Why We Moved From A 5th Wheel To A Motorhome
My wife and I have been shopping for a motorhome for a while and today we took the plunge and purchased a very nice pre-owned Country Coach. We are now in a 40 foot 2000 Allure with one slide. 
Why the switch? I’m glad you asked. We made the change from a 5th Wheel to a motorcoach primarily due to mobility issues. Our knees don’t appreciate going up and down the steps of our 5th wheel anymore.
We also wanted the comfort of driving on those nice cushy air bags and the ease of leveling and set-up. We also wanted a smaller more economical car (towed by the motorhome) with which to explore the side roads. The difference in fuel mileage between the motorhome and my 7.3 liter F-250 pulling our 5er is about the same. We enjoyed the 5th wheel, but since we are now traveling more often it makes sense to go with a motorhome. Here I am on the test drive.
This week and next I will be chronicling my experience throughout the process of purchasing our motorhome from Best Buy RV’s in Richmond, Indiana Click Here For Best Buy RV’s . This is a series of stories you don’t want to miss. As always I’ll bring you interesting tidbits about the RV lifestyle along the way. Jim
Why the switch? I’m glad you asked. We made the change from a 5th Wheel to a motorcoach primarily due to mobility issues. Our knees don’t appreciate going up and down the steps of our 5th wheel anymore.We also wanted the comfort of driving on those nice cushy air bags and the ease of leveling and set-up. We also wanted a smaller more economical car (towed by the motorhome) with which to explore the side roads. The difference in fuel mileage between the motorhome and my 7.3 liter F-250 pulling our 5er is about the same. We enjoyed the 5th wheel, but since we are now traveling more often it makes sense to go with a motorhome. Here I am on the test drive.
This week and next I will be chronicling my experience throughout the process of purchasing our motorhome from Best Buy RV’s in Richmond, Indianaposted by Jim Twamley at
5/03/2007 06:37:00 PM
24 Comments:
other advantages of a motorhome VS a 5th wheel:
-bathroom access for navigator
-snack availability while enroute
-better view through windshield
-more headroom in bedroom
-towed dingy avail.if brokedown
-more basement storage
By
Anonymous, at May 12, 2007 9:13:00 AM PDT
It makes me laugh when i read how someone always convinces themself into something they don't even need....LOL
By
Anonymous, at May 12, 2007 9:16:00 AM PDT
It makes me laugh when i read how someone always convinces themself into something they don't even need....LOL
By
Anonymous, at May 12, 2007 9:16:00 AM PDT
Hey a change is neat. We have been full timing in a LARGE 5th wheel for 12 years and we have also been looking at high line Mortorhomes. When we find the right one and they will make us a decent trade, we'll try Mororhoming for a while. Our problem is going to be than NONE of the BIG motorhomes have as much room as out Teton. Not in the Coach or the basement.
We just want to try something different. Who knows when we might have to give up this great lifestyle.......
Nice going Jim..
Mike & Pat McFall
By
Mike McFall, at May 12, 2007 9:49:00 AM PDT
If there is a problem with a motorhome and it has to be in the shop for repairs, then your "home" is gone until the repairs are finished. We are full timers and have had this problem a couple of times and have had to make other living arrangements.
By
Alice, at May 12, 2007 10:22:00 AM PDT
If your knees don't like steps, how do you get in to and out of the Motor home? Elevator?
By
Anonymous, at May 12, 2007 2:22:00 PM PDT
We switched to a motor home for the saftey of being in a rig and not having to get out at rest stops to get refreshments and potty stops..
We had a experience at a rest stop in Ca that made us change our minds about fifth wheels.Even at some places at night you can pick up and go even in your jammies SAFE & Sound
By
Anonymous, at May 12, 2007 5:46:00 PM PDT
We have friends who just went the other direction. They'd been in their Tradewinds full timing it for a number of years, but switched last year to a 5th wheel. They're oh-so sorry they did. They're not enjoying it (not sure why they changed in the first place); they were just to used to the comforts and advantages of a motorhome to make the transition.
As with the author of the article, we bought our MH from Best Buys RV in Richmond, IN in 2002. We found them to be terrific to deal with.
By
Stan, at May 12, 2007 5:52:00 PM PDT
Mr. Anonymous.....You go inside or out of the RV once in a while. I can walk into the bed room from the living room in my motor home many times without ever going up & down steps.
The "elevator" comment is a rather
uncaring one.
Also if you are doing much sight seeing as we do, riding in a pickup geared to handle a large 5th wheel is much rougher than a typical car or even a SUV.
By
W. A. Cooke, at May 12, 2007 5:58:00 PM PDT
People,...People,....People!!! For heavens sake, WHY do folks have to get so danged defensive and rude when the issue of Motorhome vs. 5th Wheel comes up. For GOSH sakes, if Jim and his wife want to try a MH, GREAT!!!! There's no right way!!!! WHY FIGHT Geeeeze!!!
S.L. Juntunen
By
Stephen, at May 12, 2007 6:45:00 PM PDT
I'd like to know what the ongoing operation and maintenance costs are. What EXACTLY does it cost to own it?
By
ATControlr, at May 12, 2007 7:35:00 PM PDT
Mr. Anonymous isn't worthy of any responses, please ignore him.
