skylve

Thanks for the info fellas, I'll get to ordering the jackalopee/wiring kit immediately so I can hopefully be ready to tow within a few weeks.

Hello again HDT'ers,

I'm about ready to pull the trigger after 2 years, I'm looking at a few trucks and want to get my jackalopee ready as a plug'n'play setup before I get a truck, but first I got a few questions.

1. Is this the correct website and is it safe? Has anyone used it recently? https://ethitch.com/et-products/jackalopee/

2. How hard is it to assemble for an idiot? I don't have any electrical experience, only Ikea furniture assembly, basic woodworking, basic automotive maintenance, and lots of Lego building experience from years ago.

3. Can reverse lights be omitted? I don't want to tap into the truck wiring and don't really see them being neccesary.

4. Anyone able to tell how long shipping was to Canada?

Thanks in advance, looking to join the community soon.

1 hour ago, jkoenig24 said:

In 10+ years, I can remember only ONE parking lot that had a barrier set below 13'6" on the main entryways. There WAS a rear entry NOT so equipped so that the tractor trailers delivering store stock did have access.  In whatever parking lots I do stop in, I make sure that I park off to the rear and or edges of the lot so as to NOT impede "regular" customers. Doing it this way, I've never had a problem. Have you tried phoning ahead to request "clearance" to park your rig in their lot while you shop?

Good to hear that you haven't had any trouble, but was there signage prohibiting heavy vehicles or trucks on the lots where you parked? Where I am, every retail property has a sign that usually looks like such:

PRIVATE PROPERTY

Customer parking only.

Maximum 2 hours.

No truck or trailer parking.

No parking 12am-6am

Violators will be tagged and/or towed at owner's expense.

From what I learned when I worked retail, calling ahead won't matter since a store usually doesn't own the property, a large private company does. I never recall any of my managers or coworkers in the store caring about what happened on the parking lot, but things may be different now at other locations. Then again I'm not worried about the store employees, I'm more worried about the random police officer who might pass by and leave a ticket. Or I just might be paranoid about parking ever since I used to get parking tickets 2-3 times a week when I had my first car and my parents didn't have space to park it on their driveway.

13 minutes ago, sandsys said:

We went to one with a barrier so low we couldn't pass under it in our Class C. We just drove around back and used the truck entrance then drove back up front and parked along an edge. We were not the only ones doing that, either.

Linda

Thanks for the clarification, looks like the rules aren't as strict as it seems if you haven't had problems going around back and parking.

It seems that every store parking lot doesn't allow for heavy vehicles, regardless if you're a customer or not and I'm worried that an HDT will severely limit where I can buy groceries and other supplies. Do any HDT owners have trouble parking on lots where the signage prohibits trucks or other heavy vehicles? Are there any alternatives other than bringing an extra vehicle or renting?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone, I'm getting close to buying a tow vehicle, and I'll check back here once that's done, and then once spring comes I'll have to see what local RV dealers have in stock, hopefully there's going to be something that meets my requirements.

On 9/28/2020 at 7:50 PM, sandsys said:

This is a class A rather than a 5th wheel but you might want to check it out: https://www.goingplacesrv.com/rv-rental/bounder-class-a-rv-36/?wphyperspeed=1598654132

It's currently in a rental pool.

Linda

That floor plan looks interesting, never seen anything like it in a class A, but class A RV's are expensive here in Canada unless they're older than 20 years.

I'll just have to see what the local dealers have when I'm ready to buy, I'll most likely settle for a 32-35ft fifth wheel with bunkhouse and 1.5 baths, maybe I'll convert the half bath to a wet bath.

17 hours ago, 2gypsies said:

I certainly wouldn't buy a specific type of RV for 'just in case someone brings kids'.  Buy the RV for YOU.  Extras can usually adjust by bringing their tent or getting a cabin in the park or ??

This is the RV that I want for me, it won't matter if there's extras, the space if always going to be used.

16 hours ago, sandsys said:

I like everything about that floor plan except the location of the living room TV; that's a crick in the neck waiting to happen. But I am puzzled about 50 gallons fresh with more than 100 gallons each gray and black water tanks.

