New 5th Wheel RV'er

[pawsport]

Hi all.

Long time RV owner, catching up on RV tech.

Past Units:
- 1970's Truck Camper on Flat Bed Trailer
- 2001 27' Terry, bumper pull
- 2013 30' Fuzion Toy Hauler, bumper pull (heavy beast)
- 2017 Apex 25', bumper pull

Current Units:
- 2007 Bigfoot 10.5e Truck Camper
- 2023 Cougar 364BHL

Tow Vehicle is a 2022 Ford F350, Long Box, Single Rear Wheel, King Ranch. Has heavy GVW package (11,400lbs), Air Bags, Custom Overload Pads, Fifth Wheel / Goose Neck Prep, Plow Package, and 7.3L V8 Gas with 10 speed (3.73 rear end).

Tow hitch is a Hensely Trailer Saver BD3

Upgrades to the new Cougar (called Pawsport.... a play on Passport as we travel a lot, and travel with dogs ).
- Dual Pane Frameless Windows
- Climate Guard Package
- 2nd AC
- 2nd Awning
- Awnings over slides
- Solar Flex 400i with dual 100AH Lithium batteries (have already added a second Victron Charge Controller, and 2 more panels for around 840watts total solar
- Theater Seats, Free Standing Dinette
- Ceiling mounted custom router (programmed by me) to allow Starlink and Cellular inputs at the same time, as well as utilize the on roof antennas for WiFi and Cell.
- Have a new AI 4300 watt dual fuel generator to try out as well.
- and some other stuff that is also probably just standard

Have done an inspection and paid for the new unit, but have not picked it up yet. I am excited to try towing a 5th wheel as I have always towed regular trailers. Did a lot of research on the hitch as well, and am hoping that panes out.

Finally I will be removing the rear bottom queen, and building an office area this winter.

Pleased to meet everyone, and looking forward to learning more and more on this forum.

cheers

 

[jsb5717]

Welcome aboard! You must be a Go-Big-Or-Go-Home kind of guy. Looks like you're well equipped and know what you want.

FWIW, I much prefer towing a 5er over bumper pull. Much more stable and comfortable.

Congrats on the new set-up! Drive safely and enjoy the journey

 

[NH_Bulldog]

Welcome and congratulations!

We moved from a lifetime of bumper pull trailers to a fifth wheel earlier this year and the towing experience is indescribably better than I had imagined it could possibly be. We also saw our fuel mileage increase despite the 5th wheel being taller, longer and nearly 6,000 lbs. heavier than our Passport (travel trailer) was.

You have a nice layout and the back bedroom on that will work nice as an office. Our 29BHL has a rear bedroom with a bed that folds up and creates a fairly decent desk, and although I try not to work on the road, it is nice to have a separate work space where I can close a door and work, make calls, teleconference, etc.

Enjoy!

 

[pawsport]

Lol, not really. I just do lots of reading, and like to plan ahead.

I actually swore I would never get a 5th wheel, but spec'd the truck with the hitch prep anyway when I bought it. A few longer 6 week long RV trips (now that the kids are moved out), and my wife and I were like........ okay so, it would be nice "IF", for this and that....... add to the equation now is the right time to buy an RV in the market (big discounts, motivated dealers), and here we are.

Thanks for the feedback on towing...... I can't wait to get it hooked up.

 

[pawsport]

Welcome and congratulations!

We moved from a lifetime of bumper pull trailers to a fifth wheel earlier this year and the towing experience is indescribably better than I had imagined it could possibly be. We also saw our fuel mileage increase despite the 5th wheel being taller, longer and nearly 6,000 lbs. heavier than our Passport (travel trailer) was.

You have a nice layout and the back bedroom on that will work nice as an office. Our 29BHL has a rear bedroom with a bed that folds up and creates a fairly decent desk, and although I try not to work on the road, it is nice to have a separate work space where I can close a door and work, make calls, teleconference, etc.

Enjoy!

Again glad to hear the towing positive experiences coming from a bumper pull! I did a trip in 2015 to the Yukon/Alaska with a 2008 F350 Shot Box, and my 13,500lb bumper pull toy hauler. Was interesting for sure, towed okay, BUT, when I got a 2019 long box a few years later, it was night and day more stable. Never mind the 6.4L popped the heads in Whitehorse...... ohh memories.

 

[Gegrad]

Sounds like a nice setup. Welcome from Pennsylvania!

 

[Roper46]

Welcome from south Georgia and safe travels.

