Since we had already decided that a fifth wheel was the right choice for us, all that remained was choosing one from many.\u00a0 But there are several dozen manufacturers, each offering several major models, with each model available with a dizzying array of options.\u00a0 Since we were interested primarily in a newer used model, each individual coach that I viewed online had been customized in some way by the previous owner.\u00a0 We clearly had to prioritize our wish list.<\/p>\n
On the top of Jett’s wish list was that second bath.\u00a0 Or, to be specific, that second half bath.\u00a0 While I can appreciate the value of never having to wait to get a commode, I also know that we will be spending the vast majority of our time at campgrounds that have public restrooms.\u00a0 I don’t mind walking a few steps, if necessary, to do my business.\u00a0 Jett, on the other hand, would rather have needles stuck in her eye than use a campground bathroom.\u00a0 I suppose it is a female thing; males are less likely to need to touch the fixtures.<\/p>\n
Whatever the reason, that “bath and a half” feature was a non-negotiable item on her list.\u00a0 That dramatically narrowed the search.\u00a0 I would estimate that less than 5% of all used fifth wheels have a bath and a half.\u00a0 This is partly due to it being a recent innovation – I don’t recall seeing any on pre-2009 models.\u00a0 And it was a feature that was almost always associated with a “bunkhouse” or second bedroom.\u00a0 As we will mostly be traveling by ourselves (the dogs don’t count as they don’t need a bedroom), the only real need we have for additional sleeping space is when our grandkids visit.\u00a0 And since they are still kids, they could sleep in the living room.<\/p>\n
I started out resisting the bunkhouse floorplans.\u00a0 It seemed to me like a bad tradeoff of valuable living space for unneeded sleeping space.\u00a0 But as time went by I warmed to the idea.\u00a0 A bunkhouse could actually double as an office or work area and, when a sporting event was on TV, as my man cave.\u00a0 When I really thought about the stuff that we had to bring with us – our laptop and printer, a small filing cabinet and a safe for important documents – having an extra room that was separate from the living space made a lot of sense.<\/p>\n
Maybe I could hang my St Pauli Girl neon sign there.<\/p>\n
So it would be a bunkhouse fifth wheel with a bath and a half.\u00a0 What else?\u00a0 Some bunkhouse models come with an outdoor kitchen – a little area accessible from the outside that holds a small refrigerator and, in most cases, a 2-burner range and a small sink.\u00a0 This would be great for outdoor living – having cold beer at hand and being able to cook a burger without setting up a grill or go inside has some appeal.\u00a0 But the tradeoff is a loss of interior space and it just wasn’t obvious that we would use it all that much.<\/p>\n
Another option, found on only a few models, is a second entrance.\u00a0 This is available on a few non-bunkhouse models, usually to provide direct access to the kitchen when it is located in the rear.\u00a0 But with a bunkhouse it makes a lot of sense from a safety perspective.\u00a0 A fire in a fifth wheel is all too possible (have you read about those faulty refrigerators?) and the thought of my grandchildren being trapped in back with no way out scares the bejeesus out of me.\u00a0 If the second entrance was directly into the half bath so that we wouldn’t have to traipse through the living room or bedroom to deal with the physical demands of a few St Pauli’s… well, that would be great.<\/p>\n
Speaking of comfort, air conditioning, heating, sofa and bed sizes and cushioning, headroom, shower size, closet space, TV counts and locations and refrigerator size are also very important in making an RV livable.\u00a0 Unfortunately, only a few of these can be gauged by reviewing specifications.\u00a0 TV counts and refrigerator size can be checked off.\u00a0 But I would actually have to lie on the bed, sit on the sofa or turn on the furnace or air conditioner to see if they were acceptable.\u00a0 I would have to leave those for an in-coach inspection.<\/p>\n
One thing that Jett and I agreed on was that a stand-alone dinette was vastly better than a booth style dining area.\u00a0 But some fifth wheels offer an intriguing option: a “horseshoe” sofa that acts like a megabooth.\u00a0 There is no dining area at all, just this huge sofa and removable tables (like heavy-duty TV trays) that can be used to turn the whole sofa into a large dining area.\u00a0 This appeals to me as it would give us enough sofa for Jett, me and two dogs (yes, they are allowed on the sofa).\u00a0 But it is an option that is hard to find on a used RV.<\/p>\n
Another thing we agreed on was that the main bathroom should be a single room and should have a real door.\u00a0 Some RVs have the shower right in the bedroom, which we thought was just plain weird.\u00a0 Others have the toilet separated from the shower, which may have more appeal if there is only a single bath but which just seemed inconvenient with a bath-and-a-half.<\/p>\n
We gave a lot of thought as to whether we wanted a washer\/dryer in the coach.\u00a0 At first glance it seems like a terrific idea.\u00a0 But most coaches don’t have room for a full-size washer and dryer.\u00a0 Some can support a compact dryer-over-washer model, but most only support the all-in-one washer\/dryer combo which is very expensive and reportedly takes forever to dry a load.\u00a0 Plus they are heavy, which is a real consideration when the total cargo capacity is maybe 3,000 pounds.\u00a0 So we decided that a washer\/dryer was not a requirement.\u00a0 But having a hookup – in case a few months on the road changes our minds – was desirable.<\/p>\n
Then there are some technical details that I am sure will become very important after being on the road for a while.\u00a0 For example, just how easy is it to set up and tear down the coach?\u00a0 Can I empty the black water tanks without contaminating myself (hmmm…. maybe that outside shower option would be handy)?\u00a0 What kind of maintenance is required for the wheel bearings?\u00a0 What kind of hitch is required?\u00a0 How much cargo can be carried?\u00a0 How large is the “basement” and is it easily accessible? How much electrical power does it have when hooked up at a campsite?\u00a0 How many circuits?\u00a0 Are the outlets numerous and accessible?\u00a0 Are the circuit breakers easily accessible?\u00a0 And if we boondock, how much power is available if we don’t have a generator?<\/p>\n
So we had settled on a basic floorplan: bedroom in front, self-contained main bathroom, a washer\/dryer hookup, a bunkroom in back and two entrances.\u00a0 The next step was to find a real used RV that actually met our needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Since we had already decided that a fifth wheel was the right choice for us, all that remained was choosing one from many.\u00a0 But there are several dozen manufacturers, each offering several major models, with each model available with a dizzying array of options.\u00a0 Since we were interested primarily in a newer used model, each … Continue reading