which is better? a full size camper or 5er?

[ChesterRam]

Hello everyone,

thank you for all the great posts... .



It looks like my wife and myself will be traveling full time over the next 9 months for business using the Dodge/Cummins. We would like some input about the pros and cons of a full size camper -vs- a small 5th wheel trailer.



Costs?

Fuel milage (which would be better)?

Utility?

Convenience?



I know I don't have any specifics about makes and models. And I'm sure they vary alot, but we would sure appreciate your opinions and experience.



Thank you.

Chris

 

[RADdodge]

I love my camper! It allows us to go where many larger rigs cannot go. However, if I had to live in it for business and months at a time, I would not hesitate to get a 5th wheel. They are like home away from home. A camper, well, it's like camping!

 

[Kimrey]

Do you have a 3500? The 3500 will handle a 5th wheel better ( 2 extra wheels in the back). I have a 5th wheel and love it. It pulls better than a travel trailer. You don't have the sway in a 5th like you do a travel trailer. There are pro's and con's to both. I've pulled both and like the 5th the best. Fuel will be about the same either way. You also have more head room in a 5th. It seems to be more open. I like the bed being at the front, it seems cosy to me. I have the Cedar Creek, and love it. That brand will get you more for the money. Other than prefernces, the 2 campers have basically the same options. Look at them both, you and the wife decide on what you like. I wish I had more time to travel! Be Safe!

 

[Happy Camper]

I have a 9'10" Lance camper and a 30' Alpenlite 5th wheel. We spent 10 days in the slide in camper the first of January. I is now for sale!! A day or two is fine but there is now substitute for room in the 5vr plus it is easy to unhook and use the tow rig as a touring rig. I have had numerous travel trailers and I would never go back. Just my opinion. Very little difference in fuel mileage. 13 with the 5vr and 14 to 15 with the camper.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

When I had my first truck, I debated the same thing. I got a camper, but the whole time I wished I had a trailer. I have an old 21 foot travel trailer now, and would never go back. The added room in the trailer is soooooo much nicer.

 

[DCrabbs]

Go for the 5er. I have had everything from popups to my current 31' Alpenlite 5er. Truck mounted campers fill a special nitch, but aren't (imo) very practical for full time living. The above post describing their use a "camping" hit it right on the head. My biggerst fault with owning a slide in camper was the impracticality of dropping it if I wanted to use the truck. I thought it would be a good way to access the rough country that I chukar hunt in, but the reality was that trying to haul it over rough back roads was too hard on both the truck and the camper. It's much easier to tow a 5er near where I want to hunt, visit, etc and drop it. When I get done and back "home" I have much more room and it is easier on both units.



Currently, I am full timing (comfortably) in my 5er and cannot imagine doing it in a camper!



Dean

 

[Steve M]

We pulled our travel trailer for 6 years and enjoyed everything about it except the ride. Our first trip out with our 5th wheel was a real eye opener. What a difference in the ride. The travel trailer could be a real back slapper on some highways and always amplified bumps and dips in the road. With the fifth wheel, the truck actually rides way better with the trailer on than off. We'll never go back to a travel trailer for that reason alone.

 

[chuck3]

5er is my vote.

 

[dalton4]

Chris, I have both the camper and a 29' 5er. As stated by others, space becomes valuable when staying put for a few days or more. You will also have a lot more storage room for things that you will need if you go the 5er route. The camper is fine for mobility, getting into smaller places and being a small package to drive. From my experiences and based on what you stated, I feel that you and the wife will be happier with the 5er. Remember, being on the go and stopping for one or two days is a lot different than staying put for an extended time. Do you and the wife like having some personal space? There is not very much of that in the average camper and needs to be factored into your decision.



Good luck and safe travels.



Jerry

 

[klenger]

I like being able to disconnect the 5er and leave it at the camping site when going out. With the camper, if one of you wants to go somewhere, you both have to go. The 5er are quite simple to disconnect and setup.

 

[cwsoules]

Choice

We looked at slide in campers and saw several which were nice. We went for a 5th wheel because we could have more room. An added bonus in a public park we can drop the 5th wheel and go on our way and be certain that our space would be there when we returned.

 

[Paul Somers]

If you are over six feet the question is easy, 5er. I am 6'3" and have to duck a/c and antenna crank in TT. Not so in 5er. If under six feet question is harder. Ease of towing 5er. Lowest price for given length TT. Easiest to get into TT (fewer steps). Least likely to drag rear end in dips entering service station 5er. Use of pick up bed while towing TT. I'm sure others can add to this.

