After going to the Atlanta RV show last weekend, I convinced my wife that a Travel Trailer wasn't the right choice for our situation. At this point we've decided to go with a 5th wheel, so now I have to trade in my Ram 1500 on something larger, hopefully a 3500 4x4 drw. Growing up a Texan, I've always wanted a Cowboy Cadillac. On the plus side tandem towing may now be in my future....
There are alot of people in utah who do the "triple tow", but personally I think that our boats are a little too heavy and too nice too put behind a fifth wheeler. Most people I see doing this have lighter, more beat up fishing boats. I had a 3500 dodge ram (single rear tire setup) that was ROCK SOLID pulling my 10,000 lb bumper pull, and it was a lot of fun.
But honestly, my motorhome wasn't cheap, but also not as much as you think. a new 3500 will run you $50,000 to $60,000. A new gas motorhome with ford chassis will run you $90,000 to $110,000. you could finance motorhome over 20 years making payment around 200 bucks a month if money is tight (and when is money not tight?).
A new 1 ton truck and new fifth wheeler is the same cost as a motorhome.
I like having a v8 jeep, motorhome and boat in our garage. I tow the jeep behind the MH when not boating, I tow the boat behind the MH when not needing a car, and I can tow the boat with the jeep when I dont need a MH. If I have only motorhome and boat, it is pretty dang cheap to rent cars at the destination if you need a car. most car rental companies are ~ $30 bucks a day.
What they don't tell you about Motorhome is how much MORE FUN AND PLEASURABLE the drive is than behind the full ton truck. driving the truck to camping was like driving....driving the motorhome is like relaxing and sightseeing. I sit in a LazyBoy chair 6 feet high with a panoramic picture window allowing me to see this great country.
Since I have had all these setups, I will tell you my STRONG OPINION,is that the MH/Boat setup is the superior one (IMHO).
Whatever you will end up, it will be fun. You can't go wrong.