Looking for right 5th wheel, need help!

Jerapais69

Advanced Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2019
Posts
76
All,

I'm new to the game here. We are looking for a front bedroom, 2 full bath (if possible), rear family room and/or bunk combo in separate room with door. Kitchen in middle. Two entrances from outside. Side porch if possible. Most likely 38-40' plus. Open to any brand any model. Thanks!!
 
My wife and I recommend you give yourself a year to go to as many RV fairs as you can to see/feel/walk around as many different RVs you can. ALWAYS consider a 5th wheel so that you can disconnect your vehicle and go places leaving your RV at the site. Also, focus on your storage areas and sleeping area.
 
All,

I'm new to the game here. We are looking for a front bedroom, 2 full bath (if possible), rear family room and/or bunk combo in separate room with door. Kitchen in middle. Two entrances from outside. Side porch if possible. Most likely 38-40' plus. Open to any brand any model. Thanks!!

That's one big unit. Welcome to the site. I can't offer any specific brands because I don't shop for anything with those requirements. I understand your need for help, there are hundreds of models out there. The factory web-sites aren't the easiest to find what you want without searching every make and model on their site. I suggest you start with your local RV dealers inventory. Research the brands they sell. If you can't find it then move out in distance to the next dealer and search their inventory, and their brands. Took me two years to find the model I wanted, but in the end it was worth every minute searching.
 
Some good advice from previous posts. Invest the time, a year or even two spent looking, researching, and visiting with other owners will pay big dividends. Finding everything you spec'd in a unit will probably be a challenge so prioritize what is most important.


First and foremost, a dealer who can properly service the RV, and will be responsive to your needs, is worth a bunch. You WILL have problems / issues that you will have to work through and a good service department that will stand behind their sales people will make your life much easier!


Best wishes in your search for the "right" 5'er.
 
My Prime Time Spartan 43'

Bedroom up front and 2 queen size bunks that lower from the ceiling in the rear. 1/2 bath off the rear with TV and door to main living area. It has a really nice full bath up front and large kitchen. You can also have a deck off the back too.
 

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Paul, be very wary when looking at some of these suggested RV's and what you might be willing to part with to tow said RV. Toy haulers are notoriously pin heavy and might be more than your present truck can safely haul.
 
Thx for the heads up. I have a farm and an F350 dualities with 6.7 powersrroke.

You have more truck then I had with my Voltage Toy Hauler. I only had a SRW F-350. Had a V3605. 16,500 lbs GVWR
 
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Paul, I believe you're good to go. Many, many other RV'ers are out there towing 20K toy haulers with their 3/4 tons because the salesman said "this beast will haul anything" and they just don't know any better.
 
Paul, I believe you're good to go. Many, many other RV'ers are out there towing 20K toy haulers with their 3/4 tons because the salesman said "this beast will haul anything" and they just don't know any better.

So true Jim.
Last year on vacation at the RV park we were at in Custer.
Saw a triple axle Toy Hauler being towed by a short bed 2500 Dodge. Talk about being over weight. :eek:
 
That would be one large 5Th wheel
Over the years and haven owned 5
Getting 2 large of a unit causes way to many problems
On every new unit I got I drop down in size , I found hauling a house size 5th wheel was just to much of a pain in the ass.
Sure fun when you get there BUTTT getting it there is another thing
I am down to a 30 foot unit and LOVE it
All the necessary space one needs for camping and easy to move it around
 
Mel11,

Couldn't have been said any better. Here is our maiden voyage with a Fuzion 427 we just bought. There is ZERO exaggeration in this. Thanks and ENJOY!

Went to leave for fla Jan 31 was -2*. Rv battery was low so I had to jump it to raise jacks. While pulling truck away I left jumper cables on, ripped wire out of handles and the cable was dragged getting between bottom of sofa slide, flaring it out about 2”. Then, forgot to take out truck power plug. Ripped out casing around plug in truck bed but could still use. Ok. We leave.

Drive to gas station deep in WVa take a pic of rig to show my friends. On way out, when I smashed the main entrance door.

Can’t make it to savanna as originally planned so stay at a hotel in Columbia SC. But not until Guy we called for reservation thought we said Chicago and booked room there. Luckily they had a room in SC.

Drive to Ocala and found campground there. Great. First time hooking everything up went well until hot water tank. Forgot to fill up and couldn’t get to work. Finally your guy told me hit reset buttons and we were able to use propane. Changed heating element, still didn’t work. Left for Naples next day, forgot to put down tailgate, scraped molding on top of tailgate. Two days later, actuator to open tailgate fails. Can’t open tailgate Even manually. Kingpin barely clears tailgate by 1/4”, otherwise I’d still be there.

Stopped at another gas station on way to Naples. Height clearance only 12’, after I pull in. Tractor trailer trying to deliver gas pulled behind me, 3/4 of rig on highway waiting for me to figure out how to get out. Ran rig over curbs and swung out. Whew.

Make it to Naples. Fine. Backed in spot. Not much trouble. Can’t use main entrance so had to come in and out all week in back. No big deal but a nuisance.

Leave too many appliances plugged in and toaster oven blows a fuse. No biggie. Smack head on bedroom bump out get lump on head.

Had both my personal credit cards compromised. Had to shut them down but good thing I had a little cash. Jeanne’s Dad goes to hospital (92 and not well). She’s stressed all week. We canceled trip to St Lucia a few years ago when her mom got sick and died.

Soooo, we leave Friday make it to rest area and hit the hay. Left generator on for an hour then turned off. Put slides out. Guess what? Battery died overnight and can’t start generator. Can’t get slides in. Had to call AAA to get jumped.

I was ready to drive the rig and truck and me OVER a cliff!

Got home last night to 20* weather and wallah! BOTH furnaces broken down. Yes. BOTH. In the am, i was taking new truck to get tailgate actuator replaced. Guess what? It worked.

Then, found out that the water heater was never plugged in from the factory. Spent $100 replacing heating element, then had it diagnosed by Camper's Inn.

Top that!!

Paul Henney
 

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