We originally started with a slide in camper on a pickup. After three of them, we graduated to a 26' 5er with a 3/4 ton Diesel. Then went to a 30'5er, and upgraded to an International 4700 Low Pro. Traded that in for my present 36' DP MH.
Which one do I like the best?
I like the MH because it is a dream to drive, even towing my car on a tow dolly. It eliminates the need to hear the DW, after just passing the exit to a rest area, say "I gotta go". It is also easier to park and set up.
The tires are more expensive, and routine maint. is a little more expensive, but I am not complaining.
Actually, I think the 5er is the best for the value. I think they have the best floor plans and utilize space better than the other rigs.
Downsides of a 5er: If you want a 32' or bigger, you will have to have something bigger than a pickup to haul it with. Irregardless of what others will say about pulling big 5ers with ease, you DON"T have adequate braking and are pushing the limit of the TV with bigger 5ers. Just be prepared and you will love it. 5ers are easier (IMHO)to park than trailers, and if you know how to hook up/off, are easier than TTs.
I don't find it inconvienient to pull a car behind my MH and when I had the IH as a TV, found I could park it almost everywhere I could a car.
Which is best? I think if you have kids, the 5er is the best, but if you want the ability to get out there with just you and the spouse, a MH is a better deal.
I just completed a 7300 mi. trip to the east coast and back, towing my car on a dolly, and loved it. The only time I felt anxious was hitting the rush traffic about 50 mi. from NYC in a rainstorm. Course, people drived differently when they are rushing home from work. I try to avoid that, but couldn't this time.
Yes, right now, fuel is more expensive. However, you get more work from diesel than you do from gas. I get 10 mph normally and on this trip, I slowed down to 58 and got 11.4.
Find what is right for your circumstances.
Good luck!
We're going the other way.
From an older class A to a truck/trailer combo.
From the variety of responses to this thread, it's safe to say, it really depends on your own situation and how you use your RV.
If we're just going to a campground to hang out, the 'bago is just fine.
We want to do more touristy things, drive, park, then get out a do stuff.
For that, not having a vehicle is problem.
Maintenance and insurance costs are a secondary factor. With work and school, we can't get away as often as we'd like, so not having to maintain and insure the beast, just so it can sit in the driveway 90% of the time will be a bonus.
I went from a pop-up to a diesel pusher motorhome. Buying used is key. I bought it at ten years old. It is now fifteen years old and runs great.
The pop-up took 1.5 hours to set up camp and 2 hours to break camp. We took it on 22 trips and it rained 22 times. That meant that I would have to dry out the pop-up on almost every trip by setting it up again when I got home. I wanted something that would reduce the setup/breakdown times and that could do it comfortably in the rain. Generally speaking, You never have to dry out a motorhome after a trip. The motorhome was the only way to go for me.
'93 Itasca Suncrusier diesel towing a '97 Olds Cutlass.
Bob, Pam(DW), Bridget(DD), Christine(DD) and Snickers the stinky dog
See you at most of the Penn State tailgates
We went from a class A to a fiver in 04 and are pretty happy with it. Now that so many mhs are being sold we're thinking about switching back and towing a car again. Figure that the money we save using an efficient toad will help to make up for the fuel the mh will use. But we're still in the tentative stage and not ready to leap out there.
After having four 5th wheels among other RVs, we went to a new 200 Class A DP MH. After two years we junked it and went back to 5-ing. The MH was a disaster and EXPENSIVE!! It cost to let it sit, it cost to insure, it COST to maintain, it COST for everything and those big CAT engines do NOT like just sitting around. The 5th has more room and if I need wheels I don't need to tow them behind me. The MH I had was a piece of junk that the factory would not even talk to me about. I have had no problems with any of the 5th wheels I had and FORTY cases of trouble with the MH in the first 18 months we had it. We bought it thinking the ability to move around inside while I drove would be good fr the DW. She hated the FLOATING and BUCKING BRONCO ride. She had no confidence in it as we traveled. That convinced me that I won't have a DP MH again. The depreciation is a killer too! After two years, it actually cost me $84K to buy and get rid of it, a $174K MH. My new truck and 5th wheel cost me $70K to replace the MH. I am happy again!
Hi Dave, as you know, we just made the swap last year. Have to say I really love the MH. Really miss the Diesel 4x4 Ex though especially after I tricked it out with straight through exhaust and reprogram the chip. Ah well!! I now have a Saturn Vue!
My wife is happier in the MH and that is what counts. Not sure I could have afforded it though if we had sprogs. As some have said, it aint a cheap toy. Must say I prefer it to the trailer though.
I do like the implied safety of walmart stops, just drive off but then I never had problems before. Guess getting worried comes with getting older. Anyhow, our first major trip now coming up. Florida Yellowstone and Vegas and back to Florida, 3 months on the road. I'll let you know along the way how it goes. This is similar to last years trip length with the Ex and Trailer so it will be a good 3 month long comparison.
See Ya Sometime
Brian
Brian & Esta plus Sophie the Blue Front "amazing" Amazon Parrot
Dolphin 5342 07 WHrse W22 fitted with Roadmaster F&R sway bars + Davis F BlueOx R Trac Rods, Saturn Vue V6 04 Blue Ox Aladdin and Apollo,
Was
Ex4x4 6.0 PSD 2003, Hensley, Mountaineer 325FKBS
We traded an Alfa Gold for a MH. At first we thought it was great, but one trip, and we knew we made a terrible mistake. First the mileage was terrible comparaed to the diesel truck, and we got tired of not having the room inside and out that a 5th has. We went back to the dealer, and took our beating, and it was bad, and went to another 5th. another thing I did not like at all was the way the MH swayed in the wind, and on long curves. The suspension was way to soft. A 5th takes the wind and curves much better. I should know as I live in the Texas Panhandle where the wind seems to blow most of the time. If you like the MH then that is great. Just was not our cup of tea.
It is threads like this that serve to illuminate the different opinions and thoughts behind folks decisions to purchase one way or the other.
For us, this confirms that we made a good decision to go with a FW.
Retired US Army
2000 Ford F250 SD 7.3 PSD, Firestone Ride-Rite™ air springs
2007 Keystone Laredo 29RL, Doran Pressure Pro and Metal Tire Valves, 16" Michelin XPS Ribs, Dirt Devil CV950 Central Vacuum, 2000W AllPower (Honda Clone), 4000/3500W Champion C46540
If the issue is what is less money it isn't a hard decision to make.
chevman
chevman
2001 35 ft avalon alpenlite RK
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy
easyrider/reese airhitch
trailair center point suspension
JT Strong Arm Stabilizers
KSH 55 inbed fuel tank
Garmin 2720
scanguage II
TD-EOC
Induction Overhaul Kit
We went from a 24' TT to a 36' MH. I used to drive the TV as my daily commuter getting 14mpg. Now I drive my 36mpg toad as my daily commuter and since we do not typically do many very long trips I doubt I will spend much more on gas over the course of a year.
Of course the comfort and convenience of the MH is much better suited to our family. We got a bunk model Class A with three slides and have two kids 13 & 7.
I do not regret trading the TT for the MH.
2007 Four Winds Hurricane 34B (Ford Chassis) Bunkhouse
2007 Chevrolet Cobalt LT (5-speed manual)
SMI Stay-In-Play & Blue-Ox Aventa LX
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