scuds
Rochester, NY
New Member
Joined: 01/11/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
we are buying a new trailer and were convinced to go with a 5th wheel as we heard these units were much easier (and safer) to tow and superior to manuever. This past weekend we found a great TT (layout and price). This TT is about $5,000 less than the 5ver we like. Our question is: Is the 5ver that superior re: towing issues? Will we regret buying the TT when towing on a windy day or with lots of truck traffic? Is there that much of a difference re: sway of a TT compared to a 5ver? I've never towed anything close to this size before.
TT - about 33' (bumper to hitch)/GVWR 10,000#
5ver - about 32'/GVWR 10,500#
I'd love to hear from people who have had both type of units. Thanks for your help.
Paul
|
NGRRFan
Colo. Spgs., CO
Senior Member
Joined: 07/25/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
I've had both, first a TT and now a 5er. All in all I find the 5er more stable when towing in a cross wind or being passed by an 18 wheeler.
I've also found that size vs size, you get more useable space in a 5ver. In a TT you have to deduct 4-5 feet for the hitch framing, where as in a 5er of the same length that space is available.
I won't go back to a TT at all, I much prefer a 5er and the floor plans that they have.
Rich,and Tobi (the rescued dog)
Prowler 5ver, 84 Ford F250
KCOCOLOR78 Weather
Colo. Spgs. CO
|
fppf
Buffalo, NY, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/10/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Go with a 5er.
30 plus feet on a TT is going to be any where but behind you.
1997 International 9800 Flat Floor COE
2004 Fleetwood Terry Quantuim AX6 365FLTS
Trailair Air Ride Pin Box with custom Fab auto ride height leveling
Trailer Wire Convertors:
2 wire to 3 wire
3 wire to 2 wire
|
Hornet27B
NH
Senior Member
Joined: 11/28/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
A TT equipped with a Hensley Arrow hitch will likely be less expensive, and equally as stable, as a 5th wheel.
Also, the TT will have less wind resistance, and if pulling with a truck, then more storage in the bed of the truck with a cap on it, as well as the ability to carry a canoe on the truck (my situation).
Also, I've heard it's easier to back a TT than a 5th wheel (much discussion regarding this issue elsewhere).
2002 Hornet 27B Travel Trailer
2002 F350, Crew Cab, Lariat, V10, 3.73LS, 4x4
Jordan Ultima 2020 Brake Controller
Hensley Arrow Hitch
|
bluenote
Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 10/15/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
One interesting thing to note....If you follow the discussions here on the forums, there are a lot of people who changed from a TT to a 5er. Very few have switched from a 5er to a TT.
Obviously the cost is a factor for you, but the ease in hooking up and unhooking, stability on the road and more usable space make 5ers very attractive. You will get worse mileage if you have a higher profile unit due to wind drag.
Good luck on whichever you choose!!
2001 Silverado 2500HD LS CC/SB Duramax/Allison Indigo Blue
2004 Cedar Creek 31LBHBS 5er
Our Team
Rallies Attended: 3½
|
|
|
LAdams
Northern Illinois
Moderator
Joined: 10/06/2000
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Bluenote is correct... I have seen very few people that have switched from a fiver to a trailer... I think this is predominently due to the inherent towing stability of the fiver... There is no doubt they have excellent towing manners...
HOWEVER, the same stability can be had with a standard TT using either the Hensley Arrow or Pullrite hitch... I tow a 27', #7000 TT with a Pullrite hitch and it is ROCK SOLID under ALL conditions...
Ease of backing is a relative term and IMO depends on what you are used to... I have found that the standard TT backs "easier" as the TT pivots faster in response to truck steering input... The 5er responds slower due to the hitch point on the truck being forward of the truck rear axle... This is the same principal as my Pullrite hitch, so in effect, I have backed both types, and find the Pullrite (equivilent to 5er) to respond slower and require more room for the truck to swing... However, this is the same characteristic that makes this hitch (and 5er's) so stable... Depends on what you are used to and your definition of easier, but I think you'll find that a fiver requires more room for the truck to swing, at least that what I have found to be true...
The fiver's are a higher profile (there are a few exceptions to this like the Shadow Crusier) and present more wind drag (usually lower gas mileage, although neither is great!!)... The fivers will usually require "more truck" (higher truck GVWR) because of the higher pin (hitch) weight associated with the fivers which is carried in the bed of the truck... Their higher wind drag profile can be a decided disadvantage on a windy day...
I personally don't care for 5th wheels as the wife and I do not favor front bedroom designs, and I find few fivers that offer me enough headroom (I'm 6'+) in the front bedroom... I also tend to load up my pickup bed with quite a bit of camping junk... While you can put some cargo in the bed with a 5er, a fifth wheel equipped pickup bed will not hold near as much as a truck equipped with a standard hitch...
From what I have observed, the 5er's seem to be higher priced than standard TT's... IMO this is due to the type of construction associated with them and that a lot of 5er's tend to contain upscale "appointments" as compared to standard tt's...
