August 30th 2018
Choosing a towable RV can help you avoid the hassles of motorized RVs and their more complicated engines. However, it doesn’t exactly narrow down the market since you’ll still have a lot to choose from. The next big decision you’ll have to make is whether or not you want a fifth wheel or a travel trailer. Both can be great options, it’s just figuring out what’s going to work best for you and your family. That’s why Bus Supply has provided some of the benefits and challenges of owning each so you can make the right choice. Then stop by our location in McComb, Mississippi, near Jackson so you can see what we have available right now. We also serve Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
One of the most popular reasons to invest in a fifth wheel is the amount of space and luxury that comes with the fifth wheel. Fifth wheels are among the largest towable RVs on the market, which means you’ll get more interior space, height, and more comfortable amenities. This can make them ideal for people who spend a lot of time on the road or people with larger families that need a little more elbow room.
This can seem a little nerve wracking to tow around, but actually fifth wheels come equipped with a different kind of hitch than you may be used to. Fifth wheel hitches get installed in the bed of a pickup truck, so when you’re driving it around, there’s a little bit of overlap between the fifth wheel and the tow vehicle. This can give you more control and stability, especially on windy roads, so it’ll actually be easier to drive.
They’re big and they’re luxurious, but they’re also quite expensive. They’re often tens of thousands of dollars more expensive than some of the other RV options available to you, which can be fine for some who don’t have to worry about money, but it can be a deal breaker for others. You can always look into used models, but you should still be prepared to spend quite a bit of money.
They’re size also can impact your fuel economy. Your tow vehicle will burn more gas trying to tug along a big fifth wheel, which means you’ll need to fill up the tank more often than you normally would (yet another ding for your pocket book).
Travel trailers come with their towing benefits in that their hitch can be easier to use and more flexible. They use bumper pull hitches, which are the kind that stick out behind your tow vehicle and create a gap between the two parts of the unit. This can make them more intuitive to some RV owners and they’re also more compatible with a wider variety of tow vehicles (although you’ll still want to make sure yours can handle the additional weight of the trailer).
They’re also usually significantly cheaper. They’re usually a little smaller and maybe don’t have as many luxuries, but if you’re spending all your time outside, then this may not matter to you so much. If you’re willing to forgo some of the top of the line amenities for a lower buying price, then we highly recommend you check out some travel trailer models for yourself.
Even with additional prevention tactics, travel trailers can present a bigger sway risk, which is when the RV starts to rock back and forth while you’re driving down the road. They’ll be a little easier to learn how to tow, but you’ll need to be more attentive to what’s going on behind and around you. And, like we mentioned, you won’t necessarily get the same kind of luxury or interior space that you would with an RV, which, for some campers, can make things feel a little cramped.
Made your final decision? No? That’s okay. While there are definitely good reasons to get each type of RV, it can still be difficult to figure out which one you like more. If you need more help narrowing down your options, or if you’re ready to start looking at some models, stop by Bus Supply and we’ll help you with all your RV-related needs. We welcome all current and future RV owners from McComb and Jackson, MS, as well as Baton Rouge, LA.
