I'm on the dark path many others have followed........

[BradW]

Seriously considering buying a mid-size 5th wheel next year. Seems like we just brought our new Lance home (in 1996) and its just barely getting broken in, but we are considering going semi-fulltime next year and 5th wheels are looking better and better.

Brad

[AKSuperDually]

Sold my truck and camper both....bought a new F250 platinum, and now I'm looking at smaller toyhauler 5ers....looking at this spring picking one up and bringing it up.

We'll go back to campers when the kids are gone. Kinda nice driving a smaller truck.

[Hvyhauler]

We have both and enjoy the 5er for longer extended trips.The TC is great for shorter trips and really like the way I can park it practically anywhere.

To me the TC is more versatile and is our emergency get away vehicle / shelter if needed.Both provide for good camping.

Good luck with your choice.

[Reddog1]

BradW wrote:
... It just seems like if you own too much stuff, your stuff starts to own you. I'm kinda geting that point already. Every time I turn around something needs the oil changed or worked on or something. ...

For me, it got worse after I retired. Not only do you have more time for the required maintenance, you feel guilty if you don't do it. When you are working, you do those things on your day off. When you retire, you never get a day off, you are retired 7 days a week. :R

[GeoBoy]

Brad, we started with a 8.5 Northstar Arrow, DW wanted a couch so we bought an AF 25R with a slide, we retired and bought an AF 22G feeling we didn't need the couch or slide and wanted a smaller TT to travel out west and thru the Rockies. Now we just picked up our 2016 AF 990 and DW says that this is the setup and I say no more towing. No TT hitch, no TT tires, no TT brakes, no TT wheel bearings, no more looking for BIG parking spots, etc..
We looked at a triple slide unit, with that couch, but it was 8 steps to get into it and if you missed that first step coming out it you could end up in the hospital. The triples also require a 550/5500 truck, getting very expensive.
Whatever you do, keep us posted.
GeoBoy

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

BradW wrote:
Every time I turn around something needs the oil changed or worked on or something. Life was simpler when we just had a 1961 Chevy short bed, a K-mart 3-man tent and a Bultaco dirtbike. 🙂

Brad

I hear ya. We live on a lake, and although our "fleet" has downsized, we too, have too many things with motors (although my grandkids would say other wise....LOL!)

[BradW]

I guess it would make sense to keep the tc for times when needed it.

It just seems like if you own too much stuff, your stuff starts to own you. I'm kinda geting that point already. Every time I turn around something needs the oil changed or worked on or something. Life was simpler when we just had a 1961 Chevy short bed, a K-mart 3-man tent and a Bultaco dirtbike. 🙂

Brad

[endalby]

Understand completely. We purchased our camper when our kids were 2 y/o and the other 3 months. Now they are 10 and 8. DW, the kids, and I have been looking at toy haulers. Not saying we are going to get one (except they kids, they would love it) but with a family of 4 (and a 75lb lab)the extra space seems nice. We love going to state and national parks and some of the parks we love we couldn't get a 5th wheel into. Plus I also tow either the Jeep or boat often and I would lose that (my boat weights 7K so I can't triple tow it).

[Bigfoot_affair]

My wife and I sold the Bigfoot two years ago and bought a small fifth wheel 27'. I don't think we will ever go back.

[brholt]

The Mad Norsky wrote:
The problem you're gonna have is finding a fifth wheel with the same quality and dependability as your Lance camper you have now.

While I don't have one from everything I know these are even higher quality then your truck camper:

Escape 5th wheel

They are also pretty small, arguably smaller inside than a large TC with a slide, and very hard to get. I think production is sold out for the year.

[_DJ_1]

Brad, we did pretty much the same thing only with a TT. But KEEP the TC!!! So now I have my TC and DW has her TT!! She is just too claustrophobic for my pop up. We decided on a TT vs a 5'er for two reasons. Pickup bed stays free for toys/gear and not having to mess with that heavy hitch switching back to the TC.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I should have explained that when we were towing our 5er around, we were looking for places to Snowbird. We ended up buying a S&B condo - it wasn't much different in price than other options.

So now that we have a Snowbirding HQ - our other travels will be sightseeing trips; and the TC is perfect for that!

[ReneeG]

~DJ~ wrote:

ReneeG wrote:
Fifth Wheel owner here - our plan is to get a pickup camper, with three slides, when we feel we either can't handle the fifth wheel or don't want to anymore.

Then you can camp on the Bull Trout side instead of North Lake!!! 😉

That's right! In fact, we would probably camp on the road going in off one of the smaller lakes.

[_DJ_1]

ReneeG wrote:
Fifth Wheel owner here - our plan is to get a pickup camper, with three slides, when we feel we either can't handle the fifth wheel or don't want to anymore.

Then you can camp on the Bull Trout side instead of North Lake!!! 😉

[dakonthemountai]

Time to triple tow Brad!... Tow the off road jeep on a trailer behind the fiver! 🙂

Whatever you do, don't stop camping or having fun!

Dak