So there are pro's and con's from "both sides of the aisle"... Fivers are very popular and a lot of people favor them, but don't let towing stability be the determining factor in your choice if you find a standard TT floor plan that you favor over a 5th wheel floor plan and/or price... Excellent towing stability can be had for any standard TT by using the Hensley or Pullrite hitch... Either hitch when purchased new will be close to $3K dollars, but used one's can frequently be had for 1/2 that price... If you have a shortbed truck and require a sliding fifth wheel hitch, they can approach the price of the Hensley or Pullrite... I beleve the Pullrite Super Glide, an automatic sliding 5th wheel hitch, is in the $2000+ catagory... Depending on the price differential of the TT's you are looking at, the edge could go to the standard TT with the premium hitch...
Lastly, don't discount the amount of truck needed to tow the 5er your looking at... Do your weight calculations carefully so you don't run out of GVWR when you hook up the 5er with it's heavier hitch weight...
Best Regards,
Les
*This Message was edited on 26-Jan-03 10:40 AM by LAdams*
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
Jordan Ultima 2020
HUNTER THERMOSTAT INSTALL
HOME MADE WHEEL CHOCKS
|
PullToy
USA
Senior Member
Joined: 09/24/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Buy whichever suits your personal needs best. If you decide on a TT, pick the Hensley Arrow hitch or the PullRite hitch. Either will provide the same highway handling as a fiver. Happy camping, whichever you choose.
*This Message was edited on 27-Jan-03 12:18 PM by pulltoy*
|
RoadKingMoe
Dayton OH
Senior Member
Joined: 11/12/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Here are a few links I found in a search.
Travel Trailer vrs (sic) Fifth Wheel
TT vrs (sic) 5 th W
Why do dealers put down travel trailers?
I've towed both for a living and preferred the travel trailer even before there were Hensley and Pullrite hitches.
Fivers are actually harder to tow. They're generally heavier, and being taller, have more wind resistance. Their hitch weight is much heavier and requires a larger truck. To me, these things add up to "harder to tow."
Fivers are also harder to manuever when backing since they don't respond to tow vehicle steering well at all. Because the pivot of a bumper pull trailer is back behind the axle, they turn much quicker.
Fivers ARE inherently more immune to sway than a travel trailer WITHOUT a Hensley or Pullrite hitch. These make the travel trailer at least equally as safe as a fiver, plus the trailer has a lower center of gravity.
Fivers DO wind up making for a shorter rig for the same floorspace length because their floorspace begins at the tow vehicle rear axle rather than behind a tongue that's behind the tow vehicle bumper. This will basically let you get into shorter campsites, but doesn't make them any easier to manuveur.
Buy whichever you want, but don't let a salesman scare you away from the travel trailer, if that's what you want. I would get the Hensley with that larger of a trailer. It isn't much more expensive than a good fiver hitch.
*This Message was edited on 27-Jan-03 09:27 AM by RoadKingMoe*
--
Maurice
|
KeninAZ
Prescott, AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 06/22/2002
View Profile
|
I have owned both and would never consider a TT. I understand that they have new hitches on the market to make the TT tow better, but look at the cost of them.
I told a friend many years ago when he got ready to get out of his tent to buy the 5th. Another talked him into a TT.
In less than a year, he lost control on a windy day, rolled the trailer and totaled it and damaged his truck. But no body was hurt. He said he would never tow again.
He followed us home some time later when we were all returning from a weekend out and the side winds were really bad. He was riding with a friend that had a tent trailer and a HD 3/4 ton P/U.
He said watching my 5th that it handled the wind better than what they were in. And I did not have to slow a bit, they did.
He has now had two sizes of 5th wheels. That's the problem, we just want more, and more......
Get the 5th wheel, there are several good reasons why they outsell TT's.
|
kenrmoss
Laguna Beach, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/04/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Hi,
I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a TT if that is what you like. I would make sure you spend some time towing one and get a vehicle that is capable of towing it properly. I believe that many people get into combinations of improper tow vehicles with TT more than with 5ers, because you can use an SUV or other light car to tow with.
I have hade both a TT and now a 5th Wheel. I used to think the TT was much more unstable when towing...but I think that was primarly because I was towing the TT with a 1500 Suburban. Nothing wrong with that vehicle, it just didn't tow a 25' TT very well. I sold my TT to a friend and last summer I needed to move the TT about 350 miles for him. I used my truck to tow the TT and it towed fine. It was hard to tell the difference between the TT and my 5er. And that was without one of the nice hitches, like an arrow.
In my opinion:
* The TT is easier to back up.
* The 5th wheel is easier to hitch/unhitch and setup.
* The 5th wheel has much more room...but I have a 36' 5er versus a 25 TT.
* 5er's generally have much better storage because of the basement storage.
* A 5er will eliminate using the truck for storage.
* A TT will work better with a 1/2 ton pickup.
* In general, more options for floor plans, bunk beds in TT than 5ers.
Get the one you like and that works better for you. However, make sure your vehicle tows the TT well. My experiences are that the Suburban 25' TT without a good hitch can be an unpleasant experience.
Ken
|
|
|
|
