Pros and Cons of living full-time in a Motorhome?

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tawood said:
This.
I've owned Class A's, Class B's, Class C's.
I've owned a pop up.
I've owned a travel trailer.
But nothing, and I mean nothing, tows as beautiful as the 5th wheels I've owned. And AZB is full of it (as usual) when it comes to wind. I've towed a 5th wheel in 40 knot direct crosswinds, with little worry. And if your brakes are set up right you can stop on a dime, just as good as no 5th wheel at all (an idiot driver in Lexington KY once proved that one to me). Just get an inertia brake controller, not a timed unit.
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A 5ver is about the only trailer we have not owned.
We looked at several, never found a floor plan we liked, and didn't want to loose the truck bd to a hitch.
When we were looking at Fifth wheels we found our Newmar.
 
Tom-D said:
A 5ver is about the only trailer we have not owned.
We looked at several, never found a floor plan we liked, and didn't want to loose the truck bd to a hitch.
When we were looking at Fifth wheels we found our Newmar.
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The loss of the truck bed (while towing)is the only negative to me. I sometimes just leave the hitch attached to the fifthwheel, and lift it right out of the bed with the trailer jacks, when I need my bed while camping.
I've always liked the floor plan, with me having kids, and getting the privacy of that front bedroom. In my state, I can tandem tow (and I have an endorsement on my DL for it) which means I also bring my ski boat or the motorcycles in the trailer. Not all states / Canadian province allow this though.
The beauty behind towing the fifth wheel is the fact that the coupling for vehicle-to-trailer is between the wheels of the tow vehicle, so that crosswinds against the trailer don't get "leverage" against the tow vehicle like they would with a bumper tow.
For my two cents, the absolute worst in a crosswind is the class c, towing a trailer. Ugh. Even 5 mph crosswinds wore out my arms. It was so bad I thought there was something wrong with a C I had rented, until I bought my C, then found out it was just as bad.
 
CC268 said:
Lol this is such a circular argument. AZBB obviously wants to go his route and Tom says to buy the Newmar. You two obviously don't agree with each other so what is the point of continuing it argue over it lol
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mscard88 said:
I don't think they're arguing, but it is educational for those of us who have thought about doing this. I think they both have convinced me to go the hotel route! :D
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CC268 said:
It is interesting...but still very much a circular "debate" for lack of a better term I guess.
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mscard88 said:
Perhaps so, but these two are very knowledgeable and I am enjoying reading about their experiences.
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I'm just giving you a hard time, but I thought it was funny
 
tawood said:
The loss of the truck bed (while towing)is the only negative to me. I sometimes just leave the hitch attached to the fifthwheel, and lift it right out of the bed with the trailer jacks, when I need my bed while camping.
I've always liked the floor plan, with me having kids, and getting the privacy of that front bedroom. In my state, I can tandem tow (and I have an endorsement on my DL for it) which means I also bring my ski boat or the motorcycles in the trailer. Not all states / Canadian province allow this though.
The beauty behind towing the fifth wheel is the fact that the coupling for vehicle-to-trailer is between the wheels of the tow vehicle, so that crosswinds against the trailer don't get "leverage" against the tow vehicle like they would with a bumper tow.
For my two cents, the absolute worst in a crosswind is the class c, towing a trailer. Ugh. Even 5 mph crosswinds wore out my arms. It was so bad I thought there was something wrong with a C I had rented, until I bought my C, then found out it was just as bad.
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We made the decision to go with the coach rather than the 5ver, on the cost of it. our old Dodge was well worn, so it was a matter of buying a new truck, and the 5th wheel. or just the coach. so we went with the coach. But as it tuned out we bought the Jeep too. as a Toad.
 
CC268 said:
I'm just giving you a hard time, but I thought it was funny
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Haha I see what you mean. What I meant earlier was true, they're arguing in circles (12 pages now lol) but I am also learning enough to convince me nah, I ain't doing this. Wife wants to, but it seems like a lot of work. I'm sure it'd be fun, especially if I had startedat a younger age.
 
mscard88 said:
Haha I see what you mean. What I meant earlier was true, they're arguing in circles (12 pages now lol) but I am also learning enough to convince me nah, I ain't doing this. Wife wants to, but it seems like a lot of work. I'm sure it'd be fun, especially if I had startedat a younger age.
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Don't allow this thread change your mind. Rving is a great way to travel.
 
Tom-D said:
Don't allow this thread change your mind. Rving is a great way to travel.
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I'm definitely learning from the thread that's for sure. You ever you military camp grounds Tom?
 
You can even parallel park.
 

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mscard88 said:
I'm definitely learning from the thread that's for sure. You ever you military camp grounds Tom?
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When ever we can. Best military camp we have been to is right at Whidbey. right on the cliff over looking the Straight of George.
next best Fort Meade DC.

Pt Mugu has a great camp site on the beach.
NAS Whidbey camp grounds
 

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Blue Angel camp Pensacola
 

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They look great Tom. I've looked at Pensacola when I was stationed just to the east at Eglin. They have a nice one on the bay there.
 
tawood said:
Just get an inertia brake controller, not a timed unit.
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And not one of those cheap 30 buck ones from Walmart.

I can stop my truck and trailer just as well as without the trailer. All it takes is a little experimenting in adjusting the brake controller. When it is right, it works well.

I love my 5th wheel. I really loved it when one trailer tire blew at speed on a narrow county highway. It was a non event to stay in my lane then pull off at the next wide spot and change the tire. My 5th wheel has brakes on all four wheels, not just the front axle.

Now what was left of the trailer fender was a different story.....
 
No need to lose a truck bed with a 5th Wheel. just put a gooseneck hitch on the rv and leave a removable ball in the truck bed ala b&w turnover ball.
 
