Interested in a Bunkhouse Fifth Wheel? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Interested in a Bunkhouse Fifth Wheel?

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

I like the floorplan, just think, one of could have an office / work room where we could close the door and not hear quite all the noise we both hear today as we work back to back wink However, some of the specs indicate it's not for long term boondocking, fresh water tank is awfully small, especially for rig that appears to be built to house a family.

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sorry Terry but I have to do this.
The DRV Mobile suites also has 2 very nice bunkhouse set ups.www.drvsuites.com/mobile-suites/floor-plans.html One is the Atlanta, the other is the Manhatten. They may be out of the price range, but we were in the Atlanta model at the RV-Dreams rally and liked the floor plan.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Alie and Jims Carrilite wrote:
Sorry Terry but I have to do this.
The DRV Mobile suites also has 2 very nice bunkhouse set ups.www.drvsuites.com/mobile-suites/floor-plans.html One is the Atlanta, the other is the Manhatten. They may be out of the price range, but we were in the Atlanta model at the RV-Dreams rally and liked the floor plan.

Oh, I knew about those. However, I'm not sure that there are very many people, especially those first starting out, that want to pay the price of an Atlanta or Manhattan. While I like the floor plans, I'm not crazy about towing a 43-foot plus fifth wheel. Those are the main reasons I didn't suggest the DRV Suites models.

Terry

BoAndRach · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for pointing these out, Terry and Alie & Jim. We are in the market for fifth wheel with a bunkhouse or some sort of separate office space (I'll be working from the road). Actually, Terry, the Chaparral was the first RV I found that turned me on to the possibility of an office. I loved the location of the bunkroom, but ultimately we ruled this one out. And while the seemingly elusive (found one in Muskegon) Mobile Suites Atlanta is very lovely, I am hesitant to consider it for a “trial run” at working from the road (Even though I totally get the “buy the very best/most you can” school of thought.)

You all bring up some great points in your comments about the pros and cons of various levels (regardless of the floor plan) and they are definitely questions I have had.

We are struggling with the balancing act of finding the best RV for our needs and making sure it’s suitable for full-time living, when our current plan is to try it out for a year. The challenge is finding the suitable-for-a-test-run-at-full-timing-RV (with the expectation that we might upgrade after a year if we decide to keep at it). Currently on our short list is the Heartland Gateway 3650BH (along with the Heartland Landmark Charleston/Newport and the Lifestyle Alfa Gold 3905SH). Cost aside, there are a lot of things we think we really like about the (upgraded) Gateway but we don’t really have a grasp yet as to how some of the specs translate to real life (e.g. how long does a 57 gal fresh water tank really last? what does cargo weight look like for an actual full-timing couple?) or what are the real must-haves (especially infrastructure/structurally, etc.) that an RV like the Gateway would be lacking for full-time living?

I’m obsessing over this right now. I’d love to hear your insights.

Thanks,
Rachael

(For what it’s worth, we’ll probably never find ourselves in Alaska in the winter or Death Valley in the summer)

-- Edited by BoAndRach on Saturday 9th of May 2015 06:37:58 PM

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

BoAndRach wrote:
...Currently on our short list is the Heartland Gateway 3650BH (along with the Heartland Landmark Charleston/Newport and the Lifestyle Alfa Gold 3905SH). ...I’m obsessing over this right now. I’d love to hear your insights.

The Alfa Gold 3905SH (storage room configuration) is under consideration by us also. We are planning a factory tour later this year... floor plans are good, but nothing beats hands on. We'd like it to have more water carrying capacity for our boondocking plans but 75 gallons isn't too bad. We could probably make that last about 7 days (ten, if we push it) the way we use water when we have been total self-contained. We have made 36 gallons of FW in a class C last 5 days but that was an experiment to learn our comfort zone. Your Mileage May Vary.

Brian

BoAndRach · RV-Dreams Family Member

We plan to make it to some factory tours, too. I definitely want to understand how these things are built!

Thanks for sharing your water carrying capacity experience, Brian. It helps to make those specs a bit more real. We'd like to boondock, too, probably quite a bit, so I imagine tank capacity (among other things) is very important!

I forgot to mention that we're also considering toy haulers that might work for us. We mountain bike, so garage space that does double duty as an office and bike area would be good for us. (No different than home now, where three bikes and a bike jack currently extend from my office through the entry hall and into the kitchen. LOL). Anyhow, the TH for consideration is the Weekend Warrior 4100. A bit more research to be done on that one, though.

Anyhow, hopefully I'm keeping this thread somewhat on topic by suggesting other floor plans styles for those who may interested :)

Camper_Boy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Bo and Rach,

We full time in our toy hauler and yes...do the comparisons, because all brands are not the same. We researched high and low and ultimately did not settle. We ended up getting a 2008 Newmar X-Aire toy hauler. This is currently for sale here in the classified section. You will not find a heavier duty full time rig. This rig has a 14 ft garage with custom features we incorporated to make even more usable. This unit listed for over $100k back then, but can be affordable now as used, but very well kept.

Let us know if we can answer any other questions.

Camper_Boy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Oh...I forgot to mention, this toy hauler has 100 gal of fresh water and big waste water and grey to match. It also has a 5500w auto genset and two 40 gallon fuel cells. you can boondock for a month if you conserve. Anyway, good luck searching.