Go to a RV show, there is one in Dallas Feb21-24 find what you want and see if the brand is here http://www.rvdirect.com/index.asp
and save 30%

 

This whole thread is all very GOOD advise for first timers. If you go to a show, remember, that salesman is out to sell units. He/She doesnt care what they tell you. Verify every important piece of info they give you. Some R.V. salesmen are not very far up the food chain from car salesmen. If you can find a rental place rent a couple units for weekend jaunts. Nothing beats the real experience to find out likes and dislikes of particular units. Good hunting Frank

 

One other comment I'd add...

Unless money is no object, I'd use the RV show to figure out what make/models you like, then search the internet for used examples of those.

Everyone I know who gets into RV's soon realizes what they really wanted was a floorplan with two recliners, or a corner shower with no curtain to mould, or that they should have gotten rear kitchen, or whatever...

New RV's depreciate HUGELY when you drive them off the lot, so you could really take a beating if you buy something new and then figure out it doesn't have the features you want. I remember looking at a toyhauler priced at like $60k at an RV show, and later seeing a two year old identical trailer only used a few times with the plastic still on the carpet for $35k. That was a very expensive couple of trips for someone...

Also you see a lot of threads about owners of new rigs frustrated with multiple trips to the dealer for dripping pipe, trim that peeled up, or a light that blows fuses or whatever...

I think if you shop carefully, a used unit might have those bugs worked out... It might actually be quicker and cheaper (fuel to dealer) to not have a warranty and just glue that trim down, put a washer in the faucet, and fix the frayed wire in the light fixture yourself...

 

Some real good advice in this thread including one good list of the top brands. I have to agree with the comments on the Carriage line of fivers - - they make good stuff. Lots of dealers like to tell you the rig they are showing you is a full timer rig, then when you read the fine print they will not honor their warranty if you live in it full time. There are some differences that are not obvious to the newbie. I highly recommend a fiver over the TT - - no comparison in the towing of the two. Plus, you can have more trailer for the total overall length.

Here are some suggestions:
1) Go for full wall framing, not vacubonded walls. Just rap on the side wall - - the framed wall will sound hollow, the vacubond will sound solid.
2) Do not buy anything with hydraulic slides - - they can be horrible.
3) Check out the underside very carefully making sure it is completely covered and insulated.
4) Get disk brakes and neverlube bearings
5) Buy an air hitch, not a solid hitch
6) Do not get a rear kitchen
7) Get MORryde suspension, preferrably the IS suspension
8) I agree on the dual pane windows
9) If you buy over 32', get two AC units
10) Buy used - - never buy new. The first years depreciation is a killer. There are lots of great, hardly used, units out there for sale. Don't get in a hurry. Decide what you want, then start looking - - took us one year. We bought our rig one year old for 1/2 of list and it had been lived in two weeks.

CarriLite is a very well made unit and gorgeous, but it is heavy - - you will need a 1 ton dually to handle it. Cameo, it's baby brother is a very nice unit and somewhat lighter. Carriage is a quality unit, therefore it is heavy.

Bob

 

I agree with fiverbob except for the rear kitchen. We have had no problems with the floorplan of our Sunnybrook 255RK. Our TT is 28' overall and the rear kitchen floorplan works great for us.

 

I agree to a point - - the shorter trailers can work better with a rear kitchen - - but, when you move to a larger unit it sure is nice to have the rear be a huge picture window and part of your living room. Had rear kitchen in short unit - - like you say, worked Ok for that size except ours put dishes and pots and pans all over the floor and messed up cabinets until I learned how to screw everything down.
Bob

 

A lot of good advice here. Wish I had know all this before I purchased a 5th wheel. Not sure I would have done any different. I purchased a used 5er, almost never used.
Here is a link to the towing capacity of what I think is your truck. If not go back and change it. http://www-5.dodge.com/towing5/D/veh...ual+Heavy-Duty
Let us know what you end up getting.

 

I've been dragging trailers up and down the roads for 38 years using several brands. Last rig is a 1996 Hitchhiker II purchased used in 2000. Built strong, nice interior and equipment. It's a 30' Fiver. If you stay high-end as mentioned in above replies you can get them built the way you want them. All it cost is money. I've lived in my rig for 4 years and have towed it to Alaska from La. and from Tenn. to Calif. I think you will need to do some modifications to your truck for more power if you intend in pulling in the mountains a lot. I have an 03 model with upgrades and have used all of them traveling. The higher end rigs are built sturdier and are also a little heavier. Go to several big shows, look on the internet and decide what you want for the money you can afford to spend. I have a living room slide out which allows full access to kitchen and bath and bed room without opening the slide. Slides are nice but every slide adds another 500 lbs. to your trailer weight.

El Borrego

 

I'll argue the point that fivers tow better than travel trailers. I've got customers who've done both. A trailer with the Hensley Arrow hitch tows better than a fiver, hands down. Once you've eliminated trailer sway, there's no need for a fiver. In fact, you have more wind resistiance with the fiver.

That being said, I do realize that the fivers are often bigger and nice than the trailers. If you've got the cash, I like Numar for the fivers. For trailers, there's always Airstream for quality. However, Sunnybrook makes some very nice units as well.

There's definately a difference in quality out there. Don't get lured by low prices. You'll get what you pay for. Go check out the Arrow at our website and get the video. It's pretty interesting.

 

Interesting post, Ron. Of course, I realize I am discussing with a very biased person - - teasing of course. My experience, after towing with Hensley hitch on a 30'er, I am soooo much more pleased with my fiver. It never moves in heavy winds, being passed by trucks, etc. What I do miss is having the TT follow me better - - sure have to swing wide on the corners. Otherwise, it's fiver all the way for me. Been there, done that, didn't like it. We have friends that rolled their Airstream after leaving our home two years ago. It was equiped with Hensley. She was driving, passed by a truck, started swaying, she lost it, he was killed. Not fun.

Bob

 

My FIL got a white knuckle ride with his TT and Hensley. He met a semi on a two lane road and he jack-knifed far enough to shear the shearbolts. I think the Hensley is good as long as there is tension but if the wrong windgust pushes the trailer into the truck and buckles the Hensley, it's over! I've had a windshear hit me so hard, it sounded like bowling ***** hit the truck and one hand jerked off the steering wheel but the whole outfit rocked together and stayed going straight and no sway, at all. Craig

 

I've been on both sides of this, towing a 27 SunnyBrook TT with a Hensley Arrow and a 31 SB 5'er. There's no comparison, hands down, except for the wide turns the 5'er is much better. Except for the weight starting and stopping you wouldn't know it was there. The HA makes a TT much more stable but still not as good as a 5'er.

I agree that the first years depreciation is a killer. If you can find what you want used you'll be way ahead of the game.

 

My "equalizer" hitch is completely stable. I have to remind myself that our 28' TT is back there. I usually tow at 70mph on the highway and it is dead stable. http://www.equalizerhitch.com/

 

I would not suggest any brands but would recommend just one thing: TAKE YOUR TIME. Casually look at the incredible variety of floor plans and options. Imagine living in one. Take your wife along every time - if she does not like it, you will not either. I chose our trailer because I knew of the reputation for quality, insulation and robustness of Foxes, but my wife fell in love with the forward kitchen, roomy interior, color scheme and the looks of the unit. Now we both are happy, each for our own reason.
It took us a year of looking around before we realized what we want.

 

Won't get into the debate about what tows better but I am 6'5" and have difficulty moving around the bedroom in a 5'er. Also having a TT gives me the full use of my box and I have a canopy on it.