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Old 11-13-2015, 12:42 PM   #1
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Thinking of going to a fifth wheel

We have been looking at some 5ver's. We are considering the possibility. However I am not sure if I really wanna give up my truck bed space. You gain allot of storage going to a 5ver. Guess I was wondering if anyone had any regrets going from a bumper pull to the 5ver. They are suppose to handle better when towing I have heard. Can anyone tell me pros and cons to having one. This is a tough decision. I really love the trailer we have now. We are going to look for some RV shows over the winter and try to go to them. How difficult are they really to hook up. I never looked do you plug the lights into the back by the bumper still. Does the Hitch in the bed cause damage to the truck. Thank You!!!
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Old 11-13-2015, 01:13 PM   #2
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I was worried about the same thing with losing the space in the bed of my truck and I also had a cap on it and it was always full. That being said I have always heard nothing but good things about fifth wheels so we decided to take the plunge. We bought a 2016 North Point 375BHFS ( had your exact tt ) and all I can say is I don't regret it one bit. Storage underneath is unbelievable and we put the bikes on a bike rack on the rear hitch. I don't even use the larg compartment under the pin of the fifth wheel. Towing is so much nicer but I would caution that most fifth wheels are somewhat pin heavy and will push the cargo capacities of most 3/4 ton trucks. Pin weight on ours is @2600 lbs dry so even for us having a F350 we are probably somewhat close to our capacity when loaded. We had a plug installed inside the bed so that the cord did not hang outside the bed. We love ours!!
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Old 11-13-2015, 01:36 PM   #3
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Ok..now I want one.
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Old 11-13-2015, 02:13 PM   #4
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Fifth wheels pull nice. I've yanked a 33', 12,000# loaded one around for the last 9 years. Much less tail wagging the dog and getting pushed around by semis.

Hookup depends on hitch, but generally is:
Raise or lower front legs to position correctly vertically
Back up to trailer (may need to adjust trailer up and down again when hitch is closer to pin box)
Back into pin box (my Pull rite hitch auto closes/locks)
Hook up cord (I use the factory plug location)
Hook up break away wire
Retract legs
On the road!

Much easier than sway bars, w-d bars, chains, etc.

It would take me a lot to go to a bumper pull over a fifth wheel.
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Old 11-13-2015, 02:20 PM   #5
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We just got our 1st 5er. What a difference towing, hooking up, disconnecting. So much easier on my back. Storage is 4 times what I had in my TT. I say go for it. Ive only towed it home from the dealer, which was last week, but that 1 time towing....what a nice ride. I have a 2016 Eagle HT 29.5BHDS and I tow with a 2015 Toyota Tundra Dbl Cab with Timbrens on it.
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Old 11-13-2015, 02:57 PM   #6
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A 5er put more weight on the truck which put the truck more solid on the road.
The aero dynamics between a TT and 5er are similar except because the 5ers are higher they have more frontal air flow pressure.
If you take a very lengthy TT behind the lesser weight 1/2 ton chances on sway is higher.
Sway control helps to reduce but there's a limit.
If they would tie in the TV frame a hitch coupler right after the axle they would be in many cases 36" shorter from what the situation is now. Also the TT would track closer in the TV's rear wheel tracks. In Europe they outfitted the freight trucks and lorries that way. Haven't seen this with travel trailers. How longer the TT how bigger the force of sway will be.
A friend of mine had a semi truck for pulling his 5er and said it was easier on fuel. In a way it make sense it doesn't have to work as hard.
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Old 11-13-2015, 03:22 PM   #7
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Having started with the TT and a 1500 to pull it I can say that it was white knuckle. Having pulled the TT with my first dually was another experience all together. Did not even use the WDH the first time.

Enter the 5'th wheel and that was it for us. High ceilings a door on my room and kids and a shower I could fit in. I know there are TT's out there that offer the same, but I was sold on a 5'er. We do not regret it at all.

Pulling down the highway is a whole lot better experience, but some argue that with the proper tuned WDH it is comparable.

Bed space is lost to a degree, but you can still put stuff in the front of and below the hitch. Also I can fit my genny under my unit and tucked in the back passenger corner without interference. Firewood(locally), pop tents, blocking and a kids bike have all fit.

Connecting is a push of the button and no chains to deal with. You can and I recommend a bed plug for your 7 pin connector. It allows you to open the tailgate and reduces snags when you are turning. They make easy plug and play kits to install, but you will have to drill a hole in the bed.

Cons are heights can exceed some bridge clearances and trees can be a hassle to clear. Some state campgrounds cannot take units like mine or over 35ft. If you frequent State CG's do your homework first or you might loose some CG's.

Plus is your overall length is shorter and you can make some real tight turns to get in a spot.

You would be hard pressed to put me back in a TT at this point in time.
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Old 11-13-2015, 03:43 PM   #8
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I will echo what's been said about the 5th. We've pulled ours almost 2 years and love it. There have been a couple of times I wished for the bed space (like when I see folks arrive with a golf cart in the bed and towing a bumper-pull). That said, the basement storage is very large and convenient.
I had issues lining up the pin to the hitch when we first got it because I couldn't see the hitch plate from the driver's seat. I hit on using the magnetic hitching aids I bought from Harbor Freight when we had the X23B (yellow sponge ball on the end of a telescoping antenna mounted to a magnet). I stick one of them onto the hitch plate in front of the pin slot about an inch back from the front edge of the plate. The "antenna" is visible via the rearview and lining it up with the pin allows me to slide back onto the pin almost perfectly. When the "antenna" starts to get pushed over by the pin box I know the hitch is about to latch.
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Old 11-13-2015, 05:12 PM   #9
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Come on...

