I was looking at the RV show over the weekend and noticed there were more travel trailers than fifth wheels, and i was always looking to get a fifth wheel since a few buddies mentioned it is easier to tow a 5er.When i asked a few reps they said they both tow the exact same and pointed out the fact of more TT than 5er's. Now im confused. Please help. Id love to save a bunch of money and keep my TT but if there iws a big diff in towing then id prob keep looking for a 5er. My truck hauls it fine, but peopel said a 5er is still easier and more stable.

TIA

A fifth wheel will always be safer since it runs more tongue weight, and for the weight, it will be shorter.

That being said, a properly setup bumper pull is safe as well.

I bought a 31 foot prowler tt and 2 months later i traded it for 38 foot cedar creek 5er the best thing i ever did the tt sways all over and very uncomfortable for me i had all the weight dis. Bars and all that crap and forget about it 5er is the way to go and watch out for high markups on the nicer ones i got 14000 off the msrp on mine good luck

I pull a 27' tt with Reese WD and sway bars. The trailer pull straight and solid, I've never had an issue with sway even with tractor trailer blasting by at 80 mph. Axle location on a tt can make a difference but not much you can do about that. Load your supplies so the weight is forward in the trailer. The advantage of the DM in the hill is you can slide by the big rigs stoking up the truck lanes. Enjoy what you have.

I have had 1 travel trailer and on my 2nd fifth wheel and once you go to a fifth wheel you will never want another travel trailer. The height in a fifth wheel is so much greater then a travel trailer or a class A or class C. As far as the difference in pulling I feel more comfortable pulling a fifth wheel, I fell the truck and camper are more like one unit.

TT's vary in proper design, so some sway & should be avoided. Proper TT hitch and anti-sway bar will handle high cross winds. Make dealer let you tow with your rig to see since $$expensive to make bad choice. 5er's will have tighter turn around radius for same length b/c of where your radius begins (in bed). 5er's tend to put master bed up front, which KILLS headroom. TT's let you use your bed for other stuff (motorcycles, bicycles, BBQ grills, kayaks etc.) 5er's typically have more expensive features available, weigh more, have HUGE frontal wind loads. Duramax will EASILY tow either. Try to get sloped frontal area for either for better fuel economy. Try to get same axle height as truck (higher is better for forest service roads) and tallest tires you can (smaller tires turn WAY faster than truck tires at same speed with HEAT buildup directly in proportion). Get two spares, as trailer tires are hard to find in the boonies.

I was looking at the RV show over the weekend and noticed there were more travel trailers than fifth wheels, and i was always looking to get a fifth wheel since a few buddies mentioned it is easier to tow a 5er.When i asked a few reps they said they both tow the exact same and pointed out the fact of more TT than 5er's. Now im confused. Please help. Id love to save a bunch of money and keep my TT but if there iws a big diff in towing then id prob keep looking for a 5er. My truck hauls it fine, but peopel said a 5er is still easier and more stable.

TIA

Aren't RV shows fun...they really make you question what you already have...and they want you to part with some $$$

We had a TT, but pulled it with a van, it was terrible,we upgraded our tow vehicle to a 2500HD D/A and pulled the same TT to Oregon and back, it was much better, we were planning on paying off the truck then looking for a new 5th, but a super deal showed up 3 months later and we jumped into the new 5th deal. (they gave us more for our 6year old TT than when we puchased it new, and on top of that the new 5th was reduced $7grand) Plus trading at that time also saved us $2grand in taxes)

The 5th design does tow better...but if your not having any handling or hitching problems with you TT and your happy with the layout...keep what you have. We camp a lot and I see just as many people using trucks like yours hauling regular TT.

Our 5th wheel is a mid rise so we can't stand up in the front bedroom, and we didn't want a very tall 5th, with a TT you don't have that issue, and with a 5th you loose much of the truck bed area for other stuff (including using a canopy top or slide top.)

Our initial plan was to get a 25ft model 5th and keep the overall Truck & trailer length to @ 40ft , while having the ultimate set-up for towing in any conditions over many miles.

Just some things to consider.....hope this helps

from what everyone says a 5th wheel tows the best. i have all bumper pulls. my 28' enclosed with a weight kit and 2 sway bars tows great. like McRat said its all how u have it set up

if i were you and plan on traveling alot with this camper get a 5th wheel.

I had a 31' TT before I went to my current 40' fifth wheel. The 5th wheel tows much better than the TT. Do not have any desire to go back to a TT.

One aspect of the TT that has not been mentioned much above is that you still have your bed of the PU to use with a TT. With the 5'r, you lose most of it. With a TT you can have a camper shell/cap installed to keep your generator, your 4 wheeler, your golf cart, your mother-in-law, but the 5'r you don't. Now those who have 5th wheels will say that the storage under the front bed is plenty big. I agree, but I can't put my Honda ATC in there. The 5th wheel tows better, less sway, more stable, backs up easier, so if you don't need the room in the truck, buy the 5th wheel. If you do, buy the TT. Your call.

