TT or 5er?

[nautidog]

Hello!



I'm new to TDR, however, I've been a Dodge Dually Diesel owner for 4 years and the time has finally come that my wife and I can afford a TT or 5th wheel (had to pay off my boat ).



We are having trouble on which type of trailer to tow . We want something in the 30' to 34' range. She will be towing the rig by herself at times and she thinks that the TT will be easier to set up and tow. I've heard that the 5ers are much easier but she's intimidated by the look of a 30' 5er vs. a TT .



So what's better?



Any advice or information on the pro's and con's of TT vs. 5th wheels would be greatly appriciated!



- Tim

 

[Wolfgang]

I have had a small TT and have had 3 5er's including the 31 footer I have now. I would never go back to a TT. The 5er is easier to set up, is a much better platform for towing and has more room on the interior for the size, especially with a slide or two. The idea of towing a TT have towing with the 5er scares me to death. I'm sure other people will disagree with that. Also unless your wife is a strong women the hitches have to be removed from the tow vehicle when you make camp and they are not light.

 

[Wolfgang]

Woops, that is remove the hitch on the TT not the 5er

 

[RHARVEY]

I have pulled both but have only owned 5th wheels. As a matter of fact we just brought home our new Nash 28-5D yesterday. . I would not want to pull anything else. Our trailer pulls so nice and smooth. .



Rick

 

[D White]

If your going to buy a trailer that size, get the 5th wheel. They are much nicer to tow than TT's. I've had both and would never go back to a TT. 5'vers are much easier to hook up and you'll get no sway in crosswinds. With a TT, especially one 30' or longer you'll still get some sway, even with swaybars.



Your overall length with a 30' 5'ver will be about 4 feet shorter than it will be with a 30' TT.



The 1 nice thing with a TT is you still have the whole box of your truck to fill full of junk, but even with a 5'ver there's still a lot more room than most people think. I stack a lot of stuff around the 5th wheel hitch when traveling.



If you can, get one with a slide. Really gives you a lot more room. My TT didn't have one, it was real cramped with just a walking isle from one end to the other. My new 5'ver has a single slide and its 5 feet shorter than the TT was, but inside it seems like its twice the size.



I also like how the propane bottles and batteries are in compartments on the 5'vers, instead of out in the open.



Everybody does like something different.



Good luck with whatever you choose,



Doug

 

[georgej]

we currently own a 28' travel trailer. Advantages=lower profile,lower cost and if setup properly(12-14% of weight on hitchw/ a good hitch)tows quite nicely. WE average about 10k miles per year during our 6-7 week vacation coast to coast. But as soon as I retire we will replace it with a 5th wheel because we'll be using it for longer stays and we'll want the extra room. I figure a 32' 5th wheel has about the same footprint (overall length)as what we have now and thats as long as I want to tow.

 

[rlafferty]

I have owned and pulled both travel trailers and 5th wheels for the past 35 years. There is no comparison, regardless of size. Why anyone would pull a TT any more is beyond me. The 5er is much more stable, less affected by crosswinds and passing 18 wheelers, shorter overall for the amount of living space (since the bedroom is usually over the truck bed) and easier to maneuver since you can turn the truck to almost any angle needed to park. Although it is tough on the tires, you can also make a u turn in a tighter space. On top of all that, the ride down the highway is definitely better. The only person who would recommend a TT over a 5er is someone who had not actually pulled and used both.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Those few trailers with independent suspensions and/or shock absorbers tow much better than the stiffly sprung, leaf spring type. Airstream comes to mind, and its shape probably helps with directional stability too. Travel trailers are more compatible with tall trucks as there is nothing to hit the top of the bed rails or the cab on dips, turns, etc. like the overhang of the 5er can.



