Planning ahead!

[FL-JOE]

Thank you everyone for your advice. It has been extremely helpful. After looking at number of 5'ers, I do believe @FL-JOE is correct, the 5'ers will provide a better transition from a house to a rig. With that said, what kind of tucks are you using to tow your 5'er? One 5'er I have looked at has a GVWR of 16,500. Your recommendation on right truck would bee helpful. I am not a brand person. The best "tool" for the job is what I go for. Do I need a 1-ton truck. Dulles seem to bee the better truck for 5'rs based on my reading. How about fuel - Diesel or Gas? What fuel is more readily available? Are there any disadvantages to a truck that uses Biofuel (Diesel or Gas)?

Still planning ahead.

If you are starting to concentrate on fivers I would try to narrow it down to a couple different manufacturers and models. IMHO there is no RV manufacturer that has extremely high quality control but some seem to have less issues than others. Next, decide what your "must haves" is in a floor plan. For example, we require a king bed, 1 and 1/2 bath, washer/dryer, and comfortable living room seating. You will no doubt find a couple different make/models that excite both of you. They you should try to locate them either at an RV show or a dealer so you can actually go through them.

After pretty much narrowing down what fiver you would purchase I would start concentrating on what truck you will need. For 90% of fivers out there your range of possible trucks will be anything from a 3/4 ton gas to a 1 ton dually diesel, and everything in between. The GVWR of you future fiver is only part of the equation you will need to consider, tongue weight (after loading for full time living) will also be an important factor.

There are a couple very important considerations when deciding between diesel and gas. First of all diesel has the torque and power to pull about anything and generally will get better fuel economy when towing. Another consideration is fuel stops. If your truck is gas then you have to either wait and fuel up when not towing, or try to locate a gas station that you could possibly squeeze into with a large fiver attached. Some Pilot and Flying J truck stops have RV lanes on the front side of their facilities but as you travel the country you will soon find they are far and few between. If your truck is diesel then you simply fuel where commercial rigs fuel and you will always have plenty of room. In addition, there are discount fleet fuel cards available for diesel at these commercial pumps that are not available at regular gas pumps.

Currently all the major brands of diesel trucks use about the same grade of diesel as far as I know.

 

[saguinther]

If you are starting to concentrate on fivers I would try to narrow it down to a couple different manufacturers and models. IMHO there is no RV manufacturer that has extremely high quality control but some seem to have less issues than others. Next, decide what your "must haves" is in a floor plan. For example, we require a king bed, 1 and 1/2 bath, washer/dryer, and comfortable living room seating. You will no doubt find a couple different make/models that excite both of you. They you should try to locate them either at an RV show or a dealer so you can actually go through them.

After pretty much narrowing down what fiver you would purchase I would start concentrating on what truck you will need. For 90% of fivers out there your range of possible trucks will be anything from a 3/4 ton gas to a 1 ton dually diesel, and everything in between. The GVWR of you future fiver is only part of the equation you will need to consider, tongue weight (after loading for full time living) will also be an important factor.

There are a couple very important considerations when deciding between diesel and gas. First of all diesel has the torque and power to pull about anything and generally will get better fuel economy when towing. Another consideration is fuel stops. If your truck is gas then you have to either wait and fuel up when not towing, or try to locate a gas station that you could possibly squeeze into with a large fiver attached. Some Pilot and Flying J truck stops have RV lanes on the front side of their facilities but as you travel the country you will soon find they are far and few between. If your truck is diesel then you simply fuel where commercial rigs fuel and you will always have plenty of room. In addition, there are discount fleet fuel cards available for diesel at these commercial pumps that are not available at regular gas pumps.

Currently all the major brands of diesel trucks use about the same grade of diesel as far as I know.

Thanks @FL-JOE, I’m on the right path than on choosing a 5’er. I didn’t consider getting fuel with the rig attached. Getting diesel at a truck stop sounds like it would be easier. I will have to keep my eyes open for truck stops. Are truck stops/diesel stations quite prevalent throughout the country? Any idea for Canada and Mexico?

 

[FL-JOE]

Fueling up any type of diesel RV would never be an issue because you can always fuel where commercial big rigs fuel. I suspect it is the same in Canada and Mexico.

 

[saguinther]

Fueling up any type of diesel RV would never be an issue because you can always fuel where commercial big rigs fuel. I suspect it is the same in Canada and Mexico.

Thanks @FL-JOE !

 

[GeoKat]

I read somewhere on this site or another RV site that some diesel pickups don’t fit the pumps in the commercial fuel pumps. I have yet to try.

 

[saguinther]

I read somewhere on this site or another RV site that some diesel pickups don’t fit the pumps in the commercial fuel pumps. I have yet to try.

Are you using a diesel? Thanks for the reply.

 

[saguinther]

We have a date (sort of). My wife agreed to take a day off and go to the RV show in Hershey, Pa in September! It’s a 45 minute drive for us. We were there a number of years ago just as a curiosity. I guess I got bitten. Looking forward to the day. Been looking at all the 5’vers out there and seeing what I like and what I believe the wife will like.

 

[GeoKat]

Are you using a diesel? Thanks for the reply.

Yea I have a ‘16 F350. I make a habit of filling up before I hit the road and then not driving for more than a tank which takes me 300 miles or so (3-5hrs).