Motorhomes vs Fifth Wheels
People have asked Denny and I why we chose a fifth wheel over a
motorhome. If you have been reading the pages of this website at
all, you know that we have owned two motorhomes and two fifth
wheels. I decided to create a comparison list of some of the good
and bad points of each. Those of you who own RVs will have many
of your own points to add, and I welcome your input and will add valid
points to the list for those "RV lifestyle dreamers" who wish to know
which RV may be best for them. Certainly newer motorhomes are
gaining features formerly only found in fifth wheels and trailers and
vice versa, but there are still enough differences to make careful
consideration of those differences worthwhile.
MOTORHOME
vs.
FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER
Passenger can move around inside RVwhile traveling
No
access to trailer while traveling
Can tow an fuel economical vehicle for sightseeing/errands
Large tow vehicle may be fuel hog
Will usually have bin space for generator for boondocking
Installation of generator will
severely limit storage space
In most cases, you can move about MH with slides
closed
Often
closed slides means no access to the interior of RV
Backing a motorhome is like backing a very large
car
Learning to back a fifth wheel/
trailer competently takes a while
Oil changes for a diesel engine may run $300
Oil changes in a diesel truck may run $75
Insurance costs are higher for a motorized vehicle
Insurance costs are less since there is
no engine in a trailer
Setting up a motorhome and unhitching a tow vehicle is relatively quick
and easy
Setting up
and unhitching a trailer is time-consuming
You can leave quickly in an emergency with a MH
You cannot leave quickly with a
trailer due to the hitching up required
There is usually no desk area in a
MH
Most 5ers have nice desk areas
Motorhomes lose living area with dashboard/driver's
area
Trailers
are
all living
space
Living room TVs are placed overhead over the windshield
TVs are placed at a reasonable height and
angle
Motorhomes are much more expensive
Trailers are more reasonably priced while
equipped the same as a motorhome
Motorhomes have only all-in-one washer/dryer combos
Trailers have stacking washers
and dryers
It can be difficult to find a repair location based on the size of the
MH
Any truck dealer can work on on your tow
vehicle
If engine repairs are needed, you will probably need to stay in a
motel
You
can stay in your trailer while your truck is being worked on
A diesel motorhome will ususally have the weight carrying capacity
to
Space
and weight considerations may make installing solar panels impossible
handle solar panels and extra battery banks for boondocking
(along
with the aforementioned generator)
Many motorhomes are affected by the draft created by passing semis and
high winds in general
while
Trucks pulling fifth wheel trailers are not affected by drafts and are
much more stable
traveling on roadways
under high wind conditions
