Bought my first 5th wheel camper!

[Soldier415]

Had a 28' bumper tow previously. Got rid of it when my wife got pregnant as I didn't see us doing much camping over the next few years. My Daughter turns 3 this year and decided a week ago that I didn't want to sit around the house every weekend this summer, and wanted to be out making memories and enjoying time with the family.

Found a 2015 Heartland Gateway used one season and sat the next season a few hours away from me. 41' with 5 slide outs, bunkhouse for the kid, and outdoor kitchen for me. 13k lbs dry weight. Guy I bought it from paid $77k for it new two years ago, I got it for $29k.

Bunkhouse has two bunks on top, one on each side, under the right side bunk is a leather sofa for watching TV which converts into a third bunk

Living room, dining room, kitchen. Full size fridge. Dining area converts to 2 person double bed. Recliners recline flat

Master bedroom with king bed. Master bath has shower and tub.

 

[shooterdon]

Old saying.....RV stands for Ruined Vacation

I had a 43’ Fuzion Touring Edition that was nothing but trouble. Stranded us twice when slides would not retract. At the dealer for repairs at least 10 times in 5 years. I damaged it and was glad to get the insurance settlement.

If I ever do it again, I will buy a cargo trailer and equip it myself.

I sincerely wish you luck with your unit.

 

[Groo]

$29K is a great deal for that monstrosity 2 years old, but think of all the very nice hotel rooms you could pay for with that $29k and all the fuel you'll burn moving it around.
I tried to justify the cost for myself a couple of times, and never could come close.

 

[tjkubota93]

That's the kinda deal you want to find. I would hate to be the guy who sold you that, taking a 47k whooping.

Hope you have a big truck.

 

[Groo]

That's the kinda deal you want to find. I would hate to be the guy who sold you that, taking a 47k whooping.

Hope you have a big truck.

yah, but that massive hit he took was less painful than sitting on it un-used indefinately.

 

[hawkeye08]

We have a travel trailer and my answer to those saying hotels are cheaper, I don't disagree, but then again, I don't like to camp at a freeway exit, but rather enjoy getting out away from where the hotels are..

Congrats on nice RV, make some good memories.

 

[tractorshopper]

Good job Soldier. I agree with Hawkeye, but even more about the money isn't so much about how you could stay in hotels etc, but that you'll enjoy many years of close-knit time with the family. It will be priceless for your daughter over her lifetime of memories.

I don't have one, but wish I did. Spent my money on travel ball with my girls. Same end result; lots of priceless memories traveling all over the Southeast. Stuff none of us will forget and I surely wouldn't trade that family time or Dad time with my daughters for anything.

 

[Soldier415]

$29K is a great deal for that monstrosity 2 years old, but think of all the very nice hotel rooms you could pay for with that $29k and all the fuel you'll burn moving it around.
I tried to justify the cost for myself a couple of times, and never could come close.

Thought about that, but there are also a lot of negatives to hotel rooms. Single space for all 3 of us so nowhere to put the kid to bed well before us. Not being able to keep groceries stocked and cold/frozen with a stove/oven and grill. to name a few...

 

[Soldier415]

That's the kinda deal you want to find. I would hate to be the guy who sold you that, taking a 47k whooping.

Hope you have a big truck.

2017 3/4 ton with new L5P duramax. After towing it once i'm investing in a set of airbags for the rear with a wireless compressor. Truck has a level kit in it so the back squats down when I hook up the camper. Still tows it fine, but i'd prefer to raise the back up a few inches.

 

[KubotainNH]

That is one big camper. We did camping with a popup when the kids were young, now my wife prefers hotels. We go for the ones with full kitchens and a separate bedroom, more like an apartment. That allows us to buy food locally and cook it ourselves. I still go camping once a year with my adult boys but that old popup needs more repairs than I think I'm willing to do at this point. It is really nice to have all your stuff stay in the camper, just grab food and clean clothes. Enjoy the new to you rig. Do they have a manual way to retract the slide-outs? I too have heard of issues with them. You would think there'd be a manual crank.

Which area of Vermont are you? So many great areas to camp with a couple states.