5th wheel vs one piece RV

[Guest]

Hi everyone,<br><br>I am a little confused about a 5th wheel vs. an RV that is one piece (what is the correct term?).<br>Other than I guess being in the living space while traveling, instead of in a car, what are the major difference?<br>I am starting to think 5th wheel is the best option but feel I am missing some information... this is what it seems to me:<br>That when traveling you can just unhook the 5th wheel and have a much more moderately sized vehicle to drive around town in. AND<br>mechanical problems are much more reasonable and easy to fix! If your RV (and especially in my price range) breaks, you pretty much screwed but if your SUV/truck needs repair you have more options and could even replace it if you had too and that would be better than having to replace an entire RV!<br>I don't know for sure...what am I missing?<br>Thanks,<br>Allison<br><br>

 

[Les H]

Nope, that's pretty much my school of thought too, with the added bonus of not having to pack everything away to run to town for supplies. Having said that , I have a campervan ( my bus , the avitar pic) that I use when I'm alone camping or working out of town. We also have a rebuilt 69 14' Shasta travel trailer for my wife and I. Lastly, we have almost two complete sets of tent camping gear, family sized, and micro for hiking camping trips. It pays to be versatile and have a backup.

 

[LunaticFringeInc]

<p style="margin: 0px;">The biggest advantage to a RV is that you can tow a smaller more fuel effcient vehicle behind it to do your running around in so you dont have to pack everything and get underway.&nbsp; They are also usually pretty pricey!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Your right in that a 5th wheel can be parked and you can drive your tow vehicle around town.&nbsp; I would prefer a regular bumper hitch to a 5th wheel due to more usable room&nbsp;per a foot of length.&nbsp; The down side to this is unless the trailer is pretty small and light weight, you will likely find yourself using a 3/4-1 ton tow vehicle which doesnt do so well on gas due to the automatic transmission and steeper rear end gears.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">While my 22 footer is rated for towing with a 1/2 ton with a 5.7 engine w/ 5 speed stick,&nbsp;once loaded I find myself wishing I had a 3/4 ton in a most major kind of way.&nbsp; I wished too I had a deisel instead of a gas engine for the additional torque it would provide.&nbsp; While you can tow with a stick a automatic transmission is a definite plus over a stick shift!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Everything is a trade off and comprimise.&nbsp; You have to look at your specific needs and choose what best suits your needs.</p>

 

[ped]

<P>Towing a trailer all the time seems like it would be a pain in the rear.</P>

 

[yesican]

<p>I'm glad this discussion came up and hope more people have input.&nbsp; I have a 3/4 ton diesel...old and in need of constant repair.&nbsp; I was thinking of building a slide in for it but not sure if I'd want to live in a slide in for months at a time.&nbsp; Not sure if I want to live in a Van the entire time either but would prefer that over a slide in.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thought of a diesel shuttle bus or shorty school bus, an enclosed trailor, a camper trailor and an RV.&nbsp; A 5th wheel was a fleeting thought&nbsp;because you have limited ability to put any extras in the bed of a truck as compared to a regular trailor.&nbsp; To me that is wasted space. I'd put a topper on the truck for extra storage, hence a regular trailor would work better for me. What's your thoughts?</p>

 

[nitason]

<P>a van has more stealth than a motorhome or a trailer/5th wheel</P>

 

[Kisatchieman]

<P>A few years back I was in the market for an RV of some type and considered the 5th wheel and bumper pulls, but finally decided on a 23'&nbsp;class C motorhome. We used campgrounds most of the time so stealth wasn't a concern. It was still small enough that I had no real parking problems if we decided to go into town for whatever and I could pull a trailer (boat and atv)&nbsp;behind it.&nbsp;I like to fish and ride my 4wheeler whenever possible and the 5th wheel and travel trailers wouldn't allow it. I've since sold the motorhome and downsized to a cab-over truck camper (for better gas mileage)&nbsp;and again the need to&nbsp;pull&nbsp;a trailer influenced this decision.&nbsp;</P>

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone.<br>Why is it less feasible to add beds, etc. to a 5th wheel than in an RV? <br><br>

 

[blars]

