Back in the saddle

[scottydl]

After a few years RV-less and the recent itch to get back into the lifestyle… I went full bore for several months on fifth wheel research, and this past Saturday picked up our new-to-us 2016 Keystone Sprinter 347FWLFT. It’s 39 feet long, midbunk floor plan, 4 slides and a bunch of cool electronic gizmos.

I’ve had my diesel dually truck for 4+ years and towed our prior bunkhouse TT with it, but hadn’t yet towed a FW or gooseneck. Got some good practice bringing the Keystone home 75 miles on a rainy day & variety of roads/speeds, so I feel like my towing chops are getting warmed up again.

As a new 5er owner, I’m looking forward to re-engaging with everyone in this subforum and learning + contributing wherever I can.

 

[PancakeBill]

Welcome back. Fifth wheel experience for me is back in military as part of my job in munitions. Good motivation not to screw up! RV has been pretty much everything but. Mostly easier to back and maneuver than a bumper pull. Just practice a bit.

 

[Rene T]

Scotty, it’s hard to tell in your pictures if you have enough clearance between the bottom side of the trailer and the top of the bed rails. It should be no less than 6”. You can get by with 5” as long as you know that the ground will be pretty much flat with very little deviation.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Looks good, Scott. Congratulations!

 

[scottydl]

Scotty, it’s hard to tell in your pictures if you have enough clearance between the bottom side of the trailer and the top of the bed rails. It should be no less than 6”. You can get by with 5” as long as you know that the ground will be pretty much flat with very little deviation.

Really good point! That gap isn’t something I was specifically aware of, although I completely understand the reason for it. I’ll be sure to measure next time I’m hitched up. Good news is that here in the Midwest everything is pretty flat.

 

[jackiemac]

Congratulations Scotty hope you and the family have lots of fun with it!

 

[IBTripping]

Congrats. Beautiful rig.

 

[SpencerPJ]

Go big or stay home! Looks great, congrats!

 

[scottydl]

Yeah @SpencerPJ we skipped the tent and “small RV” phases when entering RV life many years ago. Our first was a 35’ Class A, then a 32’ TT, and now a 39’ fifth wheel. What can I say, we like some elbow room.

 

[Kirk]

Our first was a 35’ Class A, then a 32’ TT, and now a 39’ fifth wheel.

You missed some interesting parts of the trip! We had an old tent of 8'X8' first, then one of 12'X14'. Moved up to an old popup, then a new, larger popup, then a 28' travel trailer, next a 25' class A, a 36' class A and last a 20' travel trailer.

 

[scottydl]

It’s not that I’ve never slept in a tent… but I had done it a handful of times and knew that I wanted to jump right into the “comforts of home” RV realm when it came to camping.