Zeldman said:
And not one of those cheap 30 buck ones from Walmart.

I can stop my truck and trailer just as well as without the trailer. All it takes is a little experimenting in adjusting the brake controller. When it is right, it works well.

I love my 5th wheel. I really loved it when one trailer tire blew at speed on a narrow county highway. It was a non event to stay in my lane then pull off at the next wide spot and change the tire. My 5th wheel has brakes on all four wheels, not just the front axle.

Now what was left of the trailer fender was a different story.....
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I use a Prodigy 2. You get it dialed in, and the trailer and truck "float" at the coupler while braking, exerting very little if any force on each other. Under hard braking with the rear slider window open on my pickup, I can actually hear them "float", kind-of rattling at the coupler, where the trailer and truck are braking perfectly in unison.
 
FORANE said:
No need to lose a truck bed with a 5th Wheel. just put a gooseneck hitch on the rv and leave a removable ball in the truck bed ala b&w turnover ball.
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My regular 5ver hitch is no problem: with the bed liner, the rails stay recessed just enough to be at the same height as the liner itself. Just pull four pins, and the hitch comes right out from the rails. The hitch is a little heavy, but like I said before, I just leave it attached to the fifth wheel, and use the trailer jacks to "lift" it out once I pull the pins. I'll post a pic of what I mean...
 
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Zeldman said:
Now what was left of the trailer fender was a different story.....
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We had a brake controller failure on the flat bed trailer, ruined 2 rims and 4 tires, got real ugly real quick..When you touched the brakes on the coach, the trailer brakes went full on which flat spotted 4 tires 2 of which had a slow leaks finally went flat with out us noticing. shredded tires and ruined the rims.
After that we bought a Tire pressure and temp sensor system. we now run 10 sensors 6 on the coach, and 4 on what we are towing.
 
tawood said:
But nothing, and I mean nothing, tows as beautiful as the 5th wheels I've owned.
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As a pilot, you should know a little bit about CG and weight distribution. Over axle vs. behind the axle. Higher tongue weight (for the little campers) on a 5ver than on a bumper pull. That gives you way more stability as you have a higher tongue weight over your rear axle with the 5ver.

In my case. Class 8 semi truck. Engine and fuel tanks out front gives me weight over my steering axle vs. a DP with the engine in rear behind the drive axles. Front axle on a large DP is basically carrying no weight. Add a large stacker bumper pull with a heavy tongue weight and I'm near my rear axle limits on a DP, while having nothing on the front end. With a Class 8 the weight is more evenly distributed throughout the entire coach, thus they reason they are able to tow more and ride a lot smoother than the large DP's.

Tom-D said:
And you are the expert.
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I know for a fact I have more time behind the wheel of a Class 8 and a large tandem axle DP than you do. Thus the rationalization for wanting a Class 8 based chassis vs. a large bus. Maybe I haven't driven one of the large SuperC's like I am wanting to purchase, but I don't have to. I pretty much already know how they handle based on driving Class 8 road trucks hauling/towing similar loads.
 
tawood said:
My regular 5ver hitch is no problem: with the bed liner, the rails stay recessed just enough to be at the same height as the liner itself. Just pull four pins, and the hitch comes right out from the rails. The hitch is a little heavy, but like I said before, I just leave it attached to the fifth wheel, and use the trailer jacks to "lift" it out once I pull the pins. I'll post a pic of what I mean...
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I've seen several trucks that the guy dropped the 5 ver on the truck, I guess that takes a special kind of dumb-azz
 
Tom-D said:
I've seen several trucks that the guy dropped the 5 ver on the truck, I guess that takes a special kind of dumb-azz
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I have too. Similar to the guys I've seen at the boat ramp that back the boat in without unstrapping it from the trailer first.
 
Tom-D said:
We had a brake controller failure on the flat bed trailer, ruined 2 rims and 4 tires, got real ugly real quick..When you touched the brakes on the coach, the trailer brakes went full on which flat spotted 4 tires 2 of which had a slow leaks finally went flat with out us noticing. shredded tires and ruined the rims.
After that we bought a Tire pressure and temp sensor system. we now run 10 sensors 6 on the coach, and 4 on what we are towing.
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Yikes..!!! I have only seen one controller fail, and it just stopped working. One of the cheaply made ones.

And yes, pressure and temperature systems are worth the money.
 
If AZ is as persistent at flight training and RVing as he is at keeping this thread kicking, he'll be doing both in no time.

I'm still sticking with my earlier post, RVing is way too complicated!
 
azblackbird said:
I know for a fact I have more time behind the wheel of a Class 8 and a large tandem axle DP than you do. Thus the rationalization for wanting a Class 8 based chassis vs. a large bus. Maybe I haven't driven one of the large SuperC's like I am wanting to purchase, but I don't have to. I pretty much already know how they handle based on driving Class 8 road trucks hauling/towing similar loads.
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That would be funny if it weren't so sad, you believe there is no weight on the front axle of a Class A.
Plus the fact you just admitted you believe a class (what ever), drives like a Super C
You've got a lot to learn.

why do you think a Class A coach, out sells the super C 1000 to 1?

answer = they were made to do the full time thing. the super C was meant to run the freeways from here to there and stay the weekend.
 
For those who want to know, the front axle of my coach carries 9600# of the 27K total weight of the coach. Fill the basement storage, and the coach cupboards 50% goes to the front axle.
Front axle rating is 13,000 #
 
Tom-D said:
For those who want to know, the front axle of my coach carries 9600# of the 27K total weight of the coach. Fill the basement storage, and the coach cupboards 50% goes to the front axle.
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I didn't know you were such a blue blood who used lead/pewter plates and glassware. :rofl:
 
I just read through this entire thread.. I think I am more confused than when I started. My Dad was looking to go RVing when he retired though.
 
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