Linda

TV? TV!!! Absolutely no TV's anywhere on my site, I don't even bother to care for positions/connections for TV's when looking at any floorplan. I'll assume that having larger tanks are better if weight isn't an issue unless someone's experience shows otherwise.

On 9/25/2020 at 5:26 PM, 2gypsies said:

Here's a 3-bunk - Jayco 29.5BHDS.  Only one bath and small tanks for a big family - 43 gal fresh; 32 gal grey & black

https://www.jayco.com/tools/archive/2020-eagle-ht-fifth-wheel/295bhok/

For the size you want I doubt you'll find a 2-bath; 3 bunk 5th wheel.

Even if you found a 2-bath; you might not be able to use both showers at the same time and you'd need big holding tanks.

 

Your design has no place to relax... just the table.  What if you have days of rain?  Or even one day of rain?

Would you consider getting a roomy 30' and having the kids use a tent at your site for sleeping?  Then you'd have lots of room inside for relaxing.

Good luck!

It doesn't rain much during the summer here in Southern Ontario, so as long as everyone can find cover from the rain for 10-15 mins then there's no big issue. The tent idea isn't too bad, but some campsites restrict extra stuff like cars and tents. There's going to be no kids either unless someone decides to bring along their younger siblings.

On 9/26/2020 at 4:36 PM, rynosback said:

With all of your requirements I would think you would want to have a custom one built. There are a lot of things that point to that. 30’ alone is a rare thing. 2 full bathrooms In 30’ I have never heard of. And having a bunkhouse and a bedroom plus living space in 30’ I have never seen. Best of luck.

Its going to be my first RV so nothing custom yet, and after some digging I did find a few floorplans around 30 feet with a bunkhouse and 1.5 baths but they are all new ones, so it looks like I might have to buy a brand new RV which is usually advised against for first timers.

I did find something almost perfect but its a new model and at $65k CAD it's more than twice my planned budget.

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/fifth-wheels/sandpiper/3330BH/5029

15 hours ago, SWharton said:

Have you looked at toy haulers?

They are more expensive than a regular fifth wheel of similar size and I would rather not pay for something I don't need. That said I will reconsider looking at toy haulers again.

14 hours ago, mptjelgin said:

There are very few RV's on the market with more than one bath, and I don't know of any with two showers.  The plan you've drawn has essentially no "living area" and the single couch is directly across from a bathroom.  You are looking for something so unique that it likely doesn't exist.  RV manufacturers (with the exception of the very high-end, custom manufacturers) design RV's that are likely to appeal to a range of potential buyers, and the layout you have drawn would not. 

The idea of looking at a toy hauler and renovating the garage area has some merit, but few are in the 30' range, and fewer with two bathrooms. 

5 hours ago, lappir said:

There is more stuff inside the locations you may consider wasted space. In your illustration above, there isn't enough room between your Bed and bath for the slideout to return inside  for travel. There are companies who will customize your rig and build it to your specifications. The down side to that is you get what you ask for and have to pay for it even if the reality isn't the same as your dream. Once it's started it's yours. 

Rod

If I had the money, I would definitely get a custom RV, but with the budget I have I can only buy something that is already built. There is also the option of converting a cargo trailer but unfortunately I don't have any knowledge of construction or renovation to take on such a project.

35 minutes ago, LindaH said:

Is this a floorplan that you drew, or the floorplan of an actual RV?

The reason I ask is in the bedroom, it doesn't look like there would be enough room to bring in the bed slide before it hit the bathroom.

I drew it, the rear is based on a slide design in I saw a travel trailer where the bed folds in half when the slide retracts.

Hello everyone,

I'm about half a year away from purchasing my first fifth wheel, and have been actively looking at different floor plans and models, and I've think I've figured out what I want for the floorplan. My criteria are:

1. Not excessively long, I'd prefer to keep it 33ft or under

2. Separate bunkhouse with at least 3 bunks

3. 2 baths, preferably both having a shower (wet or dry is fine) or 1.5 baths

4. Minimal non-sleeper sofas

After looking at various floor plans I've noticed quite a waste of space in many models, for me the rv will be used like a portable cabin; just stay in it to sleep/cook and most of the time you're outside having fun with friends/family. There's no need for lots of sofas and tables for me. I prefer as much split between sleeping areas as possible, so a bunkhouse is the way to go. I'd also like 2 toilets and preferably 2 showers to make sure everyone is comfortable and there's no arguing over who goes when. Looking around I saw only a couple that meet my criteria. What brands usually make similar models and are there any specific models I would find suitable?

