We have a Jayco 324 35' Travel Trailer and are looking to move to a 5th Wheel. I have never had any issues backing the trailers even down my rather challenging driveway (picture below).We are looking at a Jayco Eagle 31.5 fifth wheel. What I am looking for is some feed back from people who have towed both to give me some idea of the main differences. Look at my hooked shape driveway and where the RV parks on the opposite side of the detached garage. I could easily get the 35' trailer parked here, any concerns about the same with a 5er?I appreciate your thoughts and feedback on this subject.

I agree with everyone who says a 5th wheel is harder to back. I have pulled boats and campers all my adult life and I can tell you it takes some getting used to!! It can be done, but it will take some practice. You can swing the back of the tow vehicle and see an immediate movement in a conventional trailer....not so with a 5th wheel. I used to pride myself in backing in my driveway without having to pull forward and correct. Not so with the 5th wheel. I just stop and pull foward a foot or so anytimne I think I need to. This seems to work well in correcting my direction with the trailer. Don't be afraid to move into a 5th wheel but just be aware they track differently backing up and going forward. They will start to turn quicker going forward and not necessarily follow the tracks of the tow vehicle. However, they are an absolute dream to pull at highway speeds. So stable and no fishtailing!!!

The biggest difference is how fast a fifth wheel will turn on you. I have learned that once the trailer starts to move you need to start straightening the steering wheel other wise the trailer will jack knife in a heart beat. Once you learn I don't think it is any harder or easier, just different.

I have had both. They both can go in the same spots but they do react a little different. Go to a empty parking lot and you will be as good with a fiver as with a TT in short order. Good luck.

With a shorter overall connected length, and pivot point closer to the cab, you should be able to maneuver easier once you get a feel for the rig.

The difference is in the pivot point, being fastened to the very rear of truck, vrs being hooked over the axle. It will take a little getting used to!It takes more movement of the truck, to get the FW to go where needed. The truck FW combo will be shorter, so that will help in tighter spaces.I like to move ahead and back a little more to get parked, rather than twist the axles hard on FW, or TT. Just eaisier on the rig.If you can get the 35' TT back there, you can get the FW there too. The easy hookup, and tow handling of the FW, will be worth any extra trouble to get it parked.Jerry

5th Wheel vs Travel Trailer Towing/Backing Difference

Me_Again
Explorer III
Feb 23, 2014
Likes to tow wrote:
Don't be afraid to move into a 5th wheel but just be aware they track differently backing up and going forward. They will start to turn quicker going forward and not necessarily follow the tracks of the tow vehicle. However, they are an absolute dream to pull at highway speeds. So stable and no fishtailing!!!

I have always been a little concerned that under certain conditions one could back a 5th wheel into a spot that you would not be able to pull it out of. This is based on a lot of times backing one around the corner of my house, and being in a situation where I had to uncouple a and couple again with the truck at a different angle in a state park.

Backing the trailer it is pushed wider in a turn and going forward it fails into the turn. Two different arcs.

Chris
Shepherd
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
I'll never go back to a TT.:C
Nomadac
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
Helimech wrote:
Buy another house:B

Keep the house and buy a DP they are easier than both.
Likes_to_tow
Nomad
Feb 22, 2014
I agree with everyone who says a 5th wheel is harder to back. I have pulled boats and campers all my adult life and I can tell you it takes some getting used to!! It can be done, but it will take some practice. You can swing the back of the tow vehicle and see an immediate movement in a conventional trailer....not so with a 5th wheel. I used to pride myself in backing in my driveway without having to pull forward and correct. Not so with the 5th wheel. I just stop and pull foward a foot or so anytimne I think I need to. This seems to work well in correcting my direction with the trailer. Don't be afraid to move into a 5th wheel but just be aware they track differently backing up and going forward. They will start to turn quicker going forward and not necessarily follow the tracks of the tow vehicle. However, they are an absolute dream to pull at highway speeds. So stable and no fishtailing!!!
rhagfo
Explorer III
Feb 22, 2014
Wow it is not the end of the world!
We had a two horse TT that was a bi*** to back wit a long WB TV. It all just takes a bit of practice, I learned early on as the 5er started to turn stare to straighten out.
It is really not all that hard, I personal don't like the physics of a TT on a TV . Daughters new bourse traile is a GN, loves the way it tows and pulls.
doughere
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
I have to back into a spot similar to yours (NOT NEAR AS BAD) and find the 5er a little twitchier, but doable. Others above have well described the difference in handling.

Doug
Me_Again
Explorer III
Feb 22, 2014
Having backed a 29' boat around the house and into a large garage for years and then a 26" 5th wheel, this is what I will tell you.

It will be much harder to back the 5th wheel to that spot. And you will have to do different things coming out, as the 5th wheel tracks inside the TV a lot more.

Do you have the room behind the detached garage to go in forward and around it? If not you