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View Poll Results: In your opinion should we get a.......
Travel Trailer 12 35.29%
Fifth Wheel 22 64.71%
Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 12-30-2014, 09:43 AM   #1
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Travel Trailer or 5th Wheel

We bought a 338RLTS when they came out and really liked it when it was parked, the room was great and all that. We recently had an accident and totaled the trailer, no injuries and insurance stepped up so all is good.

Here is our dilemma should we get another 338RETS or move up to a 5th wheel and get a 361REQS?

The reason I am using the 361 is that it’s the closest I think to the 338 for comparison. The 361 is about 25K more expensive retail and I don’t know enough to know if that is justifiable or not.

The 338 was a bit of a pain to pull with it being so long and heavy, corners were always a huge concern and with the tongue weight even with a 14K WDH it made the front end of the F250 a little light.

So for you veterans please let me know what it is about a 5th wheel that is so much better? I’m leaning this way but I’m getting a gut check.


We hope to be in it for many weekends and a few multiweek trips a year. About 90 nights and 6000 miles I’m guessing.
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Old 12-30-2014, 12:43 PM   #2
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I prefer a fifth wheel for several reasons...

1. You get more trailer for the money.

2. You get much more storage than in a comparable bumper pull trailer.

3. They are much easier to pull than a bumper pull trailer. The ride quality is much better.

I have a 2013 351RLTS. I pull it with an older Chevy dually, and use an Andersen Ultimate Fifth Wheel Connection.
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Old 12-30-2014, 12:46 PM   #3
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More storage, easier to hook up and pull.

If your present truck is up to the job.
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Old 12-30-2014, 01:19 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DKRITTER View Post
The 338 was a bit of a pain to pull with it being so long and heavy, corners were always a huge concern and with the tongue weight even with a 14K WDH it made the front end of the F250 a little light.

So for you veterans please let me know what it is about a 5th wheel that is so much better? I’m leaning this way but I’m getting a gut check.
I've towed both many miles and have no preference based on how they tow. They each have their strengths and weaknesses.

A similar 5th wheel to your 338 will be shorter in the total overall rig length, but generally 5th wheels are heavier. You mentioned weight was a concern; the 361REQS is about 3,000 lbs heavier than the 338RETS.

The two different trailer styles are very different in the way they track when cornering and especially when backing. There will be a learning curve when changing styles; corners and backing will still be concerns, just in a different way than you are used to.

You used a WDH, so I'd be inclined to think the setup needed to be adjusted to transfer more weight to the front of your truck. A light front end it is not a fault of travel trailers.

With 5th wheels, there is generally more storage space in the trailer. But when you towed a travel trailer, did you keep stuff in your truck bed? If you did, would that stuff be easily moved into the 5th wheel?

I'm sure you will hear from others on their experiences with both styles.
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Old 12-30-2014, 02:31 PM   #5
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Fifth wheel. Have had both and the fivers definitely pull better. No sway, etc. in winds or passing vehicles. Very definite learning how to turn and back up. There are advantages to each type, but my preference will always be fifth wheel. For my wife and I, the advantages of the fiver over the Travel trailer are many. But, to each his own.
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Old 12-30-2014, 02:51 PM   #6
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I like fifth wheels better. Tows better, can tow behind the fifth wheel, and has much more storage.
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Old 12-30-2014, 08:23 PM   #7
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5th wheel pulls better, but will also push a lot more wind with the large frontal area, no sway or WDH issues.

With that being said, a long wheelbase truck with the appropriate WDH setup pulls quite well too, less frontal area and cargo in the truck bed is much better. For me, I haul 3 16 ft kayaks on a truck rack, so a 5th wheel defeats the ability to haul my kayaks.
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Old 12-31-2014, 04:54 AM   #8
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You have to find one that fits your lifestyle without breaking the bank! I tried a pull behind and a older MH before finding that fifth wheels fit our lifestyle.