 

[Diese1nut]

We started with a 2000 Holiday Rambler travel trailer and were very happy with it until we saw the Alpenlite fifth wheel. We traded after having the trailer for only 6 mos. Very happy with our choice. The fifth wheel is set up for more full time living. The furniture is so much more comfortable and a lot more room.

As far as towing, well with the proper hitch the both tow easily. If your truck is a single rear wheel don't worry. Mine is a QC short bed and it tows the 32' Alpenlite very safely.

 

[Okie-Go]

I like the idea of a 5er. You can unhook very easily and go sightseeing or get supplies. With a camper you take it with you. Get back to camp and the trailer is still cool and already level. The room is just unreal even in the shorter ones especially if it has a slide. 9 months is a while to stay in a camper. I would say the 5er is more expensive but some of the cab-overs are up there in price as well. Talking to some people in campgrounds that have a camper or trailer would be a good way to get ideas as well.

 

[cjackg]

Sounds like I am in the minority so far, but we much prefer our Lance 1130 truck camper over a 5th wheel trailer. In '99 we hauled a 31' 5th wheel roundtrip from Florida to Alaska on a 3-month trip. After we got back we sold the trailer and bought the Lance.

Since then we have made 2 trips to Canada and numerous 3-10 day trips up and down the East coast.

The Lance has all the conveniences of the trailer, just not as much walk around space. plus you can go just about anywhere with the Lance, downtown, outback, etc etc... . but the trailer always has to be parked, unhooked, to go anywhere. Setup of the Lance is very quick and it just seems like a lot less hassle unless you are settling into a campground for a long stay.

I rarely remove my Lance and use the truck daily for local travel. On many occasions I have passed with ease by other rigs laboriously hauling trailers, particularly in the mountains.

My mileage with the Lance runs around 13-14 whereas I rarely got that much with the trailer.

 

[dresslered]

cjgoodwin-

We are in total agreement with you. We love to camp but as we have grown older we now require a hot shower, a bed, and cold beer with our camping. The slide-in camper provides all this and more (i. e. forced air heating, tv, vcr, microwave, -40 degree temperature rating, etc. )! The best thing is that we can still stay in the same campgrounds as we use to. We can go almost any place a car can go. Parking in the city is also reasonable. For some reason, when we are trying to get out to nature and camp, we do not desire to stay in the big parking lots with all the rv'ers listening to their generators going all night. As an added benifit, insurance for the slide-in is only $28/6-months and there are no registration fees. Finally, it fits right behind my house!



I would suggest that a 3500 is required for any reasonably sized slide-in.



Also, it is quite easy to drop the camper at the camp site with the remote control jacks if you want to go out and explore.

 

[Paul Somers]

Oops sorry

My earlier reply I thought we were comparing TT to 5er. I see I was wrong. Slide in to 5er was the question. As earlier post suggest, my vote is slide in if travel from Florida to Alaska is your plan. But week long stays close to home no doubt 5er.

 

[Pogodually]

Compare

I see you have a lot of answers to your questions. My comment after almost 8 years on the road in a 39 foot fiver. Had lots of room, including a washer/dryer, and some low, low (2 degrees)temperatures. I was working full time for most of that time. Now have a smaller 5er. , 30 foot. Still working and have used the this fiver for a 9,000 working trip last summer. Ride is great, and getting around while pulling is no problem. My opinion, a fiver is the only way to go.

 

[PRout]

Ditto, No comparison. 5th wheel all the way.



We've had everything now. Campers, popups, small travel trailer, tents.



The popup camper is a pain. You have to pop it down to go to the store, or do any exploring takes packing everything up & securing it. Too much noise through the canvas. Hard sided camper is ok, but you dont have any storage space, or water capacity for a shower.



With the 5th wheel you just set it up once, and you have your truck free to do anything you want. Lots of storage space too.

 

[KMeek]

My wife and I did the Camper thing before we went to a 5th Wheel. We prefer the 5th for several reasons. First, the extra room is wonderful. Experiences by others to the contrary, I cannot imagine two or more people living comforrtably in a camper for very long. Second, I thought it was a real pain to have to drag the camper every place we took the truck. Every time back to the campground had to relevel the camper and hook up again. It was a real pain for minor trips to get groceries. Third, I would personally prefer to tow the 5th Wheel than haul the camper. Where I live it is very windy and you have your hands full hauling a camper in the wind sometimes.