A major task that has been consuming my time lately is finding our new home. My family and I currently own a Grand Design 2800BH Travel Trailer, which we’ve camped in over the last ~3 years. So far, our longest trip was ~5 months long. So, we know we can consistently go at least that long in a 28ft camper without too much trouble. But, since this next adventure is going to be a minimum of 1 year, I’d like the some additional space to live more comfortably fulltime on the road. Thus, I’m on the hunt for a 5th wheel.
Travel Trailer vs 5th Wheel
In my life, I’ve owned and otherwise experienced staying in a number of different RV types. Class A and Class C motorhomes, as well as our current Travel Trailer. It seems I needed to experience them all to finally land on a 5th wheel.
Back in 2012, we tried living in a Class A motorhome for a year, which is a long story that I won’t dive into right now. The motorhomes are very convenient for getting from destination to destination. Bathroom breaks, and snacking and meals on-the-go is seamless. These are great for frequent travel, tourists on the go, RVers who want to move often. However, somehow they never felt like “home”. Maybe it’s the motor and pilot chairs in your living space, but I couldn’t kick the “land yacht” feeling. For us, we always felt the pull behind options felt more “homey” and welcoming.
In 2020, I bought our current 2019 Grand Design 2800BH. We honestly love it, but I don’t know if we could live in it and simultaneously maintain our sanity. I mean we love each other, but people have limits.
One reason we decided to make the jump to the 5th wheel is the length you can get with a similar total footprint. For example, our travel trailer isn’t that long, at 32 feet. However, with the added a ProPride 3P Hitch, the total tow package length, with the truck attached, is around 55 feet long! Travel trailers pull pretty far behind the truck. With a 5th wheel, most of the added living space comes up over the bed of the truck. So, on the road, you’re not that much longer. But, trust me, you can do a lot with an added 10 ft of living area. 5th wheels are typically offered with more slides, which also factors into even more added space.
