Advice wanted regarding 5th wheelers

Flamenca

Flamenca

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Joined
Jun 21, 2013
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26,598
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Hymer 564
Exp
Since 2010
I am considering changing from a MH to a fiver and would appreciate advice. A few questions for starters:

Which 5th wheel rig do owners recommend as a 'budget starter' unit? Only the two of us so not looking for an enormous unit and used rather than new.

Is the 5th wheel caravan insured as a standard caravan and are premiums higher? Are premiums usually less than for a MH? Are insurers less fussy about the caravan section being parked away from home compared with a MH?

Thanks in advance.
 
I know this wasn't the question but I am told that they are not easy to reverse onto pitches etc.

Martin
 
Fifth wheel insurance is not an easy fix am afraid. Few insurers will insure them, but there area few specialists. I pay around £700 per year for the complete outfit.
This outfit is for sale by the way as a complete outfit. £25000.
On the road again 001.JPG
On the road again 003.JPG
 
Snowbird said:
Fifth wheel insurance is not an easy fix am afraid. Few insurers will insure them, but there area few specialists. I pay around £700 per year for the complete outfit.
This outfit is for sale by the way as a complete outfit. £25000.View attachment 110113 View attachment 110114
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Just out of curiosity why are they so difficult to insure?

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Allan & Loren said:
Just out of curiosity why are they so difficult to insure?
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Probably parts and repair costs.
ANYTHING can be bought direct from American parts dealers, and far cheaper than buying over here, but insurers seem oblivious to that.
I replace the charger/converter on my RV direct from a seller in Chicago....£130 Inc import fees and postage.
Same item bought over here...£240.
 
Hi I have a 5th wheel and I love it. Before you get one make sure you know why you want one and what is wrong with your Motorhome.

For me caravans are
Too narrow
I think they are not so easy to tow as they are not as stable.
I don't like cassette toilets
Not sufficient storage

Motor homes are I think
Too expensive
Too small
I would still have to get a tow car and I love big cars

5th wheel units
I live in my unit all the time so storage space was very important
I love 4*4 trucks and large trucks
I have three slide outs so plenty of room for me
My unit is 28ft long and 7.6ft wide
Fresh water tank of 34gal
Grey tank 34ft plus the black water tank of 34gal
Composting toilet. (So no shit to deal with)
2 * 110 amps batteries
Solar power to be fitted soon

Some possible problems with a 5th wheel unit.
You do not take short cuts when traveling stick to main roads. So you don't take small back roads.
They could weigh a lot so fuel could be costly.
You cannot just park anywhere like motor homers do.
If it's too big not all campsites will want you in them.
You would really need to get a Motorhome gps to avoid low bridges if you don't have one. My unit is 12ft high.

Many people have very fixed ideas so you need to actually see in side one and as you have experience with motorhomes you can make up your own mind and imagin living in it for a long time.
If I was getting a unit for the weekends or a few weeks a year and I had the money I would think of a Motorhome and a electric bike.
When you think about the size think about what you need to take with you and will it fit. Do you know anyone with one?
You have opened a can of worms when you look at this sort of thing. I will be very interested to read what the others think about your idea.
 
@Snowbird When in UK do you keep your trailer at home or elsewhere? I am xperiencing difficulties with my insurer as I am parking the MH away from my 'main residence'. This is one of the reasons for considering a fiver. The other reason is it will better suit my needs in Spain where the MH is fairly useless. I am resisting the temptation and pressures to returning to a caravan.
 
Reversing is not as easy as a Motorhome but a lot better than a caravan unless you have a motor over. You need to practice.

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Flamenca said:
@Snowbird When in UK do you keep your trailer at home or elsewhere? I am xperiencing difficulties with my insurer as I am parking the MH away from my 'main residence'. This is one of the reasons for considering a fiver. The other reason is it will better suit my needs in Spain where the MH is fairly useless. I am resisting the temptation and pressures to returning to a caravan.
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We keep the whole outfit at home. There should be no problem if you wish to park away from home as long as its on a recognised secure parking. I know several that do. The advantage for us over a caravan is that I can tow safely at motorway speeds. I have the room of an American with slidout and I also do not get on well with cassette toilets. We use the truck as every day transport.
 
Hi Flamenca I come from Manchester but I am on a long holiday so the unit is with me all the time.
Security is a big thing for them so you have to convince them the place you keep it is safe so it cannot be taken. If it was you would have a tracker on it so it could be found quickly.
 
We changed to a Fiver in November and love it insurance for truck and Fiver was around £800 we keep it in storage away from home
 
As I am traveling to Spain this year for the first time have you any suggestion of places to visit/park that are not too expensive. I will be traveling with some motorhomes so I will see if I have any problems that they do not.
 
Flamenca said:
@Snowbird When in UK do you keep your trailer at home or elsewhere? I am xperiencing difficulties with my insurer as I am parking the MH away from my 'main residence'. This is one of the reasons for considering a fiver. The other reason is it will better suit my needs in Spain where the MH is fairly useless. I am resisting the temptation and pressures to returning to a caravan.
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I'd be changing insurer. My insurance is cheaper with the MH kept at the storage site than it would be if it was kept at home.

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Thanks @NickNic Changing insurers is definitely high on my list of options. Out of interest, who are you insured with?
 
Flamenca said:
Thanks @NickNic Changing insurers is definitely high on my list of options. Out of interest, who are you insured with?
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Comfort at the moment but won't be renewing with them for reasons other than cost. CaravanGuard were also the same - storage site better than home.
 
Had one stolen, police only looked for 48hrs and then said and I quote "it will be in Ireland or Spain by now"
 
Yes the fifth wheel a Calder leisure Country Lite. They must have come equipped insurance settled but I lost about £6000 because for some reason gate was left unlocked and cctv was not working. Managed to recuperate some of the loss through small claims court storage site negligence.

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Oh dear thats only the 2nd Fiver i have heard being stolen
 
daved2524 said:
As I am traveling to Spain this year for the first time have you any suggestion of places to visit/park that are not too expensive. I will be traveling with some motorhomes so I will see if I have any problems that they do not.
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We travelled to PT and ES for 18 weeks over the winter of 2013/14. We didn't find many problems, just the odd campsite that was too small for us. Our 5er was 44ft overall length, no problems with travelling and parking. Very handy for dropping the trailer and using the truck for reccies and shopping. Really, really comfortable way to tour.

Craig
 
funflair said:
I know this wasn't the question but I am told that they are not easy to reverse onto pitches etc.

Martin
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They are fine as long as you know what you are doing

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