This past weekend, I made the mistake of attending the Houston RV show, and now I am itching to upgrade my RV experience. My current rig is a mid-90s class A, 40-foot diesel pusher. It has served me well over the years. However, I was consistently drawn to the trailers at the RV show. Replacing my rig with a new Class A model would be $300-400K. That's definitely not worth it to me.

Interested in thoughts on going from a Class A to a TT or 5th wheel. I do not currently own a tow truck and am not opposed to a 3/4 ton as my current DD is slated for replacement later this year. For $100Kish, I can get a decent used 3/4 ton and a decent used trailer. Any thoughts or insights are appreciated!

Gonna be hard to stay under that 100k budget number. I think finding a reliable truck might break your budget. Although I do have a used fifth wheel toy hauler I'd be willing to part with if you are interested.

Having owned all the above, I think you are on the right track. Take your time to find the rig that suits you. Depending upon how much you intend to pull the 5th wheel, not sure I'd spend the extra to get a diesel, but get a Cummins if you do.

I'm still months, perhaps a year away, from transitioning. But, I'd be interested to know more about your 5th wheel (model, year, etc...or share the good and bad about the make). (You can email me at username @ yahoo if you want to keep it off the forums.)

Yeah, the truck is the wild card right now. I've seen some F-250s in the $50-60K range. Admittedly, I've done no research other than scanning AutoTrader.

I'm tired of maintaining a 8.3L Cummins and the $400 lube service each year, and the $3,000 of tires. I want to eliminate an engine from my fleet and seems a truck I can maintain from home and get tires at Discount Tire (or wherever) and avoid the long-haul truck lube and tire shops.

Yet, it's glorious to have a fridge 12 feet behind you and have ice-cold water delivered at any time.

I watched my grandparents run the gammet of various options and configurations from TT, to 5th wheel, to class C and back. As they got older, they used it less and less even though they had the time and money to do so. It just got harder to mess with all the hooking up and PITA that came with it.

He regrets not downsizing to a smaller, new diesel pusher towards the end. Something that was small enough it was easy to handle, but essentially self contained and pushing buttons levelsitself. Uber or rental car options allows for not needing to tow a vehicle. Pulling something just isn't the easiest option as you get older.

We've done exactly what you're contemplating. Over the years we've owned everything from bumper pull to diesel pusher to Mercedes van with slide out…. Now, back to a small bumper pull, with slide pulled by my f150.

We pick and choose weather, routes, duration of stay, etc…. With auto leveling, power tongue, star link, etc…. It's all very easy and seamless. Takes 10-15 mins max to setup and breakdown. Add in solar and lithium batteries we often stay off grid.

Would never return to the land of giants… too much work.

Its a tough one to give an opinion on because there is no such thing as the perfect camper setup and everyone is going to be different on what they want.

We full-timed in a 38' Bighorn 5th wheel for about 2 years and it was great. It was cheap, we knew it was going to get beat up, sold it for what we paid. The headroom in the 5th wheels really makes them feel huge. We towed with a F350. I think you technically(legally) need the 1 ton for most of these big 5th wheels these days.

We got into a '06 Fleetwood diesel pusher 39' a couple years ago so that we could tow toys like a crawler, golf cart etc.

As far as ease of driving, I prefer the truck towing the 5th wheel.

If I didn't have the need to tow a Jeep, I would be back into a slightly used 5th wheel in a second. There are some really cool layouts out there now.

In a diesel pusher now. More expensive to purchase and maintain. Liked the 5th wheel we had prior, except for the limited supply of propane. You burn through it very quickly in cold environments. Plus more labor intensive hitching & unhitching.

Chetos said:

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Gonna be hard to stay under that 100k budget number. I think finding a reliable truck might break your budget. Although I do have a used fifth wheel toy hauler I'd be willing to part with if you are interested.

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really?

Used truck $50, call it even $60k, that leaves $40k+ for a trailer. Lots can be had for under $40k.

Our keystone passport was a few years old and we paid just $16k for it just a few years ago. Bunkhouse model.

I wanted to go from a small TT to diesel pusher but my wife likes contemporary interiors (IE no all stained wood) so a contemporary diesel pusher is out of my budget atm.

Ended up with a 37' bumper pull since I already have a 1 ton truck (had to go bumper pull since I have all my work tools in a drawer system in the bed). That way we can set up & still tool around in the truck wherever we are.

I like the idea of the easy set up with a motor home but I've heard from motor home people it's a pain to drag another vehicle, un hook it, etc. I'd probably just put my jeep on a tow dolly so it didn't sound too bad to me.

Seems like it just boils down to how much work you're willing to do with set up and how quickly you want to move around.

62strat said:

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Chetos said:

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Gonna be hard to stay under that 100k budget number. I think finding a reliable truck might break your budget. Although I do have a used fifth wheel toy hauler I'd be willing to part with if you are interested.

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really?

