Fifth Wheel Progression

[bill59]

We bought an Imagine TT in 2021 to pull with our F-150. It towed great but I realized I needed more truck. Also bought a Pro Pride Hitch. Upgraded to a 350 with 4000 lbs payload and 5th wheel prep. Did a few trips in the new truck and was like night and day. Traded in the TT for a 5th wheel last April as we were leaving for an extended RV trip.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by JoeVMorton

I am about 10 years behind you. I don't think any of our children have interest in owning an RV, but hopefully we have some great experiences left.

Went to the dealer with the DW over the weekend. She thinks much bigger than me, so it's going to be interesting where things end up on our next one. I guess if we go high-30s we might as well do it sooner rather than later.
Joe

When looking forward at your age you no longer get to look at "infinity" for whatever it is you propose to do. As far as consideration for kids/grandkids that does not occur to us any longer at this stage. We do things for us, if it benefits the kids/grandkids great but the goal is to do what we need to do for US. The kids no longer camp with us but if they did they would have to bring their own accommodations - it's time for the kids to take care of themselves vs mom and dad still coddling them when they're 50+ years old.

Large vs small will depend entirely on the type of camping you do/prefer. We used to like off grid, in the middle of nowhere camping. Get enough medical issues and limitations that type of camping, though appealing, just doesn't make sense. Also, as you age and retire leaving yourself ALL of your time to do as you wish, you may find as we did that staying extended periods is more fun - to actually immerse yourself in the vicinity, get to know people by their first names and sort of become "one of them". To us that' far more fun that campground to campground staying a week here and there looking at, but never visiting with, the surrounding neighbors. The extended stays make a larger trailer much more comfortable but with that comes some limitations on places to stay. If you determine that improved campgrounds are where you will be then their importance, and the amenities they offer - including larger spaces, becomes more important in the decision making process. If you like state or COE parks the smaller rig becomes more of a consideration. We opted for size vs staying at the overcrowded, loud and many times irritating state parks. Some would accommodate a 38' trailer but many don't. The private parks are generally more expensive but generally have more amenities. All we ever want is full hookups and room to set up my outdoor kitchen - no matter the season.

At your age worrying about "someday" is no longer valid. When one is younger we think of "the end" in some abstract fashion unable to even fathom that flashing stop sign "up yonder". Now that "flashing stop sign" signalling the end is plainly visible but we just can't see how far ahead it is - but it's plainly visible. Life decisions should be made at that stage of the game (IMO) to get the most from life for as long as is left. I do not worry about the kids, grandkids or anything else other than DW and puppy. When I/we hit the stop sign everything is taken care of and whoever gets the "stuff" will have to deal with it - but I will have taken care of paving the road for them. The trailer? It's an asset for them whether they get $1k or $50k. If it wasn't paid for? Other assets would pay for it. My goal is to make sure I don't leave them in a worse position by my hitting the stop sign than what they were before I did.

[JRTJH]

To add "just a tad bit" to what Danny posted, with us, we retired and spent "gobs of money" buying things "for when the grandkids could visit"... They did spend, at most, a week each summer with us. Otherwise, they (at 12/13 years old) were immersed in their friends and activities. In other words, they spent a little time with us, but not nearly as much as we'd have preferred.

Now, they're grown with their own kids and we have "great grands" that are 3-6 years old... Our grandkids are in their 20's and fast approaching their 30's, so they aren't about to sleep on a 3" foam bunk mattress in the back corner of our travel trailer.....

What I'd saying, is that when you "shop for that fifth wheel with a place for when the grandkids visit", remember that "time won't stop for you when they're at that age".... They keep getting older just as rapidly as you are and as they grow, you'll be left with a trailer that no longer meets your "needs for when the grandkids can visit".....

So, look for a trailer that fills the needs of you and your DW. For those couple of days or for that one week in the summer, younger grandkids can cope with sleeping almost anywhere, even on the floor under the dining booth... Get a trailer floorplan that meets YOUR needs.

Believe me, before you know it, your plans to take the grands along for a week will be met with "but I've got my career and little Johnny has ball games every week, all summer long, so there's just no way we can tag along this summer".... But, how about we try to make it up sometime around Thanksgiving or maybe Christmas"???

In other words, buying a trailer on a 10 year plan to include the grands will leave you with a trailer with features you don't need or want when it's finally paid for......