5th Wheel or Tow Along?

[HBarlow]

Amish? Is that why I have a electric fireplace in my Jayco?? hahahaha... Seriously though, that dang thing puts out some serious heat!.
BigNasty... I was thinking the same thing... my 298RES living area measures just slightly under 30ft. long... bumper to hitch pin measures 33 and change...
Do the 5ers measure just the box or to the pin? Maybe this varies between manufacturers???

Perhaps RV manufacturers have quietly moved from the old tried and true measurement method Bill explained to wishful thinking or estimates. The measurement method Bill wrote of was the industry standard for many years. I moved on to fivers several years ago and haven't paid that much attention to conventional travel trailers so the number in the model designation may not be accurate any longer.

Regardless of that, I cannot think of any advantages that do not go to the fifthwheel travel trailer except purchase price, weight, and height.

 

[NIsaacs]

Regardless of that, I cannot think of any advantages that do not go to the fifthwheel travel trailer except purchase price, weight, and height.

From a pure trucking standpoint, I agree, a fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer of all types is great. However, like others have said, a bumper pull is fine too in all sizes and styles.



In the early 70's I bought a new Mobile Villa, 35' park model (at that time it included the hitch length) and towed it all over Montana with a 1970 Ford half ton pickup I have learned a lot since then



Nick

 

[LRutigliano]

Hi Mike,



Thanks. I have a big one, similar to yours. I think its 25 gal. It fits perfectly in the back of my bed between the hitch and the tailgate...



I hate the thing because when its filled, its super heavy and you have to drag it to the dump station behind your truck (attached to the ball hitch)... Everyone at the campground knows whats up as you're pulling that blue tank... "****ters Full" (with the background music from Christmas Vacation and Randy Quaid... )



I have bikes attached to my bike rack on the trailer

 

[Bill Stockard]

I have to disagree with this Bill the ball to bumper on our TT was 32ft but TT was listed as 29ft

Front of trailer to rear of trailer living space was 29. 4 ft

Hey Big,



You missed a key word... "normally". I wrote in that word since there are always exceptions. No. I'm not a lawyer. :-laf



Bill

 

[BIGNASTY]

Well come on Bill We are taking your word as the HOLY GRAIL:-laf To be honest Bill I DONT KNOW HOW THEY MEASURE THEM. That's just what ours adds up to be. So many National Park campgrounds dont let you reserve a site unless you know the length of your trailer. Most wont allow anything over a 27ft when we reserve a site we just told them its a 27ft and when we got there they said THATS A 27 FOOTER? I told them its a LARGE 27FT. I still had no problem backing into spots.

 

[EricBu12]

JJpage



I have a 36' Raptor and I have not had any problems with flexing. I have a 06 Rhino (1300#) back there and after leveling the trailer, I use the stack blocks if needed to stabilize the trailer and I always have gotten the rear door open and closed... So I guess build quality and stiffness is key, My trailer is 3 axle too so that helps I guess. .



The only problem I have had with my raptor was the cheapo 15" Taiwan tires and some of the insulation... Have had the trailer for 6 years. . have upgraded the batteries and added solar panels to charge. The rear "Garage" for the toys, holds a lot of stuff including fire rings, wood, toys, tools and I even have a workbench!!. . The under floor Storage holds chairs and other items. . I installed a class 3 hitch on the back of it and can haul a 14' utility to have a couple more quads on. . much easier to do this on a 5th wheel than a tt. so all in all, I take a 5th wheel every time.

 

[EricBu12]

Heres where I camp. . no problem fitting in here

 

[jgillott]

Heres where I camp. . no problem fitting in here

View attachment 82699

What was that song years ago "Give me 50 acres and I'll turn this truck around"? :-laf

Nice bunch of toys you've got there.

 

[NIsaacs]

I think it was 40 acres

Nick

 

[GCroyle]

BIGNASTY,



We're still telling tales from the tent days, we'd let the kids roam and they behaved, but sometimes came back with a boo boo. We're spending the weekend out with the rig, my big beef with the campsite is no individual fires, couple of group fire spots and that is it. but hopefully the company will make up for it.



We went to an Airstream Rally earlier this year, over 140 Airstreams. I was pretty easy to find, we were the only ones with the campfire and an open spot for you and your chair.



