Class C vs Fifth Wheel?

[Miscoehill]

We can't decide between Class C or Fifth Wheel? Is there a website out there where you can read about what would be best? We are a family of 4 (two teens) and will use this mostly for weekends and 3 weeks in the summer. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Mac and Us]

We've had both. In fact we've had tents, pop-ups, 5th wheel, truck campers, class C and now have a Class A.

There are pros and cons to both. The biggest pro with a 5th wheel is that you have a vehicle when you arrive at your desination. One of the cons to a 5th wheel is that you need to buy a truck big enough to tow it. That usually means the truck will be a daily driver......more gas. Motorhomes consume a lot of gas but only during the times you use it for vacation.

One of the major cons with a motorhome is that you now have another vehicle to maintain, upkeep, insurance, registration, etc.

We do not tow a car and have no desire to. We usually choose places where we can ride our bikes, walk or take public transportation. Once we arrive we do not drive......except Ft. Wilderness. We rent a car.

The pro with a motorhome is that is more comfortable to travel in. My husband and I share the driving. It's nice to have your own bathroom without having to stop. We have a 4year old and she likes having the table so that she can color, do puzzles, etc. She's in her booster seat at all times and we do stop when she needs to go potty. I'm sure there will come a day (very soon) that she will complain that we go to the bathroom while the motorhome is moving but she can't. We'll cross that bridge when it gets here.

Sorry to digress.......I guess it all depends on what you do when you camp. If you think you can survive without a car then you'll be fine with a class c. I would look at class A motorhomes as well. Ours is 29'8". It's easier to drive (handles better and can see more) than our class C was. It's the perfect size (2 slides). I'm sure you're looking at a class C because of the overhead bed. We thought we'd miss the overhead bed. Our daughter sleeps on the sofa in a sleeping bag. During the day we throw the sleeping bag on our bed. It takes us 5 minutes to set up and take down.

 

[FloridaTeacher]

We just upgraded from a fifth wheel to a Class A because the ride had become too uncomfortable (we were all squished in the truck). The teenagers' legs are too long. If you're like us and buying used, and think a Class C is cheaper than a Class A - we found more and better deals on Class A than C. We also noticed most Class C's didn't have the cabover bed, instead they had the TV/VCR, etc. up there.

Anyway, we found a great clean 37 ft. Bounder Class A with a slide. The sofa lets down into a bed and is so easy my 8 year old can do it. The table also lets down into a bed. It's worked out great for us - husband, two sons(15,8), nephew (14), two dogs (bassett hound & yorkshire terrier) and me. We couldn't be happier with it.

Happy Camping.

 

[kmccain]

We have had a travel trailer for many years. I would like to move to a Class C someday.

Our kids are teens now and they will not fit in the bunks much longer! If we got a Class C with a bed in the back and a bed over the cab, there would be enough sleeping room for them.

We spend a lot of money on the tow vehicle. I drive it to and from work in the winter and the gas is killing us.

I think travel time would be less because we could cook and move at the same time. We both work and the extra time would be an asset.

You could do a lot more dry camping because you would have the generator!

Just my opinion!

Good Luck!

 

[Donna]

Glad i found this thread. We are thinking of buying a Class C and are looking at used ones. HOw important is mileage. We are finding some great deals on a few older ones with mileage anywhere from 19,000 to 45,000. Exactly what IS the life of a Class C, generally (i know this can vary greatly). I just don't want to buy something and have it last only a few years. Gosh the 5th wheels have so much more room and are so much cheaper but the whole point of us wanting this is to travel in comfort. thanks!

 

[yoopermom]

I love my class C, bought because, with my bad back, I needed to be able to get up stretch, etc, on long trips (yes, occasionally without a seatbelt, sorry). Love the fact that I can play board games on the dining room table with DS, make sandwiches for lunch, etc, while tooling down the road (DH driving, in that case, obviously!). Overhead bed is nice and large, and couch folded down is comfortable (dinette only big enough for short person!). The only big drawback is not having a vehicle once at destination (we don't have a toad), but have rented one if needed (in SD Black Hills, for example).

Advantage of 5th wheel, obviously, is having a vehicle once you get to your destination, but it does need to be comfortable enough to travel in (which can drive the price of the tow vehicle into the 40K range, easy).

Love our C!
Terri

 

[Donna]

So, if you have a Class C, get to Ft. Wilderness and need transportation, it is not possible or practical to just unhook (remember, i'm a newbie!) and take it where you need to go and come back and hook it back up? Sorry for my ignorance, i have alot to learn!

 

[christinou]

You cannot unhook a class C, it is "one piece"...
You can unhook a fifth wheel from the truck.

