Ok, I sure that like a lot of you, I think I'm starting to lose my mind...My wife and I are researhing and trying to get as much info as possible to be full time RVers in a couple of years. Although we have only been in this info gathering mode for about 6-7 months now, it seems like the more we learn, the more questions arise. It really seems like there are very few "concrete" or right answers, but mostly opinion and preference. Fifth Wheel vs. Motorhome Diesel vs. Gas MDT vs. HDT You name it, there just doesn't seem to be any "right" answer. Today, I went into a forum and got wrapped up in a conersation/debate over tow vehicles. Although I know there are a lot of you that are mechanics or very mechanically inclined, I am not (and that's an understatement..lol) There seemed to be so many people pulling fifth wheels with either MDT's or HDT's...although I understand the whole "more than enough truck" argument and the "braking" argument, going to one of these truck seems a bit "extreme" to me....(and there's certainly nothing wrong with driving one if you enjoy it....maybe a retired truck driver...or a wannabe truck driver...lol)...I just can't picture myself and my wife using a huge MDT or HDT to do the weekly grocery shopping....or to do a lot of sightseeing in...but hey, maybe it's just me...??
I'd like to hear from those of you out there who tow a fifth wheel (and hopefully own a upper end fifth wheel, all of which tend to weigh a lot) with a "normal" truck (I guess I'd call a "normal" truck, a F-350 , 3500 or possibly a F-450 (although I guess an F-450 might be considered a MDT? I'm so confused...) Anyway, it there anyone who has towed a fifth wheel for any length of time with a one-ton truck? Have you had any problems - close calls? any braking problems? Problems making it up hills?
I guess I have just thought of being a full time RVer and living in a fifth wheel as a kind of "down sizing" or simpler life....didn't know I'd have to become a truck driver and get a "tractor" to pull one of these babies...
Any info would be appreciated.
Rick
-- Edited by Howard at 07:08, 2007-04-19
RVDude said
05:50 PM Apr 18, 2007
RickV, to me, "right" depends on only 2 things. 1) from a pure "manufacturer specifications" perspective do my choices "match?" and 2) above that, what do I want/dream?
For the first question. Let's say a 5er is in your dreams. Find out its fully loaded weight. Then simply look at prospective tow vehicle manufacturer "towing capacities". You have no choice for your safety, fellow traveler safety, and probably even the law to make sure that the tow vehicle manufacturer towing capacities meet or exceed the fully loaded specifications of your 5er. This is really cut-n-dried and NO opinions, pure and simple numbers. Now, choosing a tow vehicle that *exceeds* your fully loaded configuration is a matter of pure preference and pure opinion and probably where you are getting overdosed. Albeit, the higher the *excess* capacity of your tow vehicle in relation to the tow in fact does translate into an additional safety margin. And that increased margin is YOUR choice to have or not. Now that this is settled, let’s move to the really fun stuff...
For the second question, only YOU can answer what is right re: MH/5er, gas/diesel, MDT/HDT (unless pre-determined in question 1) and so on. HOW YOU think you'll live on the road dictates what will work best for YOU. These all become preferences. Personal preferences. YOUR personal preferences. They are not an easy set of choices as not only are you determining what rig to buy but that rig choice will directly determine how you'll be living in it and thus the lifestyle you‘ll have. What makes this really tough is that you are also selecting a LIFESTYLE in addition to a rig as they go hand in hand. By that I mean, a big rig can't fit in my preferred small parks, a small rig can't carry all my toys, I don't want to drive a tractor sized HDT (so I need a smaller trailer), I do/don't like the smell of diesel in the morning, and on and on... These need to be YOUR preferences for YOUR lifestyle in YOUR rig for YOUR life on the road. So, go sit in them, all of them, for hours, and dream of every scenario you want to do out there and take notes on how that rig meets those scenarios.