Below is an example that meets my criteria.

Thanks for the replies everyone, my next time back here will most likely be once I get the hdt. I'm planning on buying the hdt in a few months, and then I'll buy a trailer once the truck is all set up. Happy camping to all!

16 hours ago, sandsys said:

Why? Just curious.

Linda

Mainly personal preference, there's nothing like rowing your own gears down the scenic route. I care as much about the journey as I do about the destination.

9 hours ago, Kirk W said:

2007 Volvo for sale $25K

Definitely one of the nicer trucks, but its in the US, and with the lower Canadian dollar 25k would end up being around 33k along with the hassle of importing it here.

2 hours ago, Randyretired said:

Depending on the HDT you choose it  may be more maneuverable than many pickups.  Volvos and some others will turn sharper than a lot of pickups.  In addition most mount the hitch behind the axle which helps tracking and is much more responsive when backing.  If you don't put a bed on be sure to add fenders and good mud flaps.  It was good to see you plan another hitch.  The 5er will fit into the commercial hitch but most recommend an air hitch.

Thanks for the advice on the fenders, never thought of those, added to my list. I was considering using the original hitch but I read that it will destroy the rv frame, so it'll be worth it getting an air ride hitch.

1 hour ago, rickeieio said:

Building out the frame for a hitch, and then buying the hitch can cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand.  I understand you don't think you want a bed, but having a flat surface to carry things makes the vehicle much more useful overall.

Here's a truck we looked at back in late Nov.  It's a good truck, just wouldn't work for us.  It would have been a step sideways, and so not worth the paperwork and effort to import it.  But since you're already in CA.........  

 

I think a couple thousand to get a hitch professionally installed would be reasonable, cause I'd never trust anything I'd install myself to hold a 10,000lb trailer on the highway,  so I'm fine with that. I'll likely install some kind of storage compartments later on.

That truck is nice, but $42k is still expensive, and I would like a manual transmission which doesn't seem to come in any already built rv haulers. Thanks for suggesting it, never saw an hdt for sale close to me.

27 minutes ago, 2gypsies said:

What size RV are you thinking of getting?  A small RV is overkill for a HDT.  What kind of places do you want to go?  You may be limited depending on the size such as Provincial parks, etc.

I'm planning on buying a medium sized fifth wheel somewhere on the lower end of 30ft+, going to travel to various destinations in Ontario at first, but will slowly explore further. I know an hdt is overkill but the reason I'd like an hdt is for the comfort during travel and due to personal preference, I also don't need a second "car" so might as well get a specialized tow vehicle and it can be cheaper than a decent pickup truck these days.

28 minutes ago, Ray,IN said:

One of the thing involved is insurance on the HDT, I assume you've already investigated that aspect.

I hit a dead end on that one. Somewhere I read that statefarm and cooperators insures hdt trucks, but I called both and neither insures hdt trucks??? I'll have to do some more digging.

1 hour ago, rickeieio said:

You can't do your own conversion for what the seller's asking.  Not even close.  Been there, got the bills to prove it.

Approximately how much will I need to spend? I'm not planning to change any axles or add a deck.

18 hours ago, sandsys said:

I don't have a specific answer to your question but I have one thing you might want to consider. Having "space to park an RV" does not necessarily mean you will be allowed to park an RV there. Please, check all local laws/regulations before you get too far down this path. I had a huge driveway but a neighbor complained so I was given a set number of days to move the RV or be fined $50 a night. The RV was, at that time, our only vehicle and we were preparing our house for sale. So we parked there all day, every day, then drove to a local campground for the night--it's a good thing they only charged for nights.

Linda Sand

I've looked at local laws, and pretty much all southern Ontario municipalities prohibit rv parking, but being a bylaw, it is only enforced only by complaint. Many people with larger properties have trailers, boats, and rv's parked on their driveway so it seems that complaints aren't too common.

