Don & Carolyn
North Branch, MN
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Joined: 07/30/2002
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sue.t wrote:hmmm ... define "small". What size are you looking for?
Our fiver is "small" at 17.5' (or is it "teeny"?).
24'-26' would be medium sized to us.
30' big.
36' huge (more than double our present length!).
Thanks for your input so far,
We were thinking of SMALLer as 24' - 26'. To compare, our travel trailer is considered 20' but without the hitch it is actually 17'. With 17' of actually trailer, the bed is in the corner and hard to use. We would like a walk-around bed.
We have a 2006 2500 Dodge Ram with diesel, manual shift, and short box.
Don & Carolyn
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klenger
Tucson AZ
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Joined: 12/10/2004
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I can also highly recommend Arctic Fox. The 24-5N might work nicely for your needs.
Link
2008 Tiffin Allegro 32BA FRED Class A Motor Home
2008 Honda CRV, Blue Ox, SMI DUO Stay-in-Play Brake
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cdrcos
St. Paul, MN
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Joined: 12/13/2001
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Don & Carolyn,
I have 2 suggestions for you:
1.) Go to the Minneapolis RV show which is at the Mpls. Convention Center Feb 7-10, and you will be able to look at many of the fivers out there including smaller ones.
2.) Before you go: Be aware that there is a "consumer reports" for RV's. As I have in the past on this forum, I would urge you, or anyone else planning to buy an RV, to get a copy of the RV Consumer's Group ratings guide CD. The will give you some objective information and ratings on the different models out there. Yes, the guide costs about $80., but that is pretty insignificant when you're going to spend $25,000+ on a fifth wheel. (You may be able to find the guide in some libraries). The guide will tell you which units are rated as quality as well as give you information re: the length and weight when loaded. The RV Consumers Group website is: www.rv.org
We have used the guide to purchase our last 3 RV's and found the ratings to be pretty accurate. The RV before we discovered the ratings was a piece of junk and we wish we had know about the guide then. (The guide accurately predicted it was poor in quality.) There are models out there that are better rated for the same money with the same features. Unless you're an expert on RV's (which we are not), think about it.
Don't believe anything that RV salespeople tell you and only about half of what RV owners tell you about their rigs. They are not objective after having made a decision and sinking $30,000+ into their rigs. They want to believe they got the best. There are some dealers in the Twin Cities who are better than others and some near the TC who are also very good.
Feel free to email with any questions or to get our phone to talk about this topic: cdrcos@gmail.com Good Luck! 
Joe & Barb
2002 F-350,PSD,Crew Cab
2003 HH II LS 32.5 UKTG
*finally retired! *
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minnow
Upstate New York
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Joined: 08/30/2001
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I have seen the Artic Fox in person and it is a very well built unit. The Titanium is longer but as previously stated a few feet of the length hangs over the cab of the tow vehicle which does effectively reduce the total towing length of you rig. They are high priced however but again very well built. Jayco is out as their smallest Fiver is almost 30 feet. On the lower price point, Dutchmen, Keystone and Forest River make fivers in the 25' range. Good luck.
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Fish On I'll Get the Net
Dryden, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 01/27/2005
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I have a 24' Sportsmen by KZ With one slide.
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* This post was
edited 12/11/07 04:37pm by an administrator/moderator *
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pinemountainjohn
Pine Mountain Club, CA
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Joined: 09/09/2007
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When we started looking we also wanted a small 5ver. Looked at the Forest River Wildcat 24' with one slide, the Arctic Foxes and then the Keystone Cougar 244 RLS (dinette slide) which is actually 26'. Be careful about measurements. Dealers say and print anything. Take a long tape and measure. We wound up with a Cougar 276 RLS because the slide is a couch and dinette with room for two recliners in the back facing a real entertainment center. It is 29 feet. It is not as expensive as an Arctic Fox. We have no quality issues so far. And so far it's been easy to tow. Learning to park is, as they say, another whole story.
John and Nina
2005 F-350, 4x4, V-10, Crew Cab
2008 Cougar 276 RL
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pmschmi
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Joined: 04/24/2005
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You might also want to look at www.glendalerv.com They make the Titanium and have some very nice options in shorter trailers. They also put 5' over the cab of the truck so while you're not pulling a real long trailer, you get added space that other's don't offer.
Paul and Barb
2004 2500HD Duramax
2005 Titanium 34E39SD
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paztruck
San Diego, CA
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Joined: 05/10/2007
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We liked the Springfield 26' that we got, it has a full slide. Both the dinette and sofa are on the slide. The extra room with a slide that is almost the full living space is great. Lots of windows so we don't have the box feeling. It's not at the top for luxury but you wouldn't know that once inside. The price was good being what has been described as entry level and it is on the light side. They say it is 1/2 ton capable but then the salesmen will say anything. It tows great has lots of room and we enjoy it.
2006 F250 Extended Cab, Long Bed, 6.0 PSD, Tow Package
2006 Keystone Springdale 242
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Kathryn's Fate
Kansas
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Joined: 02/14/2004
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Check www.crossroadsrv.com .They have short units.
2008 Carriage Cameo 32SB2
2007 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab Duramax Allison LBZ
2003 Cobalt 246 8.1 Volvo Penta Duoprop
2000 Suburban 2500 6.0 4.10
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lasparrot
Russell, just outside Ottawa, Canada's Capital
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Joined: 11/08/2006
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Here's another vote for Titanium. We just switched from a 26' K-Z Jag bunk model to a 24e29 Titanium (24 or 29 feet depending on how you measure). They don't make this model any more but there are used ones around. We haven't camped except in the driveway but find the layout to be perfect for a couple.
See www.skjennagard.ca/ivy.html for photos
Good Luck!
Laura and Carm traveling with 3 dogs & 1 parrot
2004 Titanium 29e34 5th wheel
www.skjennagard.ca/ivy.html
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