Somebody with a fifth wheel must live close enough to him so he could drive one around a bit. He'll be hooked.
My first RV was an entry level bumper pull. Spent some time in a friends homelike 5er and we vowed that in a year or two we'd look to upgrade. It took less than a year.
We really love it and look forward to as many trips as we can get.
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Old 11-13-2015, 06:55 PM   #10
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I went from TT to a fifth wheel, no problem easier to tow and back in. I also got mine with the Reese revolution pin box which allows you to put things on the side of hitch and behind as the pin box stays straight, that way you don't give up the entire bed of your truck. That might work for you.
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Old 11-13-2015, 08:11 PM   #11
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The best thing I ever did was upgrade from a TT to a Fifth Wheel. We crammed in 4 trips with our new North Point 375BHFS before tucking her away for her long winter nap.


Hooking up to it is an absolute breeze...it makes WDH hitches and chains seem much more difficult than they actually are!


Turning and backing is different...but not difficult. Once I did it a few times, it was easier than my TT.


Towing is a pleasure. Really. We have been on every kind of road from tight residential streets to the NYS Thruway with it...and never had a white knuckle moment. The only thing that I don't like it the height when towing. My front AC unit took a beating from a few low hanging branches.


As far as storage, I put a load of firewood at the front part of the bed and then put two small kid size bicycles and two Razor scooters near the tailgate. They fit perfect. When they get older and we venture out on bikes as a family, then I will be getting a bike rack for the rear hitch on the fifth wheel to hold 4 bicycles.
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Old 11-13-2015, 08:58 PM   #12
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Can't add about towing, hooking,dropping a 5er. No one has addressed the bed issue. The fifth wheel is removable, leaving just rails in the bed, rails do require holes be drilled. The fifth wheel is heavy a couple people can life it. I have a large shop with an electric lift I use. (or I use the wife's truck for hauling) My truck also has the in bed electrical hookup I prefer. If you go to a fiver you will likely want to change the tailgate to one with the V cut. I don't think you'll find many people going from the 5er to a bumper pull most switch the other direction.
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Old 11-13-2015, 09:46 PM   #13
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Edd505 - You say " If you go to a fiver you will likely want to change the tailgate to one with the V cut." Why is this the case. Is this just to avoid having to get out and drop the tailgate? Or is there more to it?
I too am looking to move from a TT to a 5ver and have been trying to learn all the differences.
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Old 11-13-2015, 10:16 PM   #14
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The V gates are louvered allowing frontal air flow from the trailer to escape the TV bed. You still need to watch pin height with the V gate.
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Old 11-13-2015, 10:17 PM   #15
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Edd505 - You say " If you go to a fiver you will likely want to change the tailgate to one with the V cut." Why is this the case. Is this just to avoid having to get out and drop the tailgate? Or is there more to it?
I too am looking to move from a TT to a 5ver and have been trying to learn all the differences.
In my driveway I have to hook up on a slight angle. My tailgate hits the rig on that slight angle. Opening the tail gate then pulling in a little and closing it again is a PITA.
My truck is a daily driver so I need my tailgate or I else I would really consider getting a v notched gate.
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Old 11-13-2015, 10:21 PM   #16
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In my driveway I have to hook up on a slight angle. My tailgate hits the rig on that slight angle. Opening the tail gate then pulling in a little and closing it again is a PITA.
My truck is a daily driver so I need my tailgate or I else I would really consider getting a v notched gate.
The V gate holds everything but small stuff. The louvers will let real small stuff out, other wise you do have a tailgate.
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Old 11-13-2015, 10:40 PM   #17
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I need it for work.. It wouldn't hold a load of 8 foot 2x4's and some 16 footers going through the sliding window.
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Old 11-13-2015, 11:10 PM   #18
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I need it for work.. It wouldn't hold a load of 8 foot 2x4's and some 16 footers going through the sliding window.
The gates change in minutes no tools needed, you would have the stock gate and a louvered.
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Old 11-13-2015, 11:50 PM   #19
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Thanks for the responses. Sounds as if there are allot of pluses going to a 5ver. My 2008 F250 was ordered for towing with the heavier back end suspension, heavier gears and extra coolers. I also added the 6000 pound Timbrens to it. It is rated to tow a 16500 pound 5ver. We are looking to however buy a new 2017 F350 platinum with the new aluminum body with the 5th wheel setup from Ford installed, when they are available. My current truck only has 22000 miles on it, it tows like a Bull. I do like the North point, but as stated they are heavy. They do have allot more storage and sound easy to pull. Glad to hear light wire hook up can be put in bed. Really have not heard any buddy regret buying one. We are gonna have to look and decide, go to some RV shows.
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Old 11-14-2015, 07:49 AM   #20
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The gates change in minutes no tools needed, you would have the stock gate and a louvered.
I take my tailgate off completely when I tow. I cut a 2x12 and finished it to fit in the slots in the bed and notched it in the middle for the pin box. It's my poor mans (actually I'm just cheap) fifth wheel tailgate.

I tried hooking up with the tailgate on the truck once and hated it. The tailgate is easier to remove/install than the hitch.

I'll probably get a real fifth wheel tailgate some day.

For me, it's about convenience and not wanting to bang up my stock tailgate, or the 5'er from the tailgate.
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