I would suggest that you look at a lot of trailers and fifth-wheel units. Consider strongly the towing characteristics, such as weight distribution on the four (or 6) tires, and tongue weight vs. total weight.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Or someone that actually needs to use their bed while towing the trailer. I haul my 35' TT around and often have my motorcycle or tools/tires/parts in the bed of the truck. I have no complaints towing my TT and have towed 5ers before. Have towed the TT in up to 55 mph gusty crosswinds and with only a ball and a sway controller (no weight distributing hitch) with no problems at all. I also got a screaming deal on mine - $8,500 for a 93 in like new condition, which would not have happened with a 5er. Just another opinion . . . .

 

[pathaymond]

I like the way fivers pull and park for sure But I keep my bed capped because I like to keep my stuff dry and locked up you can fit alot of stuff in the back with a cap and its nice to shop while you are on the road and have a place to put the stuff you buy and thats why I pull a tt. I think if I wanted to spend alot of money I would buy a diesel pusher and tow my cummins as a get around vehicle. Its really a matter of what works for you. and what you want to invest your money into and how you plan to use the equipment you buy. look with care and make the right choice for your situation. good luck Patrick

 

[paccool]

I pull a 23' TT now and wonder about the "sway" everyone keeps talking about. I use a Load leveler hitch, no sway bar. Have NEVER had a problem with wind sway or sway when passing a truck. Not many trucks pass me, I drive pretty hard even when towing. I don't like the high front and wind resistance with a 5th wheel, have bad knees and back and sure don't want to climb up a set of stairs to get to the bedroom. Wife and I both think we would end up falling down the steps when getting up some night. Also, not a lot of headroom in some 5'rs for someone 6'-4" tall.



I also like the back of the pickup open for other stuff.



I also wonder how long it would take me to rip the roof off a 5'r that is real tall. Have to watch it with a TT sometimes when going into some of the state parks we like to stay in. Some of the trees are real close to the roads.



I also think a TT won't put as much stress on the rear end of my truck. With some of the 5'rs, you need a 3500 series to be legal.



I'm sorry guys, I'll stay with my TT. Just the wife and I (and the dog) so we can do with a little less space.



Stan

 

[D White]

Stan,

With a 23' TT you won't get any sway, even without swaybars like you said, probably wouldn't even really need a weight distribution hitch. Its when you get around 27' and longer that the swaybars should be used, crosswinds are then felt pushing the trailer. I towed a 30' TT for a couple years, never used swaybars, and if there was any winds at all I couldn't do over 50. Thing was just all over the place. Should have used the swaybars but never did.



For State parks the short TT's are nice little units, I camp with a lot of people that have them from 20 to 24'. I stay in state parks most of the time myself and now have a 25' 5'ver with a single slide. It is a little high at times but is short enough that it will cut into some pretty tight spots and has plenty of room for my family of 4 and 1 dog.



Like I said in my earlier post, everyone likes something different.



Doug

 

[HEYBOSS]

5er

I agree with the 5er guys. I've towed 23ft TT for six years and on long trips you'll get tired of the driving a lot faster because it requires a lot more attention due to sway problems and trucks going by you. Hooking up is a lot easier with a 5er, just back it up under it and your done, (saves a lot arguments with the wife and ruin a camping weekend) there's no sway bars to hook up, chains and hitch. Maneuvering in campgrounds you can't beat the 5er. I also disagree with others on wind resistance, it is said that a 5er has less wind resistance than TT. On a 5er wind will flow over the truck and right under the 5er, on the TT wind will flow over the truck and as it comes down in the bed of the truck will encounter a lot more resistance on the TT. I towed my 5er to Fl last summer 3000 round trip at 70mph all the time and wouldn't even know it was there while I couldn't do the same with the TT at 65 you really had to be extra careful.



When I towed my 23ft TT with a Chev 25OO it felt like I was towing a 12,000 trailer that only grossed 5k. I towed my 12000k 5er with the same truck and couldn't believe the difference.

By the way fuel mileage was the same with both trailers.



If you're worried about big frontal areas on the 5er's look at the mid profiles, real nice.