And no offense intended to any owners, but we go to this pretty nice private camp on the Ocean at Myrtle Beach, they even have an offsite storage yard if you want them to store and spot for you. Row upon row upon row of white 5'ers, Montana after Montana.



I sorta backed into my trailer choice. The better 1/2 always said There goes my trailer when she saw an Airstream, so look what followed me home, a 2007 30' Classic Limited with Slide. Yup Airstream made units with slides and for a while a toy hauler even the Pan American. We already had the 2005 2500 QC and it was just right for towing a 9,000Lb trailer. I didn't really need or want the trailer to be the kids playhouse sorta thing, its ours and maybe next year the Grandson will join us. We go somewhere, take the old bikes, cook outside, don't get crazy with the yard scaping and decorating, just more stuff, doesn't add a lot of value. So a trailer works for us, I know crunchy vs smooth peanut butter.



The pic is at a Corp of Engineers Camp outside McCormick SC.



See ya at the campfire.

 

[jgillott]

I think it was 40 acres



Nick

You've obviously never seen me drive. I'd need the extra 10.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Gary,



Your photo looks like our favorite Texas state park, nearby Daingerfield State Park. We've been RVing there since 1970. Yep, I'm with you on Airstream. We've owned a '76 and an '82. We towed the '76 well over 100K miles behind a 1/2-ton Chevy pickup and later with a 1/2-ton Chevy Suburban and both were 454 cid V-8s. We towed the '82 with the Suburban. If we ever go back to a travel trailer, it would be an Airstream. We also owned a 35' Argosy (square-stream) fifth wheel with a slide-out from the late '88 to '93 and towed it with an '84 Ford F250 with the 6. 9L idi diesel and a Banks turbo kit.



Bill

 

[BIGNASTY]

BIGNASTY,

We're still telling tales from the tent days, we'd let the kids roam and they behaved, but sometimes came back with a boo boo. We're spending the weekend out with the rig, my big beef with the campsite is no individual fires, couple of group fire spots and that is it. but hopefully the company will make up for it.

We went to an Airstream Rally earlier this year, over 140 Airstreams. I was pretty easy to find, we were the only ones with the campfire and an open spot for you and your chair.

And no offense intended to any owners, but we go to this pretty nice private camp on the Ocean at Myrtle Beach, they even have an offsite storage yard if you want them to store and spot for you. Row upon row upon row of white 5'ers, Montana after Montana.

I sorta backed into my trailer choice. The better 1/2 always said There goes my trailer when she saw an Airstream, so look what followed me home, a 2007 30' Classic Limited with Slide. Yup Airstream made units with slides and for a while a toy hauler even the Pan American. We already had the 2005 2500 QC and it was just right for towing a 9,000Lb trailer. I didn't really need or want the trailer to be the kids playhouse sorta thing, its ours and maybe next year the Grandson will join us. We go somewhere, take the old bikes, cook outside, don't get crazy with the yard scaping and decorating, just more stuff, doesn't add a lot of value. So a trailer works for us, I know crunchy vs smooth peanut butter.

The pic is at a Corp of Engineers Camp outside McCormick SC.

See ya at the campfire.

Nice rig Gary!!!! we at time have fire restrictions at campgrounds I SURE DO MISS THEM WHEN YA CANT HAVE THEM.

 

[EricBu12]

Well those pics of the toys are just a memory now as I had to sell the last one,, the rhino to help pay for hospital bills. . see my post in the "other" thread line to see what I have and still am going through. . Been a bad month for sure. . my birthdays coming up on the 17th and all I want in no hospital bills and my toys back

 

[jgillott]

Wow, I didn't realize what you were going through.

 

[JJPage]

JJpage

I have a 36' Raptor and I have not had any problems with flexing. I have a 06 Rhino (1300#) back there and after leveling the trailer, I use the stack blocks if needed to stabilize the trailer and I always have gotten the rear door open and closed... So I guess build quality and stiffness is key, My trailer is 3 axle too so that helps I guess.

Eric,

I am happy for your good fortune with your Raptor. It appears I may have offended Raptor owners in my earlier post, was not my intention, it is what I observed in 2003 while trailer shopping. I noticed improvements in the newer years of the Ragens, immediately following the purchase of mine, so no doubt Raptor may have corrected earlier inefficiencies...

I see you have since had to separate yourself from some your possessions, But it sounds as if you are on the mend, so best wishes in the future years ahead.

Jess