Van vs 5th Wheeler

Patto44 · Senior Member

Van vs 5th Wheeler

Atlas · Member

Hi All,

Would be interested in those that have gone from a van to a 5th wheeler or vice versa.

Also would like some feedback on those with 5th wheelers. They seem to get a fair write up, though they are such a small % over here.

Atlas · Member

Thanks Patto.

Did you need the Dodge size truck to tow yours ? It looks pretty big ! :)

Andrea · Senior Member

Shaughan, you can see a couple of photos of the interior of our fiver on my web page (just noticed how long since I updated it! disbelief aww ):

https://sites.google.com/site/dayroamings/home/our-new-home

We chose not to have slideouts - when we were researching we read a few stories about leaks, etc. - and we've found that we have plently of space without and don't carry the extra weight.

The suspension is brilliant - 4-wheel independent trailing arm, on rolling sleeve airbags - and the overall weight (tare) is 2700 kg. The GCM of our 2008 Mazda BT-50 is 5.5 tonne, and the GCM of the current model BT-50 is somewhat higher again. We've pulled the van for over 30,000 km (the Mazda's done over 70,000) and not had one problem.

If you'd like to talk to us, send a private message for a mobile number.

As you may gather from the above - we're sold on this particular fiver!! smile

Andrea & John

Ma · Guru

Just had a look at your piccys Andrea and I WANT ONE!!

Pity we just upgraded to a full van but it's something that I think we could seriously look at later in life when hooking up the van becomes a problem. For the moment we are more content with what we have but I will certainly be keeping your set up in mind and will probably contact you a bit down the track.

Andrea · Senior Member

Perhaps we'll even meet up on the way somewhere, Ma.

We count ourselves so lucky that we got it 99% right, when we had no prior experience. smile smile The minor things we'd have done differently are no trouble to live with.

Andrea

(On our way to Strathalbyn, SA, for a few weeks; anyone around?)

Atlas · Member

Thanks all.

Patto44 · Senior Member

Atlas wrote:
Thanks Patto.

Did you need the Dodge size truck to tow yours ? It looks pretty big ! :)

We bought it second hand as a 'package'. He would not sell them separately.

The Dodge is a 3500 and is a bit of over kill. Most only use a 2500 which is adequate. (the only difference with mine is it has duall rear wheels which gives it a 5535kg GVM.) Same size motor and cab etc.

Cheers

Patto