I get my little toyhauler into some very rough, uneven spots. With the axles relocated from above to below the spring pack, it has lots of ground clearance and lots of room above the bed.

As far as what is cheaper, naturally it depends on how far the trip is, how long you are going to stay, and what type of groceries or dining you go for.

 

I think it is a life style choice. You can make an argument either way. Diesel in Mexico is $2.00, so that is a good thing. If you go remote, there are no hotels.
PPL is a great place to check out rigs, especially on-line. Lots of choices!

 

Its pretty rare that we stay in a campground. We typically boondock in the national forest. I take my fifth wheel places most people would never go.

Even in some pretty gnarly "campsites" I've never had any issues with hitting the bed. I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

 

For a given length, a 5th wheel will give you more room, since you have the bed over the bed of the truck.
On the other hand You lose your truck bed as far as carrying anythig of size. No ATV.
A toy hauler is built light, but sometimes a little flimsy or at least the couches and seats etc are not high grade.
On the other hand, the toy hauler lets you take the quad.
It is important to KNOW where you are going to take this thing, that is already scouted out. that way you don't get trapped at the end of a road, or on the edge of a cliff, etc.
boon-docking as it is referred to requires a whole lot more junk to take with you. More fuel in cans, a generator, heavier tools, like chains, a high lift jack, etc.
A 5th wheel now often has a storage bay for a medium sized gen set, and often are plumbed for it (wired in, exhaust in, and fuel line from the toy hauler bay.
go to a RV show, so you can see the different floor plans, and configurations. I was surprised to see a style that I called the "young guys party rig" that was in racing colors, had a keg fridge, with a tap that hung on the wall inside the toy bay, big screen in the toy bay, extra shower in the toy bay, outside speakers, two fuel tanks, one for gas, one for deisel, and the gen set fully plumbed in from the tank.
We tow a bumper pull, 29 ft Avion, a classic (84) that just by going nice and slow, we have taken into some of the most remote areas in Oregon. Tiny narrow "two-tracks", up over 9800 ft altitude. It can be done.
As to costs, unless you are boondocking, consider park fees, up to 100 bucks a day is not uncommon.
I agree that waking next to a creek, in the wilds is a pleasant experience, but don't forget that being out alone requires an increase in security consciousness: always armed, never leave camp without at least one person staying there, don't trust everyone you meet as being a lover of nature like you. I don't know how one can do that in Mexico, with their gun laws, but I am always armed in any forest I am camped in, and I LIVE in the country.
I greet everyone I meet with a smile.
I have STILL had fuel stolen from my camp when we walked up the hill for half an hour.

 

I would go with a fifthwheel before even looking at a tow behind more room and alot more monuverable(yeah I spelled it wrong)
get a slide out also.I'm 6ft8 and I can stand up in a 5th wheel were as a tow behind I can't.just my 2cent's

 

In your analysis:

1) For some people, cost is either the most important or only issue. This can involve the trip cost analysis, and/or the costs of an RV, insurance, maintenance, a tow vehicle, etc.
2) For some people, time is the issue - IE: they don't want to drive to get to their destination, or they don't want to drive such a distance, etc.
3) For some people the journey is as important as the destination, or perhaps they like the idea of having their own space set up and modified to suit their own needs, and maybe the ability to bring pets, or not wanting to have a sterile (more like a motel room) RV that isn't personalized, etc.

There is no one answer.

I like having my own RV set up the way I want it, stocked with all my gear and stuff. I like driving. I have owned a Class A bus conversion, a 44' gooseneck toy hauler, and now have an Airstream travel trailer. They are all different - different styles of travel, different operational abilitities, etc.

With today's fuel costs, travel (in all categories) is going to be very expensive. Heck, having to pay to check a bag on an airline ? Fuel surcharges ?? Perhaps the whole industry will shift and settle a bit ?

A tent on a backback while you ride a bicycle ? There are so many variables. Back-country or National Park camping requires smaller rigs, full timers who want a washer/dryer and to park their Harley in a bin underneath - costs for a pop up camper start at 3K and Class A's can reach 1M.

Slide outs ? Toy haulers ? Multiple flat-screen TV's ? Generators and inverters ? Weekend warriers or full-timers ?

In these financial times, one has to look real hard at how much they value the RV experience, (how much use will it get, buy VS rent, etc), what type of experience they want, and what best suits their needs. There is not one-size-fits-all.

 

Thanks again for all the answers and info. Sorry to be so slow in responding, but I was up in the States for a bit.
Yes, I fully understand about there being no one size fits all, and your info is all very good and is helping us to decide. Now that I have my truck back I can now seriously start looking at all the different options.

 

Mexstan, I have seen a lot of rv's with the sewer tanks in the back try to go on a small incline and tear things up. When I bought mine I made sure all the tanks and drains were in the middle and not the end.
I don't have a lot of knowledge on this subject , but that is my tip.

By the way. How much is fuel in your area?

 

Yeah, ditto that.

I use mine in the winter, and one of the things that attracted me to the Patio Hauler was that all the plumbing, including the dump valves, is tucked up inside the insulated belly and it's enclosed with structure board...

Since I relocated the axles to below the springs I've got a lot of clearance for uneven ground, but I do have to pay attention to low branches.

 

Mexstan IMHO You will never make the dollars and cents work out but you will Never take a condo where you can take a RV. Thats why its called camping and I love it.

 

Stan,
If you are interested in more info on trailering off-road, I ran across a forum with several Threads. You might want to take a look.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/camping-gear-recovery/