Used truck $50, call it even $60k, that leaves $40k+ for a trailer. Lots can be had for under $40k.

Our keystone passport was a few years old and we paid just $16k for it just a few years ago. Bunkhouse model.

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Have you looked at price on 5th wheel campers? I bought mine 3 years ago and there wasn't much less than $60K that was good. That was during all the chaos so maybe prices were heightened then but I can't imagine getting truck and trailer for $100K unless they both had some wear and tear on them.

New, prices are pretty crazy for luxury units.

There's a growing glut of used from all the people new to RV / camping during Covid dumping trailers they no longer use or want to maintain/ store.

Of course, many people also try to avoid those years as already bad RV quality was exponentially worse as manufacturers tried to keep up with demand that far outstripped supply. And well many normally well built brands suffered quality construction and part availability.

agcrock2005 said:

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62strat said:

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Chetos said:

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Gonna be hard to stay under that 100k budget number. I think finding a reliable truck might break your budget. Although I do have a used fifth wheel toy hauler I'd be willing to part with if you are interested.

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really?

Used truck $50, call it even $60k, that leaves $40k+ for a trailer. Lots can be had for under $40k.

Our keystone passport was a few years old and we paid just $16k for it just a few years ago. Bunkhouse model.

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Have you looked at price on 5th wheel campers? I bought mine 3 years ago and there wasn't much less than $60K that was good. That was during all the chaos so maybe prices were heightened then but I can't imagine getting truck and trailer for $100K unless they both had some wear and tear on them.

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he didn't say he was considering only 5th wheel. He said travel trailer.

The best thing about a 5th wheel compared to a Class A is getting out of the truck and into a different environment. There's just something refreshing about it. May seem minuscule to some but it was big for us.

I don't think I would recommend anyone buy a new 5th wheel or camper unless you really don't like money.

There are currently 125 5th wheels 2016+ between 25-50k on PPL

JB said:

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I don't think I would recommend anyone buy a new 5th wheel or camper unless you really don't like money.

There are currently 125 5th wheels 2016+ between 25-50k on PPL

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Completely agree with this.

Corps_Ag12 said:

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I wanted to go from a small TT to diesel pusher but my wife likes contemporary interiors (IE no all stained wood) so a contemporary diesel pusher is out of my budget atm.

Ended up with a 37' bumper pull since I already have a 1 ton truck (had to go bumper pull since I have all my work tools in a drawer system in the bed). That way we can set up & still tool around in the truck wherever we are.

I like the idea of the easy set up with a motor home but I've heard from motor home people it's a pain to drag another vehicle, un hook it, etc. I'd probably just put my jeep on a tow dolly so it didn't sound too bad to me.

Seems like it just boils down to how much work you're willing to do with set up and how quickly you want to move around.

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I don't think it's much trouble to hook up a towed ("toad') vehicle to a class A. In fact, I would argue it's easier to hook a toad to a Class A than it is to hook a 5th wheel to a tow vehicle.

While there is no "perfect" RV, each type has its advantages and disadvantages. If a Class A has served OP's needs well, it's probably the ideal type for him. I feel like Class A + toad and Tow truck + 5th wheel has the most crossover in the Venn diagram of RV uses. For the passengers, Class A + toad is more comfortable, but typically more expensive for the buyer. Especially if the buyer already has a diesel pickup, so acquisition cost is solely the 5th wheel camper.

In an unlimited budget scenario, I think Class A + toad is going to beat tow truck + 5th wheel in 98% of use cases. However, few of us live in unlimited budget scenarios.

I've owned:
3/4 ton diesel pickup + large bumper pull
Class A DP + toad
SUV + 23' Airstream
Class B
Class Super C + toad

I haven't owned a diesel pickup+5th wheel, but most of our friends that we "camp" with have that exact combination.

If you have any specific questions about the above, I'll do my best to answer them.

They won't let you in to the "Titty Twister" anymore.

I bought a 97 Monaco Dynasty that was immaculate and it was super cheap. From my homework, 2009 with low miles and well maintained is the ticket if you dont want to spend a ton of money. Reliability of non-def engine and the over the top attention to detail/quality of the builds were important to me. At some point shortly after, some of the premium builders went under due to the market - countrycoach, monaco etc.

slammerag said:

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I bought a 97 Monaco Dynasty that was immaculate and it was super cheap. From my homework, 2009 with low miles and well maintained is the ticket if you dont want to spend a ton of money. Reliability of non-def engine and the over the top attention to detail/quality of the builds were important to me. At some point shortly after, some of the premium builders went under due to the market - countrycoach, monaco etc.

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I try to keep up with what mine is worth, and prices seem to be going down on the 2000-2010 coaches. You can pick up a decent DP under 40k these days. Will likely be in the 300-330HP range via either Cat of Cummins. All the guys in my wheeling crew have this era coach and most were around 40k 2-3 years ago.