18 hours ago, Ray,IN said:

I suggest pursuing what is involved with owning and using a semi-tractor for your intended purpose in Canada, and presumable into the U.S.A. before actually spending money. Hopefully some of the HDT forum members will jump in with their thoughts and advice.

Requirements for owning an HDT rv in Ontario are pretty simple, have an airbrake endorsement and either a full or restricted class A license. There aren't any more restrictions for an hdt than a dually pickup.

17 hours ago, Randyretired said:

I can't help on what is required to own and drive a HDT in Canada but I have a HDT.  One thing to keep in mind a used truck or 5er may need repairs.  When I purchased our HDT we found some problems and spent $6,000 bringing things up to standards.  Then we went about  the mods to pull a 5er.  When we bought our 5er it also needed some repairs.  Tires for instance can require a significant investment.   So I recommend you budget for this.  Better to have the funds if needed than need it and not have the funds.

Hopefully you have some experience driving big rigs or at least pickups and trailers.  If not you may want to seek some training.  Things like air brakes and other things require some special skills and procedures.  We have had our HDT for about 14 years now and it has been great.  Good luck and happy travels.

I'll be hoping the truck I buy won't have any major issues, and I'll try to get an rv fifth wheel professionally installed, the rest like convering into a "motorhome" and changing the electrical connections I can do myself, although it will be a new field for me. Will make sure to consider the fact that I may need new tires.

I'm current in truck school, it was actually there that I got the idea to use a hdt for towing an rv. A random conversation with one of the instructors let me to consider an hdt over a pickup truck. I should be fine towing an rv after I finish truck school.

Thanks for the advice.

9 hours ago, rickeieio said:

What Randy said (wrote).  If you have the experience to drive a large rig, and are ready to pull the trigger, there's a "ready to toll" complete rig listed in the "for sale" section of this forum for about $30k.  I  know nothing of the rig or seller.

I'll be converting my own rig, won't go too crazy, just a different hitch, a "motorhome" conversion, and make an adapter for the electrical, but thanks for mentioning.

7 hours ago, Will B. said:

As to "new or used" on the RV itself, you'll see many, many pieces of information online that lean towards "used".  No RV rolls off the lot bug-free, there is ALWAYS something to fix. A used RV, that's been cared for, will have many of these kinks worked out.  A new RV likely won't, and you'll read story after story after story after story about how someone's new RV has been in the shop as soon as they drove off the lot and could return back, and it's been in the shop from 1 to 10 months.

For ANY RV you buy, new OR used, get an inspector.  You'd never buy a sticks-n-bricks without one, don't skimp on this for the RV.  You can find one here: https://nrvia.org/

Alright used it is then, and I've never known that rv inspectors exist. Will definitely have one look at the rv that I will buy. Thanks!

Hello everyone,

Lately I've been contemplating on whether or not its worth it to get into rving, I've looked at many options, and generally rving seems to be somewhat reasonable financially. Although I've never stayed in an rv, I've camped a few times in a tent, and I've been to many cottages. I really enjoy going places, so it seems an rv would be perfect to travel both close and far. I'll be moving into a new house with my parents soon and will have space to park an rv so the only thing left will be to decide whether or not to buy and rv and what to buy. I'm planning on spending about 20k on a truck and under 20k on the rv.

Now that I've explained what situation I'm in, my plan is to buy a used semi-tractor, get a hitch installed, change the wiring, add a couple extra seats, and "convert" it into a "motorhome". Then buy a used fifth wheel and pull it with the truck. The reason I'd like a used semi tractor is cause its hard to find a reliable pickup truck these days for a reasonable price, and a semi-tractor is much more comfortable to drive in.

My main questions regarding buying a truck and rv:

1. Is it a good idea to buy a semi truck and fifth wheel as a first timer?

2. Should I buy new or used for the rv? I've read that used is better in value, but have seen the argument that a used rv can end up being a leaky, broken mess.

3. What would be a good brand/type for a medium sized fifth wheel rv, preferably under 20k CAD?

4. Is modifying an rv necessary, like changing axles, tires, slides, pinboxes, etc?

If you want me to clarify anything else feel free to ask, I'm located in Ontario, Canada, thanks.