fifth wheel or not

[KParsons]

at what point do go from a reg trailer to a fifth wheel. is it weight or length. thinking of getting a used trailer. kp

 

[WHazelwood]

I changed several years back because we wanted something a little bigger (bigger kids) and the 5th wheel behaves so much better than the travel trailer in cross winds and when being passed by semi's. I pull a 30 ft. wildcat and loaded weight is about 9,000 lbs. I use a "PulRite" slide hitch with my short bed and have pulled from West to East with no problems with the truck. Trailer tires are another story. I'm going to change from 15" wheels to 16" and go to a LT tire for more capacity and higher speed. Trailer tires are speed limited to 60-65 mph. Good luck with your decision either way, we had a lot of fun with either.

 

[CKelley1]

i agree the stability and ease of control is so good on a 5th wheel once you pull with one you will never go back to bumper pull

 

[mitchC]

Got my 2 cents for the fifth wheel. Only down side is the room in your bed.

Also the fifth wheel acts like a vacuum on light objects in the bed they will airmail them selves on the highway.

Good Luck

Mitch

 

[Grizzly]

I've never had a TT. I started off with a 10. 5' truck camper, then a 29' 5er, then a 11. 25' truck camper and now a 27' 5er. I believe that a 5er is the best way to go in an RV.

 

[WStephens]

Same as above and you can hook up alone because you can see the king pin and your hitch as you back up. Saves a lot of shouting back and forth with the Wife how cant drive the truck or pull a trailer but wants to tell you how to back up.

 

[Jim W]

I used to pull a small Starcraft 8 pop-up could never back that sucker up. When my wife decided she wanted to get back into camping, we decided to go with a 5er. I have never looked back on this discission. The 5er tows so well ( I can back this one up)and has more comfort and convenance items. The layout of the fiver provides for a degree of privacy for the master bed room over a Travel trailer, in my opinion.

As I side note coming back from WI yesterday and pulling my 5er at 63 miles an hour ( I looked at the GPS speed out put) I was past by a ferd and a tag along. The next thing I knew the tag along was swaying all over the road. I hit the brakes and slowed down, till he got the his trailer under control. I let him pass on down the road. I did meet up with him in the last rest stop in WI before Il, just looked at him and shook my head.

 

[KParsons]

ок

thanks guys i will keep my eyes open this fall for a fifth wheel. kp

 

[Grizzly]

thanks guys i will keep my eyes open this fall for a fifth wheel. kp

Smart move. Next you'll want to know which 5th wheel. You'll get a wide and varied opinions here.

 

[CumminsPower98]

Another big advantage for a 5er is that they drag a lot less wind since they are way forward. You will get better mileage even with a heavier unit as compared to a TT. I saw this over and over as I spent 2. 5 years towing these things for a living. The TT is so far back that the truck breaks the wind and then the camper breaks it again. You have more storage space in a 5er also.

 

[Shadrach]

I currently pull a 24 TT which we have had for 10 years now. I think my next will be a 5er but I hate to loose my canopy. Where do you carry 3 full size bikes with a 5er and how do I haul a canoe? I have always pulled with an 8' box. Shadrach

 

[Grizzly]

I currently pull a 24 TT which we have had for 10 years now. I think my next will be a 5er but I hate to loose my canopy. Where do you carry 3 full size bikes with a 5er and how do I haul a canoe? I have always pulled with an 8' box. Shadrach

You can get a bike rack for the back of the 5er and I have seen a rack over the truck cab for a canoe.

 

[BimmerAgent]

Bunkhouse

My fifth is a "bunkhouse" setup, so we throw the bikes in there when traveling. Don't know about the canoe, though. Bruce

 

[Matt400]

at what point do go from a reg trailer to a fifth wheel. is it weight or length.

For us it was length, actually more the wifes decission because of all the added living space. Ours is 32' and the bedroom & bath are over the bed of the truck. It would be too long to pull if it wasn't a 5th wheel.

Befor that was a 25' bumper pull, I miss the way the bumper pull manuvers especially backing in tight areas but the 5th wheel is so much nicer while out on the road and once its parked.



Watch you weights if you go 5th wheel. Ours is 10K empty and grosses at 13K so pretty maxed out for a single rear wheel truck. Duals are better for the big ones.

 

[Matt400]

Where do you carry 3 full size bikes with a 5er and how do I haul a canoe?

Bikes. . as in bicycles?

I have a Joe Hauler Motorcycle Carriers and Accessories on the back of my 5th that carries the Tiger. Dunno about the canoe.

 

[Shadrach]

Matt400 Sorry I meant Bicycles. If I was to carry them on the back of the trailer, on a bike rack on the back bumper, I would have to cover them as I like to keep them clean. Shadrach

 

[ray1933]

We hauled a 10 foot camper of different brands for 35 plus years and a year ago we went to a 5th Wheel.

Very easy to hook up to with out the wife giving instructions as was mentioned in one of the above posts.



Would never go back to a camper. Our human kids are married and gone so our kids are furry ones now <<2 large Bernese Mountain Dogs and 1` Mini Doxie>>

so the 5th wheel gives us plenty or room for all of us.



We took the back seat out of the truck and made that area into a padded bed for the dogs.

More than you wanted to know maybe but that is how we use our rig.

 

[tmh1955]

5th wheel?

I concur with CKelly.

 

[AABEN]

I pull a 38 foot fith wheel that has a living room up front and love it when in the park you see every thing. JEST do not get a rear kitchen they will brake your dinner plate. You can get a air defector so it stops a lot of dragee on the trailer. GOOD LUCK

 

[KParsons]

used guide

is there a place to go to ,or rag. with info on used fifth wheel prices,pro or con on types etc. thanks kenny