 

[pawsport]

Thanks!

 

[spicercars]

Welcome from northern MN.

 

[DutchmenSport]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on getting your new fifth wheel.

In defense of the travel trailer crowd, we were bumper pull, travel trailer people until we purchased our current fifth wheel 5 years ago.

I never had any issues towing any of my trailers and actually, in many ways, like the way a travel trailer tows than a fifth wheel. WITH the right truck and the RIGHT hitch system, towing a travel trailer is as stable and comfortable as towing a fifth wheel. All of my set-ups were very comfortable. But, I always towed with 3500 dully's also (gas and later diesel). With the right hitch, even our longest trailer (35 feet) had no issues with sway. And the dual wheel truck always provided an extremely stable ride. Never had any issues in this category.

Here's a WARNING about towing a fifth wheel, and probably the number reason I do NOT like towing a fifth wheel.... and that is the potential for the truck bed rails to make contact with the bottom of the overhang of the camper (which actually happened in our first year of ownership of the fifth wheel).

Even though I thought I had proper clearance (my dealership actually set the original height up for me) all was fine until that one day.... then it was a hard lesson learned to always watch what's happening so contact never happens. In time, I would raise my fifth wheel hitch up a couple inches, which had almost no effect on the level of the 41.5 foot long fifth wheel. But, it made all the difference in the bed rail distance and gave me a LOT of extra cushion.

Still, the possibility of "contact" is still a very real "possibility." So, my strongest advise..... ALWAYS be aware of the bed rails, especially when the trailer and truck are enduring twists and depth changes in the road or driveways when one leans to the right and the other leans to the left! Watch out!

With a bumper pull, you NEVER have this concern as both truck and trailer can be at considerable different side-to-side angles and it really affects nothing. With a fifth wheel.... this is always a concern.

You have a nice set-up. Enjoy, be safe, and happy travels!

 

[pawsport]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on getting your new fifth wheel.

In defense of the travel trailer crowd, we were bumper pull, travel trailer people until we purchased our current fifth wheel 5 years ago.

I never had any issues towing any of my trailers and actually, in many ways, like the way a travel trailer tows than a fifth wheel. WITH the right truck and the RIGHT hitch system, towing a travel trailer is as stable and comfortable as towing a fifth wheel. All of my set-ups were very comfortable. But, I always towed with 3500 dully's also (gas and later diesel). With the right hitch, even our longest trailer (35 feet) had no issues with sway. And the dual wheel truck always provided an extremely stable ride. Never had any issues in this category.

Here's a WARNING about towing a fifth wheel, and probably the number reason I do NOT like towing a fifth wheel.... and that is the potential for the truck bed rails to make contact with the bottom of the overhang of the camper (which actually happened in our first year of ownership of the fifth wheel).

Even though I thought I had proper clearance (my dealership actually set the original height up for me) all was fine until that one day.... then it was a hard lesson learned to always watch what's happening so contact never happens. In time, I would raise my fifth wheel hitch up a couple inches, which had almost no effect on the level of the 41.5 foot long fifth wheel. But, it made all the difference in the bed rail distance and gave me a LOT of extra cushion.

Still, the possibility of "contact" is still a very real "possibility." So, my strongest advise..... ALWAYS be aware of the bed rails, especially when the trailer and truck are enduring twists and depth changes in the road or driveways when one leans to the right and the other leans to the left! Watch out!

With a bumper pull, you NEVER have this concern as both truck and trailer can be at considerable different side-to-side angles and it really affects nothing. With a fifth wheel.... this is always a concern.

You have a nice set-up. Enjoy, be safe, and happy travels!

Thanks! for the tip. I’ve towed the unit how and wow what a different experience. When I get hooked up again in the spring I’ll audit the rail clearance. I believe I have adjustment room on my hitch and might just bring it up just because.

 

[Bliss53]

For Pawsport, Please tell me about your experience with starlink. Do you have the starlink mini? I have the Winegard Gateway 4G LTE WiFi Router but we do not use it much due to poor cell connections at most sites we visit. Would like to hear about your setup.

 

[Kzneft]

Not sure about others, but I love my Starlink. We rarely hook up to shore power. We always boondock. Have had Startlink for about 3 years now, and works perfectly. Stream on the tv while all the others with us camping can use their phones for calls, all at the same time. Their support was great. Had an issue one time and they sent a whole new disk, router, and wire. Works wherever we go. Just don't like paying the $165/month, but I can always suspend the subscription when we want and start again when we want.