TT vs. 5th Wheel for LONG trips

5arnolds · 08-27-2012, 07:30 AM

When we pay our house off in several years, we plan to take an extra long family vacation (family of 5) out West with our TT to see things like the Grand Canyon, etc. What I do know is, before we do this, we will replace our existing high mileage F150 for a new/newer HD Diesel for extra piece of mind.

I've always been told that a 5th wheel is much easier to pull than a TT/more durable than a TT, especially for long haul (thousands of miles).

I don't like the thought of upgrading our TT with a 5th wheel ($$$), so it's not my intent.

I would still be interested in hearing others' experiences (the goods, the bads, would you do it again?) pulling a TT (versus 5th wheel) for long cross country vacations.

Thanks in advance.

rwilley · 08-27-2012, 01:34 PM

Ive had both pull trailers and 5th wheels. Ive owned 5th wheels for the past 12 years. There are a few differences between them but nothing to significant when you are at a camp ground or RV park. To me the 5th wheel pulls easier especially when the big rigs go buy you they dont blow you off the road and going over rough road you dont have the bonce like a pull trailer. The 5th wheel is usually higher and makes it a little more difficult for the elderly to get up the steps. Also with a 30 ft 5th wheel your rig is shorter than a 30 ft pull trailer. JMHO.

3'senough · 08-27-2012, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwilley

Ive had both pull trailers and 5th wheels. Ive owned 5th wheels for the past 12 years. There are a few differences between them but nothing to significant when you are at a camp ground or RV park. To me the 5th wheel pulls easier especially when the big rigs go buy you they dont blow you off the road and going over rough road you dont have the bonce like a pull trailer. The 5th wheel is usually higher and makes it a little more difficult for the elderly to get up the steps. Also with a 30 ft 5th wheel your rig is shorter than a 30 ft pull trailer. JMHO.

X2 on the pulling stabilization of the 5th. Being on highways with big rigs will be white knuckle some days especially if you are already fighting a cross wind. Agree with comfort with the exception that I think in the 5'ers you just get less moiture build up due to more volume of space. Upside is hitching up is easier on 5'er, downside is hitch weighs a lot and can be difficult to remove. You will loose bed space for hauling with a 5'er as well.

If your TV is well below it's ratings though you will experience a better experience with the TT too. There are many pro's and cons to each and in the end comes down to PPref. I don't think there is a difference in durability with exception to the driver which may experience more fatigue due to wagging of the trailer in the bumper pulls some can experience depending on your setup.

Denise · 08-27-2012, 04:17 PM

We also have owned both as well have traveled long distances with both. For us, the 5'er/tv combo pulls nicer on the open highway especially when a truck passes or dealing with high winds; it's nice to not have to deal with sway that could occur with a bumper pull

**norty1** · 08-27-2012, 04:19 PM

Have had all three, MH, TT and fifth wheel. It is a personal preference. I like the way it pulls and sets up but someone else could argue another way.

Most of my friends have gone from TT's to 5er's. Not the other way.

clutch · 08-27-2012, 10:09 PM

We much prefer a travel trailer. To me the tt pulls easier and dosn't push as much wind. It's much lower. We have our truck bed free, that negates the big storage in a 5er. No inside stairs to deal with. In a 5er the heat all goes up and you sit down in the cold. With sway controll there is no difference pulling a tt. The 5er is easier for one person to hook it up to the truck. We will never go back to a fifth wheel trailer.

tinlizzie23 · 08-28-2012, 03:37 AM

Have had several TTs and now have a 5er. After seeing a major difference in ease of towing, much better stability, and lots more room, would never go back to TT. We also took a long vacation in 2001 from Virginia to the western National Parks as a graduation present to our daughter. That was a Chevy Suburban towing a 27ft TT. The trip was great, but we noticed a lot more 5ers than TTs in western campgrounds, and got invited in several. What a difference. As a direct result of that trip, our next and current unit is a 5er. We also upgraded to a Ford truck when GM refused to honor warranty on a new crate engine in the Suburban that was defective, simply because we failed to get the selling dealer's written permission to replace the defective engine while 2,000 miles from home. The choice between 5er and TT is a personal preference, but it's no contest for us.