Agreed with what CorpAg mentioned though. They are all very 90s inside. We have redone ours, but 90% of what you find in this year range will have alot of wood cabinets and mirrors. Ours are Fleetwoods, but Tiffin, Alfa,....all about the same quality-wise. Country Coach and Monaco was a little bit fancier and better-built.

I think 50-75K miles is a good sweet spot. Driven enough but not too much.

The maintenance is more involved, but not too bad. Worst part is what I am doing now, which is tires and windshields.

Sorry for the derail OP. I do like talking RVs

If looking at new high-dollar 5th wheel stuff, Brinkley is newish to the market. Looks nice

https://www.brinkleyrv.com/rvs/fifth-wheels/model-g/



Also Alliance is a newer brand out there you might check out.

What did you do to help the rear end in your 3/4 ton with the bumper pull? My 1 ton squats a bit with this new 10k bumper pull, been considering either air bags or super springs.

Thoughts?

Corps_Ag12 said:

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What did you do to help the rear end in your 3/4 ton with the bumper pull? My 1 ton squats a bit with this new 10k bumper pull, been considering either air bags or super springs.

Thoughts?

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Have you thought about a weight distribution setup?

I run airbags for mine and they help. But also make sure the drop on your hitch is the correct height.

I have had 5th wheels and bumper pulls. I prefer a bumper pull solely for boondocking in remote areas. Way easier to get in and out and are lighter too. Having my truck bed available to me is nice too.

Currect setup:
2019 F350 6.7
2020 Crossroads Sunset Trail 253RB w/Slide
-I dont love this trailer, but I got it for less than $10,000, so I cannot complain. I wish it had a couch and bigger fridge, but it works well enough for my and the dog for our adventures.

Hoyt Ag said:

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I have had 5th wheels and bumper pulls. I prefer a bumper pull solely for boondocking in remote areas. Way easier to get in and out and are lighter too. Having my truck bed available to me is nice too.

Currect setup:
2019 F350 6.7
2022 Crossroads Sunset Trail 253RB w/Slide

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How is the bumper pull easier to get in and out? Isn't this dependent on the length of your rig? I have a 40' 5th wheel and I see some bumper pulls that are 30+ feet long and they would be much more difficult than my setup.

OP, FWIW, I wish that I had gone about 35' long rather than 40'. It's too long and I find that I don't want to pull it often because I'm tired of worrying about low trees, bridges and taking out cars in the left lane when I turn because I have 14' behind my rear axle. EDIT: I have air bags on my truck as well and they are awesome. Take out 99% of the bumps/jerks of pulling a trailer.

K4Ags said:

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Corps_Ag12 said:

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What did you do to help the rear end in your 3/4 ton with the bumper pull? My 1 ton squats a bit with this new 10k bumper pull, been considering either air bags or super springs.

Thoughts?

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Have you thought about a weight distribution setup?

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I have one but it still bounces the truck from time to time. Probably need to make sure the hitch is adjusted properly like Hoyt suggested.

Which airbags do you have?

Mainly weight and height. Some of my favorite areas are tight to get into and my old fifth wheel would get clipped on the top. I really prefer how light this rig is and I dont worry much about getting stuck in soft areas. My fifth wheel definetly was better on turning, but it was also 2.25 the weight and would be problematic sometimes in Routt national Forest and also out at the Snowy Mts.

I have the Rough Country Brand.

If I could make only one suggestion for someone looking at getting a camper or changing styles, it would be to RENT before you buy. Outdoorsy is one of many websites where you can do short term rentals of people's campers and if we would've rented our 33ft gas motorhome prior to buying, we would've never had bought this style.

That's a great suggestion!

Aggiemike96 said:

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This past weekend, I made the mistake of attending the Houston RV show, and now I am itching to upgrade my RV experience. My current rig is a mid-90s class A, 40-foot diesel pusher. It has served me well over the years. However, I was consistently drawn to the trailers at the RV show. Replacing my rig with a new Class A model would be $300-400K. That's definitely not worth it to me.

Interested in thoughts on going from a Class A to a TT or 5th wheel. I do not currently own a tow truck and am not opposed to a 3/4 ton as my current DD is slated for replacement later this year. For $100Kish, I can get a decent used 3/4 ton and a decent used trailer. Any thoughts or insights are appreciated!

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If you want a newer Class A diesel pusher I have a 2018 Entegra Aspire 44' 8" with very low mileage that I'm thinking about selling … basically used it to tailgate and stay the season in the fall at Aggie games and then only use it a few times a year on a few long trips. Maybe 13,500 miles.. brand new tires, tandem axel in rear, double bath rooms with bunks .. beautiful machine. Kept inside except during the fall Aggie season. Even Aggie colors!

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2018-Entegra+Coach-Aspire+42DEQ-5029110494 It's exactly like this one with a little diff layout but almost identical inside, outside is identical w maroon colors instead of brown

Corps_Ag12 said:

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Which airbags do you have?

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I have Air Lift. Simple, cheap.