Hi RRRaybon, Welcome to the forum.  Speaking from personal experience, one of the best things you can do is attend the rally.  The information that you gain there is amazing, and it will certainly help in your decision making.  Best of luck on weighing everything out, and don't hesitate to ask the questions.  There is always someone here who's been through it, or knows the answer from previous experience to help.  Take care and enjoy the process!   :)

Just a couple of years ago my wife and I were where you are right now. I concur with Barry and Marianne that attending the RV-Dreams educational rally is one of the best things that you can do. A large number of the folks at the rally we attended this spring were just starting out and did not have their RV yet. The information presented at the rally was/is invaluable.

Unfortunately, I have not found a good "single source" that compares the build, quality and features among the various manufacturers. The members here at RV-Dreams were my best source for that. In fact, there was a fairly recent thread discussing Montana fifth wheels (a Keystone product) as full-time RVs. From my reading on this and other forums, I consider the Montana's a decent "mid-grade" unit with good features for full-timing. A response in the other thread, though, mentioned that Keystone does not warrant their units for full-time living. Another poster's response was that they just didn't tell Keystone that they were living in the unit full-time.

In terms of fifth wheels, you will find a large representation of members who live in DRV Mobile Suites, Presidential, New Horizons, and other "high end" fifth wheels. Many of these units can run well upward of $140,000 and are very heavy, requiring a pretty hefty truck to tow them. I've been inside a couple of DRV Mobile Suites, and they ARE built very well. Of course, there are a lot of brands with entry-level units that are totally unsuitable for full-time living. Issues include things like inadequate insulation, unheated underbellies and plumbing, inadequate waste water tank capacity, etc., etc. In the middle, there are several makes and models that, with the proper set-up and care, can be lived in comfortably at prices far below those for the high-end units (and don't require a more expensive truck, either).

The approach that I would recommend - just from our recent experience - would be to look at everything on-line that you can find. When you find floor plans that interest you, research everything you can about that manufacturer and post questions on this forum to solicit input from members who have experience with, or knowledge of, the brand you are researching. I found the members of this forum to be the single most helpful resource during our research phase. Finally, be sure and have all the weight specs for your prospective tow vehicle as you shop for your fifth wheel. The gross weight capacities for the truck - especially the rear axle - are extremely important and can vary quite a bit even within the same manufacturer's model line.

Good luck and see you on the road!

Rob