If you've been getting your 42' into all the places you want to go, then you won't have any problem with the largest fiver. Fact is, there are places you cannot go with a 30' fiver too. Or a 35'. Or a 40'. But you are already used to that, so I don't think it will be an issue for you.
Truck size might be an issue. But you apparently don't wish to discuss that. I hope you've done your homework.
Smaller means cheaper made? NOT!!! We purposely wanted to keep our length down for maneuverability and did just that. But NOT cheaper made. Our fifth wheel is made for full timing. We have three slides, wood cabinets, two flat screen TV's, recliners, an inflatable hide a bed, surround sound, solid surface counters, real china toilet and bathroom sink, stainless steel sink in the kitchen, oiled bronze fixtures throughout, king size memory foam mattress, 12 gallon water heater, electric awning, ceiling fan . . . need I say more? We are 35' in length (I know what the other 3055RL poster said but we measured (not saying they didn't)) and have a very well made rig. Bighorn's make a shorter model but due to the layout not being popular, was discontinued.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL
2011 F350 SD CC DRW 6.7L Diesel Lariat, Hensley BD3 with Ford Under-Bed Adaptor
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, and Paris in spirit), Missy, Maggie, and now Mica!
Probably better manuverability than a 40' MH with toad but shorter is easier to manuver in tight spaces (this includes gas stations and parking lots not just camp sites). Also, the model length and the actual length are not the same thing.
Tammy Mike & the Bilge Rat (AKA: Diego)
Ford F250 7.3L
1997 Sunnybrook 27' 5er
1995 Gemini Sail Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and 5er
It's doggone difficult to find a high-quality near-thirty foot fiver. NuWa is about the only manufacturer that makes one; it is the Discover America 300FK. They also make a couple that are shorter than that in their LS series.
Mike
Mike & Donna Scheer
Green Valley, AZ, USA
2013 GMC SRW Crew Cab 3500 short-bed D/A
2013 HitchHiker Discover America 300 FK
You sound very much like us when we purchased our new fiver. We did not want to drag around a 40 footer. Just didn't need it. FEW quality manufacturers build anything smaller than 37'. Thats another thing that the Carriage Cameo line was very, very good at - building a luxury, high quality line of fifth wheels in a variety of floor plans from 32' - 36'. Look at a left over Cameo. They are beautiful rigs and people are not afraid to buy the left over ones since the demise of Carriage. In fact, you may not find one. Just my 2 cents, Phillip
For quality, take a look at Nuwa. Also,take a look at the new floorplans for the Arctic Fox line. (Floor plans online, but only RK model actually seen in person yet.) Quality chassis in both. Not Lippert.
We chose our Sabre 32BHOK because of its 35' length. 2 of our favorite camping spots have a max length of 35' trailer. I don't know if the site length would be longer with a motor home since you don't have a tow vehicle. meaning a site with a max of 50' motor home may only have a max of 35' with a trailer because the campground is considering the TV as part of the length.
Does anyone know if this is a valid thought?
I have only had trailer so???
2008 Silverado 2500HD DMax LTZ cc sb 4x4 EFILive tuned, Blocked, Deleted, Rerouted and removed B&W Turnover ball and 5th Companion
02 F250 4x4 Auto Ex LWB SRW 7.3L B&W, RideRite, 5"exhaust. TW6 chip. 195k
2011 Sabre 32BHOK-6
We went from a 36' Class A to a 30' FW. Only complaint is the BR is smaller (hard to get around the bed (no slide) and low headroom. However, there are many FWs from 35'+ that have very nice BRs with slides, and all the headroom I need. Several are in what I would call the "luxury" class. I do think you get a more homey feel in the larger FWs. You really need to get out there and look at every FW you can to discover the right floor plan and amenities you want. I would look at Nu-Wa, Heartland, Newmar (if they're still making them), Royals International, Doubletree, and Teton, to name a few.
2002 Keystone Cougar 286, 8,400lbs loaded, pulled with a 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 gears. Retired and enjoying life
I have a '40 foot' rig which was about 39' as measured at the brochure but is actually almost 41 foot. It's nice but if doing it again I would be looking to hold the line around 35 foot for that extra bit of maneuverability in the campgrounds. This would open up more parks to us as well.
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B&W Turnover ball and 5th Companion