Then YOU will know what's right for YOU right now. And remember, as to your choices, there ain't no decision that can't be undone and done again! EXPECT to make changes to your configuration and choices as you learn and as your needs/desires change over time/experience. It’s YOUR life, YOUR lifestyle, and YOUR approach to it. It’s a lot of head holding at first, it isn’t permanent, it will change, and boy-o-boy is it fun!
It really seems like there are very few "concrete" or right answers, but mostly opinion and preference.
Fifth Wheel vs. Motorhome
Diesel vs. Gas
MDT vs. HDT
You name it, there just doesn't seem to be any "right" answer.
Today, I went into a forum and got wrapped up in a conersation/debate over tow vehicles. Although I know there are a lot of you that are mechanics or very mechanically inclined, I am not (and that's an understatement..lol)
There seemed to be so many people pulling fifth wheels with either MDT's or HDT's...although I understand the whole "more than enough truck" argument and the "braking" argument, going to one of these truck seems a bit "extreme" to me....(and there's certainly nothing wrong with driving one if you enjoy it....maybe a retired truck driver...or a wannabe truck driver...lol)...I just can't picture myself and my wife using a huge MDT or HDT to do the weekly grocery shopping....or to do a lot of sightseeing in...but hey, maybe it's just me...??
I'd like to hear from those of you out there who tow a fifth wheel (and hopefully own a upper end fifth wheel, all of which tend to weigh a lot) with a "normal" truck (I guess I'd call a "normal" truck, a F-350 , 3500 or possibly a F-450 (although I guess an F-450 might be considered a MDT? I'm so confused...)
Anyway, it there anyone who has towed a fifth wheel for any length of time with a one-ton truck? Have you had any problems - close calls? any braking problems? Problems making it up hills?
I guess I have just thought of being a full time RVer and living in a fifth wheel as a kind of "down sizing" or simpler life....didn't know I'd have to become a truck driver and get a "tractor" to pull one of these babies...
Any info would be appreciated.
Rick
-- Edited by Howard at 07:08, 2007-04-19
For the first question. Let's say a 5er is in your dreams. Find out its fully loaded weight. Then simply look at prospective tow vehicle manufacturer "towing capacities". You have no choice for your safety, fellow traveler safety, and probably even the law to make sure that the tow vehicle manufacturer towing capacities meet or exceed the fully loaded specifications of your 5er. This is really cut-n-dried and NO opinions, pure and simple numbers. Now, choosing a tow vehicle that *exceeds* your fully loaded configuration is a matter of pure preference and pure opinion and probably where you are getting overdosed. Albeit, the higher the *excess* capacity of your tow vehicle in relation to the tow in fact does translate into an additional safety margin. And that increased margin is YOUR choice to have or not. Now that this is settled, let’s move to the really fun stuff...
For the second question, only YOU can answer what is right re: MH/5er, gas/diesel, MDT/HDT (unless pre-determined in question 1) and so on. HOW YOU think you'll live on the road dictates what will work best for YOU. These all become preferences. Personal preferences. YOUR personal preferences. They are not an easy set of choices as not only are you determining what rig to buy but that rig choice will directly determine how you'll be living in it and thus the lifestyle you‘ll have. What makes this really tough is that you are also selecting a LIFESTYLE in addition to a rig as they go hand in hand. By that I mean, a big rig can't fit in my preferred small parks, a small rig can't carry all my toys, I don't want to drive a tractor sized HDT (so I need a smaller trailer), I do/don't like the smell of diesel in the morning, and on and on... These need to be YOUR preferences for YOUR lifestyle in YOUR rig for YOUR life on the road. So, go sit in them, all of them, for hours, and dream of every scenario you want to do out there and take notes on how that rig meets those scenarios.
Then YOU will know what's right for YOU right now. And remember, as to your choices, there ain't no decision that can't be undone and done again! EXPECT to make changes to your configuration and choices as you learn and as your needs/desires change over time/experience. It’s YOUR life, YOUR lifestyle, and YOUR approach to it. It’s a lot of head holding at first, it isn’t permanent, it will change, and boy-o-boy is it fun!