4.10. www.trailerlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Trailer-Life-Towing-Guide-1999.pdf

I am not trying to discourage you, but I have been doing this for quite a while and just do not want you to think all 3/4 trucks are created equal and will pull anything hooked up to them.

Jim