MikeNChelle · 08-28-2012, 06:53 AM

X 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by healthi

we also have owned both as well have traveled long distances with both. For us, the 5'er/tv combo pulls nicer on the open highway especially when a truck passes or dealing with high winds; it's nice to not have to deal with sway that could occur with a bumper pull

JAMMFAM · 08-28-2012, 07:07 AM

We also have a 2011 Jayfeather 29L that I pull with a half ton truck. We just finished a 4,000 mile trip from Kansas to California and back and while I WANT a diesel pick-up I didn't need it. It would make the mountains easier but I just hung out in the right hand lane with the semi's and it was no problem. I have a huskey centerline WD hitch and I don't have any sway at all with the semi's. The wind is a factor but all I have to do is lower my speed and it takes care of that problem. We could not have done this trip with a fifth wheel without changing several things. We put four bikes, firewood, gas can, and some other stuff in the bed of truck for this trip. We had a great time, hope you do as well.

Seann45 · 08-28-2012, 07:17 AM

I tow my TT over 10,000 miles a year.. NO SWAY... you just have to take the time to learn how to operate a trailer.. eg make sure you have enough tongue weight and a good sway control system.. 5ers are more fuelish than TT's due to the extra height...
I just wish they would offer TT's with the same floor plans as 5ers..

clutch · 08-28-2012, 10:20 PM

[QUOTE=Seann45;9424
I just wish they would offer TT's with the same floor plans as 5ers..[/QUOTE]

Isn't that the truth. That is why we bought the trailer we now have. It is similar to a lot of 5er floorplans. I also wish the storage in the front had a door as big as the storage area.

MikeNChelle · 08-29-2012, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

I tow my TT over 10,000 miles a year.. NO SWAY... you just have to take the time to learn how to operate a trailer.. eg make sure you have enough tongue weight and a good sway control system.. 5ers are more fuelish than TT's due to the extra height...
I just wish they would offer TT's with the same floor plans as 5ers..

I would have to disagree with the mileage comment, I get the same if I am towing my TT or the 5er. Not Good either way. LOL

wannavolunteerft · 09-01-2012, 01:26 PM

The thing I wish that TT's have that many 5vers do is W/D connection.. or at very least somewhere that could be converted. I plan to FT in a few years and upgrade to larger TT, and really want a washer and dryer. I hate going to laudromat... and don't want all the steps in a 5ver.

3'senough · 09-02-2012, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannavolunteerft

The thing I wish that TT's have that many 5vers do is W/D connection.. or at very least somewhere that could be converted. I plan to FT in a few years and upgrade to larger TT, and really want a washer and dryer. I hate going to laudromat... and don't want all the steps in a 5ver.

I think the biggest difference in total weight hauling capacities of the 5'ers based on the hitch setups. Bumper pulling 13-18K is just not safe and most trucks cannot handle this weight unless in a 5'er setup. If you want an extra 5K in total weight capacities you need to go with a 5'er and a truck that can haul it. The hitch provides that difference in capacities along with some other plusses.

nylyon · 09-02-2012, 09:05 AM

Since you're planning on getting a diesel truck to tow with, size it large enough (1 ton DRW?) to be able to pull just about anything. If you like your current TT and are only looking for tow ability, why not invest in a Hensley or Propride hitch. If you feel down the road that a 5th is more in line with your budget and lifestyle, upgrade. I did just that (except I got an F250 SRW) to pull my 34' TT then 2 years later got a 5th wheel.

CruizinKim · 04-09-2013, 10:58 AM

My hubby and I had this discussion during our recent trip. We noticed that 5er's (and huge MH's) were the majority in our CG. We felt so tiny wedged between a 5er and MH and joked that we felt like the poor people in the trailer park! Anyway, the 5er's look so massive, especially hovering over TV's that seemed entirely too small to be hauling them. Hubby explained that the weight is distributed better with a 5er, but loss of bedspace isn't worth it to him.

Seann45 · 04-09-2013, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannavolunteerft

The thing I wish that TT's have that many 5vers do is W/D connection.. or at very least somewhere that could be converted. I plan to FT in a few years and upgrade to larger TT, and really want a washer and dryer. I hate going to laudromat... and don't want all the steps in a 5ver.

To me a W/D is a total waste... they take small loads fill your tanks fast and the dryer takes forever... When I go to the laundromat I take my book with me start the load up go outside and sit in my truck reading go in 35 min later move my stuff into a dryer and go back to reading in the truck.. this has worked well for me for the last 5 years.

Pugpen · 04-17-2013, 05:05 PM

We felt the same way on our last two camp trips. We have a 154BH and felt so little and poor. Until the pop-ups arrived. But we love what we have, and may go to a 5th wheel in a few years.

mwebber78 · 04-17-2013, 05:33 PM

I've had all three, towable, motorhome, and a 5th wheel. IMHO the best one of them all was the fiver for towing reasons. I enjoyed pulling ours from Maine to New Mexico, the stability was excellent. So if this is a long term travel plan, I'd go fiver. If you're taking occasional long trips every year or two then its a wash.

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