Fifth wheeler wannabe (1 Viewer)

[Partizanmeister]

*Shuffles nervously in*

Ahem, just introducing myself. Been canalboating on holiday for a few years and had been thinking of getting one when retirement looms (or the lottery numbers come up).

Now thinking that a motorhome will:
a) give us more space, and
b) we can go to much warmer places

Because we have two fully grown sons with autism and LD who will likely be travelling with us, and I have a wife for whom 'camping' is anathema and 'glamping' is just about acceptable we are looking at maybe getting a fifth wheeler. Spoke to some helpful folks at the Motorhome and Caravan show at the NEC earlier this week, and will be taking things slowly, but hoping for some support and advice here too.

Thanks in advance, Laurence

 

[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Try Margaret at Calder Leisure, nice lady:thumb:
Broken Link Removed
Peter

 

[Geo]

Hi Laurence, wife and Sons welcome to fun
For you, I think a Fiver is the way to go, bennifit of space and transport when away on site
But proceed with caution, listen to the advise from our lerned 5th wheel members, both on here and to be found at www.rvoc.co.uk our sister All things American site
Getting the right combination of truck and fifth wheel is most important, other pitfalls like licences reqd, trainweights etc, can make for an easier life if you get it right from the outset
Enjoy
Geo

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[chatter]

Hi and welcome

you need to decide whether you are going full american or (uk) american, there are different bits to be aware of with both specs.
Uk american are 7'6" wide and can be pulled by a uk/euro style truck and are generally classed as lightweight trailers- but you need to check the trainweight and make sure you are within it with a loaded 5ver
full american are 8' wide and need an american truck that is plated with a train weight - can be difficult to source one.

Choice of sites will be slightly limited by whichever unit you should choose as access is not always easy
You need to be able to reverse said trailer which can take some practice to get right if you are not used to articulated type vehicles

 

[flatpackchicken]

*Shuffles nervously in*

Ahem, just introducing myself. Been canalboating on holiday for a few years and had been thinking of getting one when retirement looms (or the lottery numbers come up).

Now thinking that a motorhome will:
a) give us more space, and
b) we can go to much warmer places

Because we have two fully grown sons with autism and LD who will likely be travelling with us, and I have a wife for whom 'camping' is anathema and 'glamping' is just about acceptable we are looking at maybe getting a fifth wheeler. Spoke to some helpful folks at the Motorhome and Caravan show at the NEC earlier this week, and will be taking things slowly, but hoping for some support and advice here too.

Thanks in advance, Laurence

Hi Laurence, as said before, please go over and join RVOC site as all the info you require about 5ers are on there and as you can see driving licences and types of vehicles and trailers are a complete nightmare for a new a newbie, and what ever dealers tell you get info checked out here, also if you are interested, i have an RV for sale with HGV class C licence training included in the sale, but whatever you do do not rush into anything, discuss it and ask all the questions on RVOC site before you but, Regards Garry Flatpackchicken

 

[Snowbird]

Hi, Having looked at your needs, four adults. Why are you thinking of a fifth wheel ?. Would a large people carrier and large caravan not suit your needs better. With a fifth wheel and pick up truck you have little or no storage when you have 4 adults sitting in there, and its not going to be any cheaper to run than a large 4X4 or people carrier. Would you be content running around in a pick-up truck at home when not hooked up to a fiver when you could have the luxury of a people carrier or 4X4 ?. The initial purchase of a fifth wheel and suitably geared up truck is going to cost much more than a 4X4 and caravan.
Just a thought .

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[Partizanmeister]

Hi, Having looked at your needs, four adults. Why are you thinking of a fifth wheel ?. Would a large people carrier and large caravan not suit your needs better. With a fifth wheel and pick up truck you have little or no storage when you have 4 adults sitting in there, and its not going to be any cheaper to run than a large 4X4 or people carrier. Would you be content running around in a pick-up truck at home when not hooked up to a fiver when you could have the luxury of a people carrier or 4X4 ?. The initial purchase of a fifth wheel and suitably geared up truck is going to cost much more than a 4X4 and caravan.
Just a thought .

Hi all, current thinking is that because of the boys particular needs they ideally need separate rooms / spaces, so some of the fifth wheelers have bunk rooms we could divide to give such space. One of the boys is 6ft 8 tall, so headroom is an issue too

Thanks for the advice so far, will be progressing slowly and probably doing a rental or two before we commit just to check that it's right for us :thumb:

 

[f6c]

welcome

Welcome aboard