I've got a 28' toy hauler with a weight dist. kit no sway bars and have no problem with sway at any speed. The only thing I'm going to do for this year is put air lift bags on the truck to eliminate the bounce.

Go with the fifth wheel and you will not regret it. I have towed both and have no desire to go back to a travel trailer. As far as having no bed space with a 5er I still can get 3 bikes, cooler and a table that we take with us in the bed and few other various items plus we have plenty of room in the 5er to carry our stuff if we need to. Another plus for a 5er is they have more outside storage than a travel trailer and they are way easier to hook and unhook. Well with that being said good luck.

If the storage space in the bed of the truck is an issue go with a 5th wheel toy hauler. When you dry camp 95%+, you have to go with the toy hauler because of the fresh water tank size as well as the gray and black water tanks.

Those R.V. salesguys all lie through their teeth, they all disgust me. Any way after owning two of each, my vote goes with the fifthwheel...I would never let my wife drive towing the t.t., but on long hauls I insist she take her turn at the wheel (I didn't just buy that dvd player for the kids:D )

I have owned and pulled both....and the 5th wheel is the way to go. My camper is a 30' 5th wheel and I love the control you have when driving. Side wind is never goin to make you nervous......untill you run out of power.

Those R.V. salesguys all lie through their teeth, they all disgust me. Any way after owning two of each, my vote goes with the fifthwheel...I would never let my wife drive towing the t.t., but on long hauls I insist she take her turn at the wheel (I didn't just buy that dvd player for the kids:D )

Some don't lie, they are just incredibly uneducated (some are just plain stupid) when it comes to the product in which they should be experts.

Thats why I wanna get this one.

http://www.kz-rv.com/coyote_rc/index.html

Some don't lie, they are just incredibly uneducated (some are just plain stupid) when it comes to the product in which they should be experts.
Very True Most are stupid and Lie.

I have pulled both. The 5th wheel is the way to go. I don't care what kind of Anti Sway bars you have a TT will NEVER handle as good as a 5th Wheel.
I pull my 5th wheel over 8,000 miles a year and have for many years from AZ to Alaska and back, All sorts of road conditions.
A 5th wheel will turn as sharp as your truck can. Not so with TT.
A 5th wheel is a bit harder to back into tight places around corners.
5th Wheel has much more outside Storage and most have a better inside layout too.
If you don't pull it all that much then you can get the ones with stand up headroom by the bed. But you will loose fuel milage. Due to Wind resistance.
Mine is mid height 29ft 8500 lbs. with the D-max I have to look in the mirror to make sure the 5th wheel is still there you can not feel it even on windy days and meeting trucks. It will go up an 8% grade at 65 MPH.
When you come to a hill with a truck lane you can pull out and pass slow cars going up hill.
I have a Long box truck and have a large tool box in front of the hitch and another with a V top behind the hitch. Lots of storage. When I am parked for the winter I pull 4 pins and remove the hitch very easy, Except for my back it would be nice to have a helper.
You can get racks for the back of the trailer that will work for hauling a dirt bike.
Go 5th Wheel you will be Happier.
But which ever way you go get Good Towing Mirrors The 06> GM towing mirrors work great.

First, I don't trust what MOST salesmen tell me, because they're salesmen, and most don't really seem to know what they're talking about.
I haven't pulled a TT, but most of what I hear is you'll have sway problems at some point.
A TT has the advantage of lower cost, and you still have your truck bed for hauling.
The 5ver will always tow better, because no weight is taken off front axle, and more weight is put on haul vehicle. Usually cost more though.
I've pulled our 12K 5ver over 15K miles, and could go >75 MPH, wind or not, passing or being passed by semi's, and no sway. You can forget it's behind you if not careful.

Ruben
With that trailer you want you would have to always have the 2 quads on the front to tow it. Without them it would be way to squirrly to tow safely.

Thanks everyone for ur help. I will begin my search for a fifth wheel and use my tt as a good trade in. Never muched liked towing the TT, but didnt think there was a big difference. BOY WAS I WRONG. Thanks again everyone

Remeber salesmen sell. They tell you waht they thhink you want ot hear, what they think youll believe, or jsut plain waht htey ahve to sell. Yes a 5'er is much better then bumper pull.

Since I tow a gooseneck and have have the ball in the bed would I still need to install the hitch in the bed? Is there a way I could tow a 5er using my existing ball? What are the pro's and con's of this method of towing?

Since I tow a gooseneck and have have the ball in the bed would I still need to install the hitch in the bed? Is there a way I could tow a 5er using my existing ball? What are the pro's and con's of this method of towing?

