[mtlakejim]

We have had both a motorhome and a 5th wheel. To me a motorhome is ok for someone who is on the road every day and has plenty of money for upkeep. If your like most of the folks I know and tend to either sit in one place for extended timeframes or are just a casual user then the 5th wheel makes a lot more sense.


Class A
Pros:
Easier to use while on the road.
Status symbol.
Cons:
High purchase cost.
High maintenance costs.
Lot of moving parts that can break and leave you stranded on side of road.
Requires specialized maintenance facility and you are without your home during repairs (not to mention difficult to tow to a repair shop).
Chassis limits interior living space layout and infringes on storage.
Requires a separate daily driver vehicle.


Fifth wheel
Pros:
More bang for your buck. Costs about a third of what a comparable Class A would cost.
Wide variety of floor plans (not limited due to a drivetrain).
Relatively easy to maintain. Most maintenance can be performed by owner.
Far more repair facilities compared to Class A.
Very few parts that would leave you on side of road if they break. IE: flat tire, bearings or broken springs are about all that will stop you from making it to someplace where you can park it (and even those can be easily repaired on the side of the highway). Speaking of flat tires, have you ever tried to change a Class A tire!!!!
Can be towed by anyone with a hitch if your tow vehicle breaks down (and they can tow it to an RV park so your still able to use it while the tow gets fixed).
Tow vehicle can be your daily driver.
Cons:
Slightly more difficult to use on the road compared to Class A.
Not quite the status symbol that a Class A is.