Different people want different things.&nbsp; With a motorhome, you don't need to leave the vehicle to sleep or eat.&nbsp; I've got an older 28' motorhome (see my blog for details), and will probably buy a TOAD (car to tow).<br><br><br>

 

[akrvbob]

<p style="margin: 0px;">

The biggest advantage to a RV is that you can tow a smaller more fuel effcient vehicle behind it to do your running around in so you dont have to pack everything and get underway.&nbsp;

</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I think lunatic fringe&nbsp; hit it on the head, with the cost of gas already high and probably just going higher, having a&nbsp;high mpg vehicle as a daily driver is going to become really important. Driving the RV will get 5-12 mpg, so you want to drive it the minimum amount. So you drive to an area, set-up camp, and stay there as long as possible. With a 5th wheel you will be driving your tow vehicle which rarely will get better than 15 mpg. If you have a motorhome you can pull a small car that gets 35 mpg. So you can take trips in the small car and explore the area cheaply. i have a friend with an old Class C and he tows an old Ford Festiva that gets an honest 40 mpg. His total investemnt in the motorhome, tow bar, and Festiva is less than $7,000, and yet it has been trouble free for the last 3 years. </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;Towing a car is much simpler than you would think. The tow set-up makes it very easy to hook it up and disconnect it. That's a good thing since it is nearly impossible to back up the RV with the car attached.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Here are the different types of RVs;</p><ul><div style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</div><li><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Class B:</b> A van that has been converted to a RV.</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Class C:</b> An RV with a van nose, usually with a bed over the cab (sometimes they have truck nose instead of a van)</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Class A:</b> An RV that looks like a big box or a bus. Usually has a flat nose, although some are angled for better aerodynamics. Driver sits way high in the air. Often called a MOTORHOME</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>5th Wheel:</b> A trailer that is towed behind a pickup. Instead of hooking to a ball on a bumper-type hitch, it connects to a special reciever in the bed of a pickup. Much easier to tow than a travel trailer.</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Travel Trailer:</b> A tow behind trailer that attached to a ball hitch, generally under the bumper. Not nearly as well behaved as a 5th wheel.</div></li></ul>

 

[cargovanconversion]

<p>I think most has already been said.</p><p>I have pulled a 28' TT for years and enjoyed it very much, but always contemplated a 5th certainly because its easier to park. Certainly would advise a min 3/4 ton vehicle. There are maybe just a few moments a year that you really need it, but then you're glad to have it.</p><p><br></p><p>Van.</p>

 

[Kisatchieman]

Here are the different types of RVs;<BR><UL><DIV style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV><LI><DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><B>Class B:</B> A van that has been converted to a RV.</DIV><LI><DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><B>Class C:</B> An RV with a van nose, usually with a bed over the cab (sometimes they have truck nose instead of a van)</DIV><LI><DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><B>Class A:</B> An RV that looks like a big box or a bus. Usually has a flat nose, although some are angled for better aerodynamics. Driver sits way high in the air. Often called a MOTORHOME</DIV><LI><DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><B>5th Wheel:</B> A trailer that is towed behind a pickup. Instead of hooking to a ball on a bumper-type hitch, it connects to a special reciever in the bed of a pickup. Much easier to tow than a travel trailer.</DIV><LI><DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><B>Travel Trailer:</B> A tow behind trailer that attached to a ball hitch, generally under the bumper. Not nearly as well behaved as a 5th wheel.</DIV></LI></UL>Hey Bob---You forgot:<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B>Truck Camper</B>: An RV that is carried in the bed of a pickup&nbsp;that can contain&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; all&nbsp;the luxuries&nbsp;of any other RV, but can be unloaded (by way of 4 corner jacks) <BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and left at the campsite while the pickup can then be used to explore, etc.<IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"><BR>

 

[Les H]

Dont get me wrong, I love my van/bus, and the 69 shasta would look really cool behind a restored 71 f/d/c pickup ( or older<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">) at car shows, but if I had it to do over, I'd probably go the truck/slide in camper route. For me, as a contractor, this would really be the best of all worlds. Mabye a small cargo trailer to haul tools. Ah well, next time I win the lotto, I'll look at some....