What do you all think?:

Buy the truck or fifth wheel first?

Thanks

I have been researching this for some time and the consensus is pick the 5th wheel first, then buy the truck you need to pull it. If you get the truck first you are limited to the 5th wheels that particular truck can pull.

Delanie,

I was wondering how long a person kept their homes. I hope what you went through isn't typical, I'll have to put blinders on my wife. Just kidding honey. Is the Kodiak a converted pickup? I've been trying to find a dealer for the Freightliner's used to pull 5ers.

Thanks for your story.

Mountain MAster in Phoenix, Az does the Freightliner Conversions.  Phone: 888-838-6678, ask for Jerry.  Mine is on order and will be arriving next month.  I have ordered a 39' Teton and will start full timing next year.

5er first for sure. Before we bought our 5er we had owned two Travel Trailers (Prowlers). First thing we wanted to look at in the 5er was counter space. You learn as you go and understand with each one what you miss the most. For our third one it was counter space, counter space, storage, storage, storage. I love the kitchen in our Cougar (I think the layout is similar to what Howard and Linda have) it is "L" shaped and has lots of counter space. The only other one I would consider now (if the "L" shaped kitchen were not available) would be a rear kitchen. Neither of our travel trailers had enough counter space. And don't let the salesman sell you on the idea that the cover over the range top is counter space.

If you are looking at a Freightliner, another place to look is the SportChassis by Freightliner Specialty Vehicles in Clinton, OK.  http://www.sportchassis.com/  They have dealers nationwide.  They exhibit at a lot of shows, so one can see the work they do in person.

I purchased the truck first.  It's a GMC Sierra 2500HD with Duramax Diesel.  Now having said that, it does limit you to the lighter weight fifth wheels.  The gross weight listed for the truck is 16,800 pounds, but after towing our 14,000 GVW Cedar Creek I wouldn't want to be any heavier.  The truck can handle the weight and the engine certainly can pull it, but the issue becomes braking.  I'm going to add a "Jake Brake" just for the added comfort.  If you have the opportunity, then you should pick out your fifthwheel first and purchase a truck to handle it.  It is better to have more truck than you need rather than not enough truck.

Have fun, take your time, do your homework, and enjoy the process - it is all part of the experience.

Darrell

 

We went into this without ANY RV, camping, or truck experience. Once we decided we wanted a fifth wheel, I looked for the truck with the highest tow capacity and ordered that one. In 2006 it was a Ford F350 diesel dually. I don't think it makes a difference which comes first, the key thing is that they have to be matched. If the truck is first, you cant get a trailer that will exceed the tow capacity. And make sure you calculate what it will be filled with all the options and your stuff. The dealers don't help you, and will probably minimize the needs. If the trailer is first, then you have to order a truck that can pull at least 10-15% more than your full weight. It's really important to have a good match, you may have to stop, or swerve suddenly, and that's no time to discover that you're underpowered.

It's a catch 22 really. When you are looking at both, you have your mind set on what you "want/need". If you look at 5ver's first, you may find the 5ver that fits you best, but come to find out you need a $75K Freightliner to pull it. On the other hand, you may buy that Duramax Dually, and while looking for 5vers, find out that the 5ver you want is too heavy for the truck. Me? I would get the 5ver first, then the truck. Probably because I think it would be really cool to own a Semi.

We traded our 1992 26' no slide 5th wheel for a 32' 2 slide 5thwheel in 2003. We kept our 1993 F250 with 460 gas engine and knew we wouldn't have enough truck to pull it. I am glad we waited to buy a new truck because the new 5ver was heavier than what we were lead to believe from the brouchure and saleman. We sold old truck out right and ordered an 2004 F350 supercab. I am sure glad we got the F350 over the F250 because our new 5ver has a pin weight of 2,500lbs. We are a little over the GVWR of the truck but well under the axle rating and the GCWR. I wish I had the dulley but it would be a big problem parking it in the garage with our Honda. When we full time we may be able to trade for larger 5th wheel, which we will buy first, take it to the scales then buy the truck.  5th first then the truck.

A lot of Full Timers with big 5er's are buying used semi-trucks and converting for RV towing.  I've seen some really nice trucks on the HDT forum over at Escapees.  Some of the semi-trucks even come with full automatic tranmissions for us ladies.  We only have a MDT but I find it a lot easier to drive them then our old Dodge 3500 dually.  You are up so high that you can see the road ahead a lot better then a pick-up.  Get an MDT or HDT and never worry about how big your 5 wheel might be.  My DH (designated husband) let me pick out the 5er I wanted so he got to pick out the truck that would pull it.  He knew what he was doing.  He got the truck he really wanted and I got the Condo On Wheels.

Good luck

Stan and Joanne

For into on converting an HDT for RV use, youi can look at our website. Volvo Conversion and RV Electrical Info

We bought our truck first.  But, we found a BIG truck.  We bought a Ford F-550.  We knew that it could tow just about any 5th Wheel that we wanted.  We purchased a new 2006 Sunnybrook 391KSURV, toyhauler.  We have been all over the east coast with no problems.  We are currently looking at putting the Banks system on the truck.  Heard that the break on they Banks system is awesome on the mountain roads. 

My nephew just put the Banks system on his truck.  He just had a scare pulling his fifth wheel with his family.  He lost his brakes in a contruction zone on a back road leaving the campground.  It was down hill.  He had to get in the lane of the oncoming traffic.  Lucky for him oncoming traffic stopped and he was able to pull into a front yard with an incline.  His wife cried the rest of the way home and said she would not get in the truck again while pulling the trailer.  He says he is not overweight.  He pulls with a 1 ton Chevrolet deisel dually (not sure what year).  The 5th wheel is 35' of 36' long.  He does not know the weight with it loaded.  He does haul alot of stuff.  It has made us seriously consider getting a MDT before we get a heavier 5th wheel.  

-- Edited by Readytogo at 07:55, 2006-08-31

To clarify.  He got the Banks system after loosing his brakes.  He thinks it is going to help alot.