Good luck with your decision but this one will be a lot easier than picking the model and options you want. Do your home work well and don't rush into it there is a lot of junk out there.



Fred.

 

[Steve M]

We towed a TT for six years and traded it for a 5th wheel after reading and hearing of the better ride on the highway. I couldn't believe how much of a difference people were talking about. I can literally forget the 5th wheel is back there as the truck rides better with the trailer on than off. The TT used to buck and jiggle our kidneys over every expansion joint. It was a tiring ride on the famous I-10 concrete highway.

I now have to make wider turns and backing into a space takes a little practice as a 5th wheel doesn't react to the steering wheels when backing like a TT does due to the much different geometry of the setup.

We won't go back to a TT. We might opt for a toy hauler one day to haul the Harleys in but for us the lost truck bed space is worth the ride.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

i think bottom line is it all depends on where you go and what you like to do. The 5ver will pull way better and smoother if you travel accross country and stay in big trailer parks would be the way to go. Where I live and like to go a 5ver would be way too tall and would not fit in places i like to go. anyways who wants to camp where everyone else camps i like to go to somewhat out of the way areas. Another big issue is i like to put my 4 wheeler in the back of my p/u. One other thought is if you have a drw pickup this makes pulling heavy bumper pull trailers alot more stable. Those duallies really plant the a$$ end. i pull a heavy cargo trailer and i am reminded each day how much nicer it would be to have a dually

 

[ramfan2]

Swaying in the wind....

I have a 27 ft. Nash TT and can't imagine wanting to pull a larger one. I have really had some sway problems, especially in high wind areas like the Columbia Gorge, or passing a big rig. The only reason I bought a TT was to keep my bed space and canopy. Fivers pull much better, and no sway. If I knew then what I know now, I would be pulling a 5th wheel.



Just my 2 cents worth.



Chris

 

[DarrellB]

24' TT here

I have a 24' travel trailer and don't have a bit of problems out of it. I don't use any sway brakes or any kind of special hitch just my 2 5/16" ball on a 5 1/2" drop hitch. A TT is all in how you load it (make it a little tounge heavy) and how it's hitched to the truck. In my expereince it is better to hitch a TT a little nose up. Most people will tell you to hitch it level but a little nose up will really help out with the cross winds. I pull my 24' with a 680lb ATV in the bed and no problems with towing it, the ride is better with the trailer behind the truck than with out. I have pulled a 28' Aljo travel trailer, a 78 model that was really heavy 6800lbs and it pulled just as good as my 24' Fleetwood. Pulled my cousins 5th wheel once to Patoka and it sucked I had a really bad head wind and that thing was like a parashoot on top of my truck. :{ It was about a hour drive and I was wore out by the time we got there. After setting up his camper we went back and got mine and it was a lot easier of a drive with my TT than with his 5ver.



My 2cents

Big D

 

[CPH]

trailer

A 5ver is the way to go. I have had or been around rv trailers all my life. You can make a pull behind TT ride good with little sway. Where the 5ver does better is handling. You or your wife can hook up by your self. It tracks better on the highway and if you have some dummy stop short in front of you , they are much more stable to stop. You can get a 5ver into a campning space much easyer than a pull behind. Also, when you buy a 5ver the length is measured from the front to the rear bumper. A TT is measured from the front of the hitch, so if you have a 30' 5ver, you have 30' of space(give or take the bumper) if you have a 30' TT you have about 27 of space and 3' of hitch. Just some of my thoughts. Either way have fun!



CPH

 

[nautidog]

Thanks for the input!

Thanks everyone for your inputs!



My wife and I decided to go with the 5er .



The space in the truck bed wasn't important to us, however, the living space was. More importantly, it sounds like the 5er is the most stable in towing situations.



We just ordered a Sunnybrook 31' fifthwheel with the works .



I'm sure my new 3500 ETH/DEE is going to like the workload .



Can't wait for my new 5er Oo. .



- Tim

 

[Wolfgang]

You won't regret your decision