TRAVEL TRAILER OR 5TH WHEEL?

WRITTEN BY REX

MORE ON RVING................

SO WHY DO YOU HAVE A TRAVEL TRAILER INSTEAD OF ONE OF THOSE COOL 5TH WHEELS?THERE ARE TWO ANSWERS TO THIS COMMON QUESTION. FIRST, WE PREFER TO LIVE IN THE FRONT OF OUR CAMPER AND SLEEP IN THE BACK. 5TH WHEELS HAVE THE BEDROOM UP FRONT IN THE ELEVATED PART. IN THESE BEDROOMS, YOU CAN STAND UP REQUIRING THE CAMPER TO BE TALLER, WHICH HURTS YOUR GAS MILEAGE. WITH THE V-10 GAS ENGINE WE ALREADY KNOW EVERY GAS STATION BETWEEN ANYWHERE AND WISCONSIN, GETTING 8 MILES PER GALLON. IT'S NICE TO SIT IN THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER AND WATCH OUT THE WINDOWS AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. THE TREND, HOWEVER, IS TO HAVE THE LIVING ROOM IN THE BACK OF THE TRAILER, IN BOTH TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FIFTH WHEELS. THE NEWER CAMP GROUNDS ARE ADAPTING TO THIS. FOR EXAMPLE IN PAHRUMP, AT THE TERRIBLES LAKESIDE RV RESORT, THE SITES ARE SET UP SO THAT THE BACK OF YOUR CAMPER FACES THEIR BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE, GREEN GRASS, AND LAKE.

ANSWER #2 IS THAT WE USE THE BACK OF THE PICK-UP FOR OUR STORAGE, WHICH HAS A MATCHING TOPPER. THE BACK OF THE PICK-UP IS ORGANIZED WITH 20 GAL TUPPERWARE TUBS. THE OLD BLUE TUB HAS EXTRA CAMPING SUPPLIES LIKE ROPES, TABLE CLOTH ETC., THE HALLOWEEN TUB HAS DUTCH OVEN COOKING SUPPLIES, THE PINK TUB HAS MARY'S EXTRA CLOTHES, AND ON AND ON FOR A TOTAL OF 8 TUBS STACKED TWO HIGH.

THOSE COOL 5TH WHEELS REQUIRE THAT THE BACK OF YOUR PICK-UP BE OPEN.

ACTUALLY WE TRADED CAMPERS IN JAN '05 AND NOBODY HAS CHECKED OUT OUR NEW CAMPER, EXCEPT PAULIE, AND UNCLE HANS' CREW FROM SPOONER.. THE CURRENT CAMPER IS 34 FEET LONG GIVING US EXTRA CLOSET ROOM WHICH SPANS THE WIDTH OF THE TRAILER IN THE BACK OF THE BEDROOM. THE ADDITIONAL EXTRA ROOM IS ADDED TO THE BATHROOM AND WE NO LONGER HAVE TO BACK IN TO SIT ON THE STOOL. THE BED IS ACTUALLY IN A SLIDE OUT THAT ALLOWS US TO GET AROUND THE BED. IN THE FRONT IS A DOUBLE WIDE SLIDE OUT THAT INCLUDES THE DINNING BOOTH AND COUCH. IF YOU COME LOOKING FOR US THE FRONT SAYS MOUNTAINEER BY MONTANA.