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I'm recently separated and am considering my future living arrangements. I don't find dumping at least a grand a month into an overpriced apartment in a crowded area appealing. One of my options is to buy and live in a fifth wheel.
I live in a well populated suburb in the south. I travel for work (airline job) about half of the week, sometimes more. My kids are the reason I'm staying where I live now, at least until my youngest gets out of high school in a few years.
I'm very flexible and used to traveling "light". It's a big step to change living "lifestyles" but if I've survived the airline industry for the past five years I think I can handle it.
I took advantage of a local RV show this weekend. It's the first time I even stepped into a fifth wheel. I looked at a few but really liked the Keystone Avalanche 300RE. It's at the upper end of my price range but I think it's doable financially. The shipping weight on that model is 11,510. I have an '07 F250 6.0 Powerstroke. Is that enough truck?
I look forward to learning more about RV life here before I make a decision.
-- Edited by P7M8 on Sunday 6th of March 2016 11:40:03 PM
I looked up your target trailer specs. Firstly, unless you plan on hauling that trailer around empty, the shipping weight is pretty much useless to you unless you are in the RV delivery business only. I see the carrying capacity as 3390lbs which puts the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) at 14900. If it's just you, you'll probably get by with under that, but you should base you preliminary calculations on the assumption that you will load the trailer out to it's maximum.
So let's look at your truck. You say that you have a 2007 6.0 F250. to determine it's capability we need more info. Regular Cab, SuperCab or Crew Cab? Better yet just look at the sticker on your vehicle (usually in the driver door) it will have your rear axle rating (RAWR) and Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) etc. My quick check says your truck could have a payload upto about 2900lbs and a fifth wheel trailer weight of upto 16400lbs, depending on the configuration of your particular truck.
So while you could tow the trailer in question, there is definitely some doubt about whether your truck could handle the weight of the loaded Avalanche 300RE on it's rear axle. If you load the trailer to it's maximum, you are under the 16400lb rating (F250 4x2 regular cab, less if you have 4x4 or other cab configs) by a fair bit but RV 5ers load out typically with 20-25% of the trailer loaded weight (max 14900) on the king pin or roughly 2980 on the low side and 3725 on the high side both of which are over your truck's payload ratings. Don't forget you have to consider the weight of the actual hitch, other gear you will be carrying, passengers etc in the truck which could add as much as 500lbs or more carried by the truck in addition to the king pin weight of the trailer. So on the surface I would be very hesitant to use the F250 as the tow vehicle with that trailer. It might work, but you won't be able to load much into the trailer to tow it safely... and we definitely want you to be safe. Towing also involves stopping and more truck gives you a better safety margin. A lot depends on where you plan to use the combo... if steep hills are in your future, again I'd consider a larger truck and probably a dually no matter what, for the safety factor. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear but that is strictly my opinion based on my own research. Good luck with you search.
FWIW, Brian
-- Edited by BiggarView on Monday 7th of March 2016 06:58:37 AM
I would look at a good used unit. There are lots of them out there and most people take good care of their 5th wheels.
With a used unit it's a lot cheaper to determine if you are going to like living in an RV.
Many of the airports in larger cities have a parking area for RVs used by pilots and others with a base airport they travel out of. If they are transferred to another airport it's easy to pick up and resettle.
__________________
"Small House, Big Yard "
"May the FOREST be with you" Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe
Thanks for the replies. From what I've gathered so far some 5th wheels aren't made for "full-time" living so I'm guessing the ones that are are going to be heavier. Getting another truck isn't an option.
My truck is a short bed crew cab FX4. Rear GAWR is 6100#, GVWR is 10,000#.
Initially I plan to just park it and live in it. It's just me. My kids (teens) will visit and stay over occasionally but they don't need to factor into the traveling equation. I'm in the south, it's mainly flat around here.
I'll ask in the other forums recommended makes and models.
Your truck's CGVWR is 23,500lbs and if your truck is loaded to its max weight (10000 GVWR) combined with a payload of 2900 lbs all in, it will not allow you to even consider the Avalanche 300RE if you plan to tow it with all your gear onboard. You could always have somebody else with a bigger truck tow it to a new location....$$$$$.
Realistically you are looking at trailers that will top out at around 12,500lbs loaded out if you are careful with loading. The list is getting shorter with each thing you add weight to the truck. The hitch alone will add ~200lbs, If you put nothing else in the truck (just yourself and no passengers or other gear) you might be able to squeak the total trailer weight loaded out up to 13,500.... beyond that you are asking for trouble. IMHO.
I plan on doing a turnover ball for the attachment. A dealer not too far out that was at the RV show this past weekend is having an event this weekend. I may check that out. The more I look into it the more I know what to look for and what questions to ask.
