OK, folks...We are fifth wheelers, and have a great rig, but are thinking about a class A to full time in. Two questions. Which would you want to full time in, a fifth wheel or class A? And would I expect at least 30 percent off the MSRP for a new unit?
That's a tough one. There are pros and cons to all types of RV's so it depends on your priorities. What I don't like about motorhomes is that you have a big expensive drivetrain to buy and maintain along with the camper part of the unit, you have to tow another vehicle around and the RV just sits doing nothing when you aren't using it. But those would be less concerns for a full-timer. We like that we can just un-hook the truck from the 5th wheel and use it for our daily transportation which we do and the 5th wheel doesn't have a motor, trans, etc. to break down and to need servicing.
It was moslty about the tax benefits for us when we first bought an RV. You can't write-off the interest on a truck loan. Also A's are just easier to set up and break down camp. Our friends that have moved "up" from a fiver to an A have said they would never go back to pulling again.
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08 Holiday Rambler Vacationer 38PLT Workhorse UFO GAS Pusher Chassis
06 Saturn Vue toad, SMI Breaking sys,Blue Ox tow bar. My FMCA Blog
Lostdog, it all depends on your situation of which one is better. A friend of mine (a fulltimer) who now lives in Florida had a class A. It was 10+ yrs old and started needing a lot of things. Since he is still working, the class A would sit for quite a long time.
So, he traded it for a new fifth wheel and feels he has more room to work with. He hasn't bought a truck yet as it's not needed until he's ready to move it.
If a person is going to be stationary for a long time, I can see where a fifth wheel would make more sense. There is less maintenance and certainly more affordable than a similar class A.
On the 30% issue, it never hurts to ask for it.
MM.
Mr.Mark
2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42ft., 4 slides, 425 hp clean-air Cummins diesel
2007 Honda CR-V EXL, AWD, w/Nav and the M&G braking system
Going from a 30 ft fiver to a 36 ft DP this is the way I see it. A motor home is better in just about every way except the cost. MH cost a lot to keep up. I love my DP but my bank account doesn't.
RV Jim
My thoughts when I traded my trailer for a class A.
The class A is easier & faster for me to set up with the leveling jacks.
I could drive a small toad to the store & get into the smaller parking spaces.
Bath room could be used easier when traveling.
Wife could use micro wave at any time.
Basement storage is roomy.
The class A fits our needs at this time in our travels. If I stayed longer at one place I would go back to the trailer.
For me, a 5'th hands down. More living space, one set of issues (motor, trans, brakes, etc...,) easier to upgrade components (coach/drive train) without taking a large $$$ hit on resale.
Easier to find people to work on a truck then MH. Having a truck allows you to do other things like hauling and towing misc stuff (maybe a boat if you have a home park you keep coming back too.)
Of course nothing looks nicer then that Prevost going down the road.
I think both are excellent choices and both can serve the same purpose.
Yes, a motor home costs more initially than an equivalent sized 5er, but with the 5er you also have to get a tow vehicle and when combined can run into some serious money also. You can deduct the entire interest on a mh. However, with a 5er, you can only deduct the interest on the 5ver and not the tow vehicle.
A toad is pretty much a requirement when owning a mh to be able to get around once parked. I think most people convert their present auto for this purpose...that can add a couple thousand to the cost of the mh. You can use the tow vehicle for this purpose when you have a 5ver. However, driving your auto around unfamiliar towns/cities is a lot more comfortable than driving and parking a 3500 dually in crowded city streets. That can really be intimidating not to mention extremely inconvenient.
Maintenance on a mh is more expensive than a 5er due to the drive train, but with a 5er, you have to add in the maintenance on the tow vehicle too. The end costs are probably pretty much the same.
Insurance and license will be comparable as will depreciation....again, including the tow vehicle.
Setting up either is much the same with the edge going to the mh due to the automatic jacks.
5ers have stairs inside that you have to deal with but not that big of a deal unless you are handicapped. Steps going into each are usually more on the mh, so there is probably once again a "wash" here.
Mh does offer the convenience of having access to everything inside while on the road, whereas with a 5er you have to stop. Again, not that big of a deal, as it really only applies to the passengers.
Driving each is not that different, but you do need to get lots of experience with either to feel comfortable. Both can be very intimidating to the novice.
So, I think I've covered just about all the differences and you'll just have to determine which is the best for you. I'm sure that you will be satisfied with whichever one you choose.
One big plus for the motor home is the huge front window(s). This provides a view of the world you have never known while driving.
good luck
Ron
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35
Toad: Restored 86 Toy 4x4 P/U
Tow Bar: Sterling
Brakes: Unified
TPMS: Pressure Pro
Any way you slice it, the MH is much more expensive. Mind you I'm talking about a diesel pusher MH. It costs more to buy by three times, it costs more going down the road, more to maintain, more to fix, more to license,... Heck it even costs more when sitting not being used! I had a MH, and wanted more room. I have way more room than any MH, I get 13 mpg pulling on the highway, my licensing is way less, and when I'm not using it, its much less to have sit there.
We took a seven month trip last year, and found no reason to want to go back to a motorhome. The only advantages are, a motorhome is already warm or cool when you stop for the day. (a thirty min differance) Who ever isn't driving can use the bathroom when underway. The motor home is about 5 min faster to set up. Not worth the money in my book.
Tom & Beth
05,Grand Junction 35TMS
99, Dodge 3500 Dually.
How long are you going to sit in one spot, and how much money do you have/ want to spend? When you answer these questions, you will find out what kind of rig is best for you.
2000 National RV Tropi-Cal 37 ft Double Slide Ford V-10
1994 Toyota Celica on a Master Tow Dolly (40 MPG)
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