I know you can get a gooseneck hitch adapter to go on the trailer. This lets you tow a 5th wheel trailer with a gooseneck type hitch.

Here are some adapters:

http://www.bageco.com/5thadapter.htm

http://www.etrailer.com/c-FWGNA.htm

http://kearbey.homestead.com/gooseneckplate.html

I have a custom made hitch adapter on my 36' toy hauler that looks just about like the RV4. The only thing is make sure that you get electric jacks because there is alot more jacking required to drop the pin over the ball then there is with a standard 5th wheel. I have 10" of rear offset bc of my short bed and it really helps out alot.

I've only had the 5th wheel and it takes me less than 5 minutes to hook and go. My brother inlaw has the TT and it takes more effort for him to hook and go. Stabilizers and such!!

I agree TT are such a pin in the **s that they ar almost not worth talking about but there are some people who like them and for those people I say "KODOS". Look at my garage and see what I am talking about. You will see.

I would not believe anything a salesman tells me unless I have verified it through another source. As many others have said they are there to move units and make money. They will tell you whatever you want to hear in order to make a sale and then back peddle like crazy when an issue comes up. I know there are some good people out there in the business but just make sure to verify what you're being told. Take your time in your decision and good Luck!

I would vote for the fifthwheel becuase they are easier to backup too. You can also tandom pull a boat behind you, but you need to stay under 28 ft fw here in mn. My 33'-0 does not work for tandom here.:( I can backup my 33'-0 fw easier then a 16'-0 boat.

Yes 5th wheels back up straight just fine. But try them around a S turn with very limited space on both sides. Then a Pull trail is easier because the trailer starts to change directions as soon as you turn the wheel. On a 5th wheel you have to get the whole truck turned beyond stright before the trailer starts to change direction. If you are in a place where you are at a 45° angle to the trailer it takes a long ways for the trailer to change directions. Not a problem in an open lot but when you have to put it between a Garage that is stright and a retaining wall that is curved and you only have 12" of clearance, it make for some choice words.
Even So Since I pull Forward over 8,000 mile a year and only have to back into such a place twice a year the 5th wheel is the only way to go.

If you can't back it Don't pull it. You don't see all that many Tandom Big rigs any more even. Yes UPS pulls triples even But they don't back them more than one at a time.;)

I know you can get a gooseneck hitch adapter to go on the trailer. This lets you tow a 5th wheel trailer with a gooseneck type hitch.

Here are some adapters:

http://www.bageco.com/5thadapter.htm

http://www.etrailer.com/c-FWGNA.htm

http://kearbey.homestead.com/gooseneckplate.html

As a mechanical engineer I would NEVER tow a fifth wheel on any of those adapters. They are like putting a length of pipe on a ratchet and wondering why the ratchet broke. They put stresses on the trailer frame that it was never designed for. Some trailers will take it for a long time, some won't. My neighbor does it and tows a boat with SURGE :eek: brakes behind it. I always ask him where he is going so I won't be behind him when the pin box shears off the fifth wheel.
My advice is always to use the right hitch for the trailer. With the B&W turnover ball and the Companion hitch, there is no reason to use those ticking time bomb adapters.

Yeah you wouldn't want to use one of those adapters on anything made by Fleetwood or Keystone.

If you have an Alpenlite or Teton you are probably OK

Yes 5th wheels back up straight just fine. But try them around a S turn with very limited space on both sides. Then a Pull trail is easier because the trailer starts to change directions as soon as you turn the wheel. On a 5th wheel you have to get the whole truck turned beyond stright before the trailer starts to change direction. If you are in a place where you are at a 45° angle to the trailer it takes a long ways for the trailer to change directions. Not a problem in an open lot but when you have to put it between a Garage that is stright and a retaining wall that is curved and you only have 12" of clearance, it make for some choice words.
Even So Since I pull Forward over 8,000 mile a year and only have to back into such a place twice a year the 5th wheel is the only way to go.

If you can't back it Don't pull it. You don't see all that many Tandom Big rigs any more even. Yes UPS pulls triples even But they don't back them more than one at a time.;)
I have to keep my 5er in a storage lot (which I hate) My space is only 11' wide with Big trailers on either side, it takes me a total of five minutes to put her in and leave the lot...

Yeah you wouldn't want to use one of those adapters on anything made by Fleetwood or Keystone.

If you have an Alpenlite or Teton you are probably OK
:funnypost

I have to keep my 5er in a storage lot (which I hate) My space is only 11' wide with Big trailers on either side, it takes me a total of five minutes to put her in and leave the lot...

Yes not a problem with that much room. I bet you don't have a retaining wall that is curved across the front of the parking spot so you can't ever have the truck stright with the trailer. And can only turn the trailer one direction with no corrections with only 12" clearance . Plus my CC Longbox doesn't turn real fast anyway.