Burro
U.S.A.
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Joined: 12/14/2004
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Our friends were in a fiver and we had our Class A. It was raining like Noah's flood. We backed in, dropped the jacks and were 'home'. Our friends grabbed the dogs and whatever they needed from the truck, ran for the fiver and all of them were instantly soaked.
I was glad to have a motorhome that day!
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LEWISCLAN
southern ca.
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Joined: 08/22/2005
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lawnboy1 wrote:a 5th wheel is simple to hook and unhook . once you have a routine set up stick to it ,plus they tow better with no sway,more usable space inside.
x2 you will love a 5th wheel
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Canadian Karebear
St Albert Alberta
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Joined: 10/22/2007
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Being a single gal myself (with a child), I thought the same thing when I first "started out".
First thing, do you have a good towing vehicle (like a truck)?
If not, that is another expense you will incur towards getting the trailer.
I have run the gammit of tent trailer, to hybrid and am now searching for a Motorhome.
My tow vehicle wasn't all that great and so towing was a challenge with the Hybrid (until I sold it this past July).
Let me tell you, it can get tricky those first few times going out and backing up in a campground.
As nice as people can be in the campground helping you out, you may still hit things or back up wrong. This is practice.
No matter what you drive, backing up anywhere will take practice (a motorhome as well!).
My issue was one of security (if I pull up somewhere and it's dead of night, do I really want to get out of my truck, unhook and get into the trailer? or do I just want to leave my driver seat, walk to the back of the Motorhome and lay down?) as well as stability.
Nothing is worse than travelling down the road on a stormy windy day and white-knuckling the wheel of the truck because your trailer is all over the road (even with the sway bar!).
THEN that BIG TRUCK passes you and you are sucked into his berth.
Those days scared me.
A truck is nice when you stop at the campground and want to do some running around, but you can either decide to tow a vehicle, or you can trust a reliable bicycle (and get some exercise too!).
The decision is yours, but personally I don't feel safe nor comfortable in a trailer anymore. A motorhome is my choice.
Good luck and if you ever want to talk, PM me.
Mommy, Son, Sammy
No RV at the moment, looking at Class C's!!
** Full timing target date July 2010 **
In a world full of people, only some want to fly,
isn't that crazy?.....(Seal)
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RVUSA
Orlando, FL, USA
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Joined: 01/04/2005
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Canadian Karebear wrote:THEN that BIG TRUCK passes you and you are sucked into his berth. Those days scared me.
You and me both sister.
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floridariz
Longwood, Fl
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Joined: 05/17/2004
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We have a fifth wheel and it is great but I want to respond MORE to your circumstances! We were thrown into fulltiming by similar circumstances, I am sure...it was not our first choice but it is working out better than expected. You know, it is one of those things that it takes a kick in the pants to get you to do it but once your there, it's all good! :-) We are in tough times right now. We are doing what is necessary to survive and making the best out of it. I sincerely hope that you write us in a month or so and tell us it is way better than you ever expected and things are going great! :-)
Dad-traveling computer software geek 
Mom-homeschools the boys 
We PREFER living in the fiver to our sticks and bricks!
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FLIRGUY
Ridgecrest, Ca.
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Joined: 07/19/2009
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I have towed all kinds of trailers in my life. A 5ver is so much easier to hook and unhook. You can watch the kingpin into the hitch. With other trailers the tailgate is in the way to watch. And a 5ver tows so much nicer. No travel trailer wag.
2007 Crossroads Zinger 270RL
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD
1975 Cadillac Eldorado
20 Year USN Ret.
One Shar Pei Soon
Will never marry again!
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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with all of these posts on how easy it is to hook/unhook a 5er I am reminded of watching my neighbor at the campground in San Antonio where the sites were elevated and had a ramp at each end. The fella was sort of raised up over the middle hitching area and he had a dickens of a time unhooking and hooking back up. don't know if he was just inexperienced or if it was a real issue. might be nice and easy if you are on the flat and level ground.
bumpy
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John&Joey
Northern MN
(Baby it's cold outside)
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Joined: 05/20/2007
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If you're really motivated by cost and not lifestyle, then there is another option. There were many single women in our snowbird park that either had a park model, 5'ver, or TT. They themselves never moved it, but had someone else do it. The cost was about $100 for the 5'ver, TT.
If you're planning on staying put for awhile until things settle down, it maybe an option. Later you could get the tow vehicle and venture out slowly to get use to it all.
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miruca
alaska
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Joined: 05/17/2009
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From what I read, RV'ing is not inexpensive ... a car, a small apt would likely be cheaper.
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FastEagle
Taylors, SC
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Joined: 03/05/2007
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The overwhelming majority of full-timing women we have come in contact with over the past 6-7 years have been in a mid sized (27-32') class C with a little run-around car in tow. They like the auto leveling system and convenience of not having to ever go outside on those short rest stops. But I've found that most of all they find that it's the best RV situation when traveling with pets, and most all seemed to have at least one. A mid sized dog as a companion and protector.
Once you get on the road full-time you will quickly learn that it's not as expensive as lots of people think it might be. There are all sorts of safe places to stay that is free and easy for the self contained class C. Many of the newer models have huge storage areas in the rear for your “stuff”. Many of the small run-around cars can be towed with all four on the ground making it a snap to hook/unhook them.
Once the decision is made, just do it. You will meet lots of great people and become acquainted with a wonderful country and way of life.
FastEagle
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