Our combo 2011 RAM CUMMINS 3500 Dually Longhorn and 2007.5 Mobile suites 36 SB3 5th wheel $100,000 last September. Less than $800 per year to insure both. Both rigs designed for very high end full time use. What motor home and tow car combo can you get for that price and quality?
A comperable MH may have more basement storage but the 5 er will have more inside storage.
When we go out in our Ram nick named the "LIMO" we go in style safety and comfort!
Life is too short to risk driving a little cracker box. I spend way less than a MH over all with my set up.
2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn 3500 Dually Long Bed, Cummins 350/800 HO, Towin Machine
B&W Companion Hitch, Maghytec Trans and Rear Dif Covers, AMZ/OIL Top To Bottom
2007 1/2 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 27,000# Combined
Haven't read all the posts, but MHs are the way to go if set-up and take-down are your concerns. Other than hooking up the electric cable, it is just a matter of pushing buttons.
Backing in has only been a problem once and that was at the most cramped RV park we have ever experienced where everyone seemed to have 2 vehicles parked on the road in front of their sites.
Unless you get a Class B motorhome it is really a comparison of a truck and a 5th wheel trailer or a motorhome towing a small utility vehicle. If you stay at a location for a couple weeks do you want to be driving a Class A/C motorhome around town or sightseeing or a 1-ton crew cab pickup?
I have been researching adding solar and one thing that was very obvious was that it is much easier to setup a first class solar power generating system and generous battery bank with any trailer as compared to any motorhome. With a motorhome the wire runs need to be from the generator and the engine to the batteries (starter and house) and to the panels on the roof. The basement of a trailer makes this so much easier and the roof is easier to work with to mount four or more solar panels which would be very tight on a Class C motorhome. If you want to tilt the panels in the winter I would much rather get on the roof of a 5th wheel trailer than most motorhomes.
I would also check holding tank capacities as this determines how long you can stay at places without hookups during your travels. If you need to upgrade the inverter for "office equipment" then check into the degree of difficulty involved with whatever RV you put on your short list.
Longer motorhomes are potentially more restrictive in terms of locating a large enough campsite, especially in the west. A 30' space will take a 30' 5th wheel but not a 40' motorhome even if the 5th wheel and truck in total are longer than 40'.
There are wired rear video cameras that can be from the rear of a 5th wheel in the same way they are run from the rear of a motorhome. Wireless are not likely to work but it is not all that difficult to run the wires in the trailer. I would want a rear camera with any RV as they allow you to cut it closer and this saves time.
last time I had to go to a hotel for the evening (biz travel) had to find a parking place, the closest was naturally wayyyy out in parking lot, then have to carry the (I always overpack) overstuffed overnight bag, in the lobby, wait for two more in line, then the receptionist to get off phone, go back out and get Licsense number off car. My, how even reasonably cheap hotels have gone up $110 for one night, single king small but only averagely cleaned rm and that didn't include breakfast. Had to carry the bags (incl laptop bag) down long hallway to elevator, to 3rd floor, then down long hall filled with stench of stale cigar/cigerette smoke "really Hopeing they had seen request and obliged me a NON smokeing room. Well it didn't smell of smokeing?!? Had to go back to the car to get, and glad I thought of bringing some bottled waters for the MICRO-MINI 1/2 cup coffee maker, The bed was hard and the pillow smelled funny, the shower barely spit on me to get cleaned up and would only get slightly warm, the tv remote was intermittent, and I was wakened several times by the (K trying to be polite) "Appearent honeymooners" banging thier bed-headboard against the wall and lastly the stale orange juice in the "otherwise empty breakfast bar" gave me sour heartburn through the next day.
Where was I??? Oh yeah,.. Which is more difficult to set up a Motor Home or Fifth Wheel I'd say both have advantages ;0)
2012 Cedar Creek 36 RE Touring ED, all avail options
2011 GMC 2500 HD Denali DMax 4wd Superglide firestone bags
95' Procraft V-180-C 120HP OB, 80# cust TM, side/down image sonar
Don and Rosie, Annie the wonder Dog clicky to our photobook album
texas_train wrote: last time I had to go to a hotel for the evening (biz travel) had to find a parking place, the closest was naturally wayyyy out in parking lot, then have to carry the (I always overpack) overstuffed overnight bag, in the lobby, wait for two more in line, then the receptionist to get off phone, go back out and get Licsense number off car. My, how even reasonably cheap hotels have gone up $110 for one night, single king small but only averagely cleaned rm and that didn't include breakfast. Had to carry the bags (incl laptop bag) down long hallway to elevator, to 3rd floor, then down long hall filled with stench of stale cigar/cigerette smoke "really Hopeing they had seen request and obliged me a NON smokeing room. Well it didn't smell of smokeing?!? Had to go back to the car to get, and glad I thought of bringing some bottled waters for the MICRO-MINI 1/2 cup coffee maker, The bed was hard and the pillow smelled funny, the shower barely spit on me to get cleaned up and would only get slightly warm, the tv remote was intermittent, and I was wakened several times by the (K trying to be polite) "Appearent honeymooners" banging thier bed-headboard against the wall and lastly the stale orange juice in the "otherwise empty breakfast bar" gave me sour heartburn through the next day.
Where was I??? Oh yeah,.. Which is more difficult to set up a Motor Home or Fifth Wheel I'd say both have advantages ;0)
AWESOME POST! Illustrates the exact reason I hate hotels. lol
Searching_Ut wrote: You didn't mention a vehicle to run around in once you get to your destination. When we had a motorhome, we found that we virtually always felt the need to tow a vehicle so we could get around at our destination. Maybe others have better luck, but I always found it difficult to back up when I couldn't see the trailer (Car) in the mirrors until I was in a tight turn, and the tow vehicle had a much longer wheelbase than the towed vehicle.
As for backing up by yourself, many of th people I know pulling 5ers have set up cameras on their trailers to make it easier.
If I understand your post, sounds as if you attempted to back MH with toad still attached. Unless somebody knows something I am unaware of, this is virtually impossible. The toad will track the tow vehicle perfectly moving forward but not backing, at least this has been my experience.
Ignoring the cost differential, I have met considerably more that have switched from TT's and 5ers to MH's because of ease of usage.
David Just rolling along enjoying life w/F53 Southwind towing a 87 Samurai or 01 Grand Vitara looking to golf or fish Simply Despicable Any errors are a result of CRS.
Joy wrote: Had both - much prefer the MH back-in & setup.
Me, too. Besides, with the motorhome I can take the Jeep with me. With the fiver, in some states I can, in some I can't.
Here in Montana, I can take the Jeep AND a trailer with me, if I wish to!
Whatever, my vote is for the motorhome.
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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