My wife and I plan to purchase a new 5th wheel for the first time this summer. When towing a 5th wheel, how does the length affect the towing? For example is there much difference between a 35 ft and a 39ft 5th wheel when towing or backing it up? Being new to all of this I want to feel confident but dealers have told me after towing it a bit that I will never know the difference.Thanks for your advice. I have learned so much from all of your experience.

Of course there will be a difference. Whether it will be very noticable may depend more on increased weight of the larger trailer. The biggest difference will be in backing up into smaller sites getting around hazards. A 35'er is going to get into many more sites than the 39'er.Physics.

Veebyes wrote:Of course there will be a difference. Whether it will be very noticable may depend more on increased weight of the larger trailer. The biggest difference will be in backing up into smaller sites getting around hazards. A 35'er is going to get into many more sites than the 39'er.Physics.I agree, and if you camp SPs, the large FWs will be taller, making it much harder to avoid tree limbs.Just pulling down the road, you wouldn't notice the difference, if you have a capable truck.Jerry

Veebyes wrote:Of course there will be a difference. Whether it will be very noticable may depend more on increased weight of the larger trailer. The biggest difference will be in backing up into smaller sites getting around hazards. A 35'er is going to get into many more sites than the 39'er.Physics.This is true for smaller tighter spaces, and there may be many parks that won't have sites big enough for a 39' 5er. We sometimes have issues with finding a spot for our 32'.That said a longer 5er I have found is easier to back than a shorter one.

The big difference I notice is trying to get into a gas station. It's pretty easy if you're pulling into a big truck stop, but in a small town where the pumps are perpendicular to the gas station, it can be pretty tight getting a smaller FW around the pumps. It would be impossible with a big unit. I had to drop my trailer in a vacant lot at one place in New Hampshire in order to refuel. I've been to a couple of campgrounds in New England where I had difficulty maneuvering with a 34 foot FW.

Strictly towing, you won't notice a difference between the two. As mentioned, length will matter in situations where length matters.

5th Wheel Length/Towing | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 20, 2015
Veebyes wrote:
Of course there will be a difference. Whether it will be very noticable may depend more on increased weight of the larger trailer. The biggest difference will be in backing up into smaller sites getting around hazards. A 35'er is going to get into many more sites than the 39'er.

Physics.

This is true for smaller tighter spaces, and there may be many parks that won't have sites big enough for a 39' 5er. We sometimes have issues with finding a spot for our 32'.
That said a longer 5er I have found is easier to back than a shorter one.
MFL
Nomad II
Jan 20, 2015
Veebyes wrote:
Of course there will be a difference. Whether it will be very noticable may depend more on increased weight of the larger trailer. The biggest difference will be in backing up into smaller sites getting around hazards. A 35'er is going to get into many more sites than the 39'er.

Physics.

I agree, and if you camp SPs, the large FWs will be taller, making it much harder to avoid tree limbs.

Just pulling down the road, you wouldn't notice the difference, if you have a capable truck.

Jerry
Veebyes
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2015
Of course there will be a difference. Whether it will be very noticable may depend more on increased weight of the larger trailer. The biggest difference will be in backing up into smaller sites getting around hazards. A 35'er is going to get into many more sites than the 39'er.

Physics.

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5th Wheel Length/Towing

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