Since we had already decided that a fifth wheel was the right choice for us, all that remained was choosing one from many. But there are several dozen manufacturers, each offering several major models, with each model available with a dizzying array of options. 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. We clearly had to prioritize our wish list.
On the top of Jett’s wish list was that second bath. Or, to be specific, that second half bath. 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. I don’t mind walking a few steps, if necessary, to do my business. Jett, on the other hand, would rather have needles stuck in her eye than use a campground bathroom. I suppose it is a female thing; males are less likely to need to touch the fixtures.
Whatever the reason, that “bath and a half” feature was a non-negotiable item on her list. That dramatically narrowed the search. I would estimate that less than 5% of all used fifth wheels have a bath and a half. This is partly due to it being a recent innovation – I don’t recall seeing any on pre-2009 models. And it was a feature that was almost always associated with a “bunkhouse” or second bedroom. 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. And since they are still kids, they could sleep in the living room.
I started out resisting the bunkhouse floorplans. It seemed to me like a bad tradeoff of valuable living space for unneeded sleeping space. But as time went by I warmed to the idea. A bunkhouse could actually double as an office or work area and, when a sporting event was on TV, as my man cave. 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.
Maybe I could hang my St Pauli Girl neon sign there.
So it would be a bunkhouse fifth wheel with a bath and a half. What else? 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. 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. But the tradeoff is a loss of interior space and it just wasn’t obvious that we would use it all that much.
Another option, found on only a few models, is a second entrance. This is available on a few non-bunkhouse models, usually to provide direct access to the kitchen when it is located in the rear. But with a bunkhouse it makes a lot of sense from a safety perspective. 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. 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.
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. Unfortunately, only a few of these can be gauged by reviewing specifications. TV counts and refrigerator size can be checked off. 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. I would have to leave those for an in-coach inspection.
One thing that Jett and I agreed on was that a stand-alone dinette was vastly better than a booth style dining area. But some fifth wheels offer an intriguing option: a “horseshoe” sofa that acts like a megabooth. 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. This appeals to me as it would give us enough sofa for Jett, me and two dogs (yes, they are allowed on the sofa). But it is an option that is hard to find on a used RV.
Another thing we agreed on was that the main bathroom should be a single room and should have a real door. Some RVs have the shower right in the bedroom, which we thought was just plain weird. 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.
We gave a lot of thought as to whether we wanted a washer/dryer in the coach. At first glance it seems like a terrific idea. But most coaches don’t have room for a full-size washer and dryer. 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. Plus they are heavy, which is a real consideration when the total cargo capacity is maybe 3,000 pounds. So we decided that a washer/dryer was not a requirement. But having a hookup – in case a few months on the road changes our minds – was desirable.
Then there are some technical details that I am sure will become very important after being on the road for a while. For example, just how easy is it to set up and tear down the coach? Can I empty the black water tanks without contaminating myself (hmmm…. maybe that outside shower option would be handy)? What kind of maintenance is required for the wheel bearings? What kind of hitch is required? How much cargo can be carried? How large is the “basement” and is it easily accessible? How much electrical power does it have when hooked up at a campsite? How many circuits? Are the outlets numerous and accessible? Are the circuit breakers easily accessible? And if we boondock, how much power is available if we don’t have a generator?
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. The next step was to find a real used RV that actually met our needs.