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We are tossing around the idea of an upgrade that would put us in the 41’ to 43’ length area. One of our biggest concerns is how it will affect us finding campgrounds and boondocks that we will fit into. Also, are there any other downsides to a 5er that size.
Thanks for the replies in advance…
We are tossing around the idea of an upgrade that would put us in the 41’ to 43’ length area. One of our biggest concerns is how it will affect us finding campgrounds and boondocks that we will fit into. Also, are there any other downsides to a 5er that size.
Thanks for the replies in advance…
Height difference, tail swing, and do you have enough truck to pull it. Your 3500 probably does not have the capacity you will need. You will also need wider roads to back in or pull through camp sights - same for gas stations.
2018 Reflection 150 Series 220RK 5th whee, Star White 2022 F350 King Ranch CC Long bed (HAL) (CCC 4062lbs), B&W 25K OEM Companion,. SteadyFast system, Trailer reverse lights, rear receiver spare tire holder, storage tube, sumo springs, Victron MultiPlus 12/120/3000, Solar, Custom 6K axles upgrade, and other modifications.
Depends on what/where y'all like to camp. In national parks, under 30' is best. Over 30'...especially 40' makes it very difficult to find a place. In some state parks you may find the same thing. I don't think you'll have that issue with RV parks that are outside national/state parks.
Also can restrict some of the roads you are able to use. I know some national parks like Big Bend, Capital Reef, Glacier....do have length restrictions just to travel on the road do to tight turns.
Height is a god one. Typically over 13' tall. Width also. Many are 102" wide instead of 96" wide.
I think a 5th wheel will give you much more comfort, storage and space. Tow better than a bumper pull. I guess it depends on what you want to do and what your priorities are.
Yoda Thanks for the reply. The biggest on our list is a Momentum. Our truck is the 14,000 gvwr. Curb weight is a little north of 8,000#. With a combined tow of 40,000#.
Height is one of our many concerns. Gas stations definitely on the list, especially west of the Mississippi.
Consider truck max payload also. We think that 2020 Chevy Silverados have better payload versus our 2018 but unless its a dually, you should calculate new hitch weight, and all other weights to ensure you’re under your payload. We agree with what others said about maneuverability at campsites, gas stations, etc.
Elke and Heinz
2018 Chevy 3500 SRW Duramax SB
2021 Reflection 337RLS
acoleman43 Thanks for the reply. The restrictions and limitations are what we are trying to figure out. We have not traveled much so far. When you get beyond our little corner of the world, we have no idea what we could run into.
We are looking to transition to full time, so hopefully we can boondock quite a bit. We are considering the upgrade for extra space, we need to still work while full timing. We are trying to weigh space versus restrictions of a larger rig.
hduring Thanks. Ours is a DRW. I have not confirmed all the numbers at a scale yet, but that is coming soon. I want to confirm the actual curb weight and axle weights so I know exactly what numbers we have to work with.
@M&K337 If you're willing to boondock there are some advantages to a larger 5th wheel, particularly a toy hauler 5th wheel. They have larger holding tanks..often 100+ gallons of fresh water, 75 to 100+ gallons of grey and up to 75 gallons of black. That makes it possible to boondock for much longer periods.
Also, most toy haulers will come with onboard generators which use gas from the large toy fuel tank (30 to 60 gallons of fuel). It's as easy as flipping a switch from the indoor control panel to start and stop the generator.
A large 5th wheel will also have more roof area to mount solar panels and more storage for more batteries if that's a direction you want to go.
Large 5th wheels will have more exterior and interior storage. Will probably have washer/dryer connections, will have more space for guests (even overnight guests). A toy hauler will have a garage in the back for motorcycles, golf carts, side-by-side. You can even make the garage into an office....and the garage will typically provide 2 more queen sized beds for guests.
A 5th wheel has lots of advantages for full timers in my opinion,
Disadvantages are size and cost...and require a large towing vehicle (which you already have). Most popular national parks and state parks have private RV parks just outside the park boundaries that will accommodate a 5th wheel (plus have full hookups and other amenities....for a price).
THere are many, many boondocking areas in the west (not Texas so much) that will accommodate many different types of vehicles. You may not be able to go into some really "of the grid" type places, but there are plenty more that are just fine. We've found boondocking in the most unusual areas you would never think about.
Good luck on your future adventures. Sounds very exciting for y'all!
hduring Thanks. Ours is a DRW. I have not confirmed all the numbers at a scale yet, but that is coming soon. I want to confirm the actual curb weight and axle weights so I know exactly what numbers we have to work with.
Look on your door jambs. there will be a sticker telling you your cargo carrying capacity CCC and max axle loadings along with GVW and Combined GVW. It may also list your truck weight from the factory. Those are the numbers you need. Remember when looking at the GD specifications the pin weight listed is the dry weight. Loaded is 15% to 20% of the weight of the max trailer weight rating.
If you post a picture of those door jam plates it will help us help you and what you can safely tow.
2018 Reflection 150 Series 220RK 5th whee, Star White 2022 F350 King Ranch CC Long bed (HAL) (CCC 4062lbs), B&W 25K OEM Companion,. SteadyFast system, Trailer reverse lights, rear receiver spare tire holder, storage tube, sumo springs, Victron MultiPlus 12/120/3000, Solar, Custom 6K axles upgrade, and other modifications.
Yoda Thanks. The largest rig we are looking at has a gvrw of 20,000#. If I’m not mistaken 20% is 4,000#. We would still have a little over 1,000# payload left on tv. I don’t think we have enough stuff in our 337 to max out a toy hauler. Our other contender at the moment has a gvrw of 16,800#, we would be okay there also.
I have learned alot on this forum about cargo capacity. Big thanks to all the knowledge people on here.
Just finished a 5000 mile trip (California to Minnesota; I40/I25/I80 outbound, and I70/I15 inbound) with our 41 foot, 5 inch Solitude. Repeat of last year's trip in old 5er, 35 feet, 7 inch. Same truck. Last year, 11.4 MPG, this year, 9.5. Three boxes DEF vs two last year. A few campgrounds were unable to accommodate our size, because those spaces were already reserved (campgrounds much more full this year than last). We weighed our combo on the way out of town, and had a couple hundred pounds of capacity available. But we are not full timing, and carry hardly anything in the front basement. Also, our rear kitchen floorplan allows us to offset the weight of clothing with the weight of food, etc. If we decided to, we would have to upgrade truck to dually. I had no trouble finding places to fuel, and avoid the large truck stops like Flying J and Pilot. I also try to avoid biodiesel. But you also won't fit at one of Walmart's Murphy stations either. What I did notice is that you have to pay alot more attention when towing something this big; I definitely was more tired at the end of the day. I prefer to go around the big cities when possible, and use smaller highways rather than interstates when I can justify that. You have plenty of truck already, if it is a diesel.
Dave and Darren Bakersfield, CA
2019 GMC Denali dually 4x4 duramax, BW puck hitch, timbrens 2015 Chevrolet 3500 CC duramax SB SRW (much loved; replaced with dually)
2021 Solitude 390 RK-R (3 A/C, solar, gen, 8K axles DP glass), comfort ride shocks, VIN 03584
Max and Riley, our chihuahua/jack russell furbabies
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