Had no trouble selling either.
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Old 12-31-2014, 10:09 AM   #9
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My TT tows better than any 5er on the road.. the lower roof line means less wind resistance so better mileage and best of all no stairs inside..
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Old 12-31-2014, 01:05 PM   #10
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My TT tows better than any 5er on the road.. the lower roof line means less wind resistance so better mileage and best of all no stairs inside..
A rather bold statement. Pretty sure not many here would agree with you. I've had no issues pulling either, but the 5th wheel is the more stable of the two for pulling down the road. My mileage is the same pulling either one.
We all have to go up a few stairs to get into our trailers, so two more inside to get to bed is not a big deal to me.
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Old 01-01-2015, 10:21 AM   #11
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Agree 100% with Bobx2. Fifth wheels are much more stable on the road
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Old 01-01-2015, 11:13 AM   #12
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I don't have a 5er but I would say go with a 5er because your overall length will be shorter compared to same length tt trailer. This should equal easier to back up and also be able to camp at shorter pad camp sites. If i upgrade from my hybird I will be getting a 5er.
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Old 01-01-2015, 04:42 PM   #13
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The wife and I debated 5th wheel or pull behind ... The big deciding factor for us was wanted the truck for packing our stuff into and weight and cost difference the 338 rets weighs about 9400 and 5th wheel started around 11500 ... I haven't had any problems with backing the 338 ... It has a good pivot point but I agree storage room in camper is lacking
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Old 01-01-2015, 07:03 PM   #14
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I have owned both, had a new Jayco 264BH in 97', Then went into a 30' 5th in 05, so thinking back how they pulled different, the TT would sway Side to side if all conditions where right, and the 5th would have more of a shuffle pushing front to back. But all these conditions are manageable, so for me....I prefer the 5er now, I love the storage of the basement and the overall lenght for fitting into tight spots, I am a little apprehensive about parking the new unit on its way tho, cause I added 6 more feet to this one....36REQS
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Old 01-03-2015, 08:43 AM   #15
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5th wheel i went from a 26bh to a 27.5 bhs and there was no comparison, even with the extra weight, and the jay flights in my opinion are one of the better towing trailers (i worked at a jayco dealer this past summer)

i would shop around im sure you could get a better price on the 5th especially seeing is that it is the off season right now, when i went up it was only a 10 grand difference
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Old 01-03-2015, 01:01 PM   #16
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I have a few miles towing a wide variety of nearly every type (except Airstreams) of trailer out there. I have used the same truck for all miles and traveled the same routes time and time again. Consistently and without fail the 5th wheel trailers have ALWAYS returned better mileage and better ride. Having said that buy whatever set up YOU want. None of us get to use your trailer after you buy it lol!
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Old 01-03-2015, 02:35 PM   #17
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I have a few miles towing a wide variety of nearly every type (except Airstreams) of trailer out there. I have used the same truck for all miles and traveled the same routes time and time again. Consistently and without fail the 5th wheel trailers have ALWAYS returned better mileage and better ride. Having said that buy whatever set up YOU want. None of us get to use your trailer after you buy it lol!
Exactly what he said... almost. greenenvy1 and I have towed many miles delivering trailers professionally. But my experience with my tow vehicle was that the ride was different with a TT vs a 5W. One was not always better than the other. Depending upon the road and speed, sometimes one might be better than the other.

Like greenenvy1, fuel mileage was better for me, too, with the 5th wheel trailers; around 1.5mpg for me. And when you are buying an average of least 50+gallons of fuel a day every day , that difference adds up.
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Old 01-11-2015, 03:58 PM   #18
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I would say it depends on your Family! We didn't seriously consider a 5er, but looked in everyone on the lot just to look. The glaring thing to us was they are set up for retired folks without kids. We didn't want to "make" and put up beds every day. No 5er had beds for kids like the TT does. So that is why we went with the TT. I would say let livability decide more than towing.
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Old 01-11-2015, 05:13 PM   #19
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I would say let livability decide more than towing.
I agree, most smaller fifth wheels are not set up for many single beds. What ever works for you is the way to go.
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Old 01-11-2015, 06:11 PM   #20
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We had a large TT when our kids were young and it served its purpose. We found one with a floor plan that worked with the kids. I thought it pulled well with plenty of anti-sway equipment. That said when we bought our first FW I realized there was a big difference in the comfort level towing the FW. I also tow a heavy boat and I sure know it is back there and it is less than half the weight of my current FW.
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