By
rving friend, at May 12, 2007 7:48:00 PM PDT
Your navigator (or others) can lay down and get a little rest on a long, monotonous stretch, get you a drink and/or snack from the fridge, use the potty, see to other passengers, etc, without stopping. Try that in a 5th wheeler!
By
mogul264, at May 12, 2007 8:44:00 PM PDT
We agree. It is our differences that make us special in this country. More power to the 5vers that went to a MH. We have had two and lots of problems with them that we lost our "home" for a few days, but the garages let us stay in the home while working on it, even set up electric and water for us. For us, these are just part of the adventure and we LOVE it...the adventure, not the breakdowns!
By
Jack and Nancy, at May 14, 2007 5:28:00 AM PDT
It always makes me ask about the motivation of an article like this when I see a big billboard out the window. Just an old salesman who dislikes sales....
Please tell me there is NO other motive here.
By
Ted S, at May 14, 2007 11:22:00 AM PDT
Poor Mr. Anonymous is so pathetic, he (she) posts insulting comments just to get a response.
We, too, just a few months ago traded our 5th wheel for an Endura (super C) motor home and for the same reasons. Too many steps during the day and too many falls from the bedroom to bathroom at night. Love the Endura, and are traveling more now that it is so easy to hook up the little car and take off. Also much easier when we get there. Even though we had electric jacks installed on the back of the 5er, it was a pain to unhook the truck (Chevy, one ton, four door dually) and go anywhere, because of size.
The two of us hook and unhook the "little car", (an S10 four door pick up) together, in about five minutes, checking each other's connections. As I said we love it and wish we had changed sooner. EJA California
By
Anonymous, at May 14, 2007 12:11:00 PM PDT
I have pulled a trailer, and now have a motor home..I have really enjoyed both, but do feel the motor home is much more comfortable, and also more fun to travel in. To each his own, as long as you enjoy RVing..
By
Jim & Nancy Watson, at May 14, 2007 12:56:00 PM PDT
There are pros and cons to both 5th wheels and Mhs. If you enjoy your experiences whose business is it other than yours to decide which RV you prefer. I personally prefer the MH. Besides all the advantages ther others have mentioned I think the wonderful view you get is of the best of the many intangible benefits.
By
Scott, at May 14, 2007 1:22:00 PM PDT
It is all a matter of personal preference. We've never had a 5th wheel but we have had a Class C and 4 Class A motorhomes. We travel with my Dad who is 83 and he enjoys being able to have more leg room when riding in the motorhome as opposed to being in a pick-up truck all day. I also enjoy being able to pull into a rest area and prepare a meal without having to leave the safety of my rig...or go through inclement weather to get from the pick-up to the trailer behind. But, again, it is whatever you using that should determine what type of rig you buy. They are all better than sitting at home!!!
Margie in Tumwater
By
Margie M., at May 14, 2007 2:03:00 PM PDT
A better choice of words would be that the MH has more steps making it easier to climb into. Something to check on every unit. Personally I use a Class A MH as most of my time is spent traveling with that HUGE picture window.
By
dave, at May 15, 2007 2:10:00 PM PDT
We have had several small to medium MH's when we thought a 5th would be a good idea. We had traveled through Texas and did a very unscientific survey for about 500 miles and found about a 3 to 1 ratio of MH's to 5's. We bought a nice fifth wheel with 3 slides & washer etc but found the disadvntages out-weighed the advantages for us and went back to a nice gas class A.
I think the world would be pretty dull if everyone made the same choices. What would there be to argue about??
By
evalee, at May 16, 2007 7:19:00 AM PDT
I'm really glad I read this article because my husband and I have discussed switching from a motor home to a 5th wheel, due to the maintenance costs of the Class A. We have a 330 Cat and the oil/filter change is $500 every 11,000 miles. We just blew two tires at $500 a tire. But I like being able to park our Jeep Wrangler where there are no other spaces. I think this will convince us to keep what we have. Elevator and all.
By
Amy, at May 16, 2007 1:34:00 PM PDT
We are getting settled into our used (new to us) morothome and have found it to be a lot of work finding places to put everything. As far as the steps/elevator issue, there are several ways to help folks with disabilities into a coach, 5th wheel or travel trailer. There are indeed elevator chairs that slowly move up and down a pole mounted outside the door and then swing the person inside the coach. There are wheel chair lifts that can be installed and there are winch and chain lifts available as well. RVing is fun and fabulous in whatever rig you choose. We've had them all and loved them all and with age and encroaching disabilities we are learning to appreciate the class A style of RV. Thanks to everyone for your readership! Happy Camping! Jim Twamley
By
Jim Twamley, at May 16, 2007 8:17:00 PM PDT
I was one that went from a class C to a 5th wheel, Am glad I made the change, we like the 5th wheel interior layout, and it is easy for us to set up when we reach our destijnation, or left hitched to the truck, fire up the generator and am at home wherever I am, same as my class C. For all, it is a choice, I personally have no problems driving my pickup to view the scenery or to get around town. So there you have it, my 2 cents worth.
By
Anonymous, at May 26, 2007 12:21:00 PM PDT
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home