 

[Donna]

No, i don't mean "unhook" as in take apart the unit. I meant, once you are plugged in (not sure of right word), can you simply unplug and take your vehicle to where you need to go and plug back in later? i just wasn't sure if that was practical or not. i see some class c'ers rent a vehicle to get aorund, is that really necessary? just trying to get a feel for what is involved once you are "plugged in" at disney. sorry if thats the wrong word!

 

[terri01p]

No, i don't mean "unhook" as in take apart the unit. I meant, once you are plugged in (not sure of right word), can you simply unplug and take your vehicle to where you need to go and plug back in later? i just wasn't sure if that was practical or not. i see some class c'ers rent a vehicle to get aorund, is that really necessary? just trying to get a feel for what is involved once you are "plugged in" at disney. sorry if thats the wrong word!

I think once you get settled into a spot, and hook up sewer line, water line, cable ( in some instances ) and electric, it becomes a pain just to undo it all
to go somewhere, plus your probably have awning out . You still have to set up anything you have.

 

[Donna]

Thanks! That's what i meant...it does sound like a pain to have to redo anything just for a trip to the store or something. We usually rent a car anyways, maybe just get one at the car care center and return there too.

 

[toytowner]

hello i've had truck campers, 5th wheels,class a's and with 4 grand kids the c works best as for towing you will tow something a trailer or car. as for hookup sometimes i don't hook to sewer if i'm gonna move only plug in elect.and water,cable so 5min. i'm gone.sometimes i tow a van most i don't.my c is 2002 coachman santara 31.5 ft. with slide and i go everywhere from nascar dry camping to the beach to the fort. even mohegan sun in the winter so we don't have to drive 2 hrs. home late at night. it's all what you want to spend don't worry about keeping up with the jones get what works for you bigger isn't always better.. good luck. the fort 7/3-7/10

 

[toytowner]

ok donna don't forget NEW ENGLAND. GO PATS. ps. spent 4 days in pa. eating shoe fly pie. lol.

 

[jones1428]

We just upgraded from our travel trailer to a Class C motorhome and traveled 20 hours to Disney with a 3 yr old. What a comfortable and wonderful drive. My son loved to be able to color at the table (in his booster of course), watch a movie and nap. We did not tow our jeep behind to Disney because there really was no need for a vehicle once we got there. But we do usually tow a vehicle with us. We also have the bed over cap and that is very comfortable and roomy. I have extremely satisfied with our Class C. We also looked a Class A, but decided we wanted to have the bed over the cap, because in the morning and evening after our son is sleeping we still have the sofa and table.

Barbara

 

[Donna]

One of my preferences is the bed over cap instead of the entertainment center. that space is too useful to be wasted on a tv/dvd/etc.! we are going to rent one to go to the big RV show in Hershey in September. Then we'll decide from there what works for us. The only thing we ARE sure of is we want a Class C.

Hey toytowner.....NE sounds like a great place to visit! I sure hope no one minds our Steelers shirts though! lol!

 

[Old Surfer Dude]

We have been spending Feb at the Fort for the last several Years. We use the "C" To go to church, shopping, etc.-takes us about 5 min to un plug, roll and go.

 

[toytowner]

hey donna steelers shirt ok. we also have bed over cab great place to store knick nacks or 4 kids just don't let them ride there. be careful of older units with low miles have seen a lot of leaks because they tend to sit and are not taking care of plus exhaust,brake lines,hose's ect. welcome in NEW ENGLAND anytime enjoy.

 

[Donna]

We have been spending Feb at the Fort for the last several Years. We use the "C" To go to church, shopping, etc.-takes us about 5 min to un plug, roll and go.

hey, thats good to know! that would save on renting a car on sundays and/or grocery shopping. guess you can put your stuff away right in the parking lot of the store, lol! So you spend the entire month of FEB there? wow, now THAT is living the retired life! DH is retiring in june, wait til i tell him! i wish FT. wild. would get an on-site school, lol, for the kids.

toytowner, thanks for the tips! we have alot to learn about what to look for. thats good to know because we WERE looking at the low mileage as an advantage but maybe there's a reason why they're so low, like you said. So far, i have found RVers/campers to be the nicest bunch of people!

 

[Capt Zosimus]

So Many of these post are very old, I am interested in what you did do, did you get the Class C and if not why, if yes how has it turned out for you.

 

[bama_ed]

So Many of these post are very old, I am interested in what you did do, did you get the Class C and if not why, if yes how has it turned out for you.

Capt Zosimus,

This thread is old. I bet if you started a new thread with a clear explanation in the title, you will get several answers. I can think of many recent posters who have bought a Class C in the last few years and chose it over a 5er.

Good luck!

Bama Ed