Fifth Wheels, Travel Trailer, Motor Homes-What Should I Pick?

Whether you are getting ready to become a full-timer Rv'er and a Snowbird, or an occasional camper, there are sooooo many choices out there. The question is: What rig best suits you and what are you looking for in a camper.

Maybe these tips will help you to decide in what you are looking for.

If you are wanting to become a full time Rv'er or a snowbird, then I definitely do not recommend anything like a pop-up, or those campers that beds pop out at the end. Their nice for short trips and vacations; but think about it, do you really want to mess with setting up a pop-up and "living" in it for 3 months, six months or a year or maybe longer? They don't give you the total comfort that you will want.

There are all sorts of variety of campers out there. Lets start with Motor Homes:

1. Class A: These big daddies are either diesel pushers or gas engine. They look like big fancy buses. and You never have to worry about what you are towing or your weight. They also have lots of under storage compartments (called basements).
2. Class B: Most generally are classified as van fronts ends with no sleeping quarters above the cab. They can be gas or diesel
3. Class C: Usually have sleeping quarters over the cab. Some of the new ones now instead of putting the sleeping quarters overhead, they put the TV and storage. They too can be either diesel or gas engine.

Motor homes can be pricey. Your living quarters and driving quarters are all together, so therefore you never have to leave your coach. One thing to consider with a motor home are:

• How much money is it going to cost to fuel up? The big diesel pushers and gas engines can get very costly at the pump.
• With any type of motor home/coach you have the convenience of everything right at your finger tip. Other than fueling up, you really don't have to ever leave your coach; so no getting wet when it's raining. Or you have to stop the night somewhere and you don't feel 100% comfortable getting out of your rig, you don't need to get out. Your partner can get you something to eat or drink and you don't need to stop or pull over.

Travel Trailer: Travel trailers are pulled behind the vehicle. They vary in size & length. Most generally you can find one on the market with one, two or three slides. Length also varies, depending on how much room you really want and how long you want to tow behind you. Some states are now requiring that you put in an extra brake that helps hold the rig back when having to come to an abrupt stop. You also have to have sway bars; this helps with the swaying when going down the highway.

There are Pros and Cons of owning a travel trailer. Pros are:

• Everything's on one level, only steps you have is going up into the rig itself. .
• They can be light weight, so therefore be pulled with the best economical vehicle (no I would not recommend a light weight car).
• If pulling your travel trailer with a truck, you still have full use of the bed of the truck.

the cons are:

• They are a little bit harder to back in; plus you must remove the sway bars before you do back in.
• Some of the travel trailers were built higher up off the ground and when traveling at speed down the highway, they are a little harder to control.

5TH Wheels: Can only be pulled by a truck. The hitch sits in the middle of the bed of the truck. They have a second level which most generally will be your bathroom and bedroom. With an exception of a few models, they have put the living room up in the front part. They too come with slide outs and they are now making some with 5 slides! They too vary in length as well. the bigger you go, the bigger your truck must be. Some 5th wheels come with 3 axles because they are so heavy.

the Pros & Cons of a 5th wheel: Pros are:

• Easier to back in. They seem to follow the truck fairly easy.
• They can come with more slide outs and give you a bit more room than a travel trailer.
• You seem to have a little more storage compartment with a 5th wheel than you do with a travel trailer.

the Con:

• You do have more steps to climb.
• You do loose the bed of the truck to the hitch.
• MUST have some kind of a truck to pull. Some folks even like the big trucks that truck drivers use.

If you decided that you don't want a slide out-they are a bit harder to find and may have to be order from the factory. Older models are easy to find without any slide outs.

When Brian and I first started out full timing, we decided that we like the 5th wheels the best. We also decided that we would NEVER go with any slide outs. We had it in our heads that slide-outs would be a headache and more costly in the long run. So we ordered our 5th wheel with no slides.

We kept that rig for one year-traded it in for a two slide 5th wheel! We decided that we just needed a bit more room to move around in. We are now proud owners of a 3 slide 5th wheel!

I won't say that slide outs can't cause you problems. We have met folks that have had trouble with theirs. Some of the problems is leaking when it rains. Fortunately we have not had that trouble. Another problem we have seen (and mostly in motor homes) is during high winds, they have had to bring in their slides due to a lot of shaking. Again we have not had any trouble and let me tell you, we have been in winds gusting 50+ and been in very heavy rains; and no troubles.

I had someone taught me a neat trick when looking at rigs with slide outs. What she told me to do is take off all jewelery and take your hands (from the outside of the rig) and try to wiggle between the casket of the slide out. If it's easy to get your hand in and you can touch something from the inside, then probably you might have leakage problems. They recommend the women doing this because our hands are smaller.

The newest and big thing of late is the toy haulers. Toy Haulers (can be found in both travel trailers and 5th wheels) have a garage like door in the back in which you can haul motor cycles, ATV's or maybe a small sports car. You do loose some of your living quarters because of these haulers.

Now what about Truck Campers? Well, if you plan on being on the move every single day, and you don't need much living space, this might be the way to go. This way you don't have to worry about what is behind you or if your rig has blown a tire. Truck Campers can come with a small shower/toilet or maybe just a port-a-potty. some are solid shell while others have a small pop-up where the roof pops up.

Brian and I want to do some serious traveling in a few years. We plan on putting our big rig into storage, and buying a truck campers. This way we don't have to worry, about our deisel truck hauling this big rig up mountain sides. We can go into areas, where big rigs won't fit.

And that is something else to consider when purchasing a rig. Where do you plan on going? Some of your national forest and mountainous areas, well, big rigs just won't work.

What ever you decide on make sure it's right for you and that YOU are comfortable with your decision. Remember, you are the one that has to live in it....

When we went to look at rigs, I took the time and imagine in my head how I would set everything up and where everything would go. For instance-is there room to put a vacuum cleaner without it sitting out in the middle of your living quarters? Is there enough storage for your clothes? How about all those tools you might want to take along-where can they go? If you have a cat-is there room for the kitty litter without it being in the kitchen? Take your time and try to figure out where you would put things. That way you will know if the rig suits you or not.

Well I hope this helps when deciding on what you are going to do.

Happy Trails!! Who knows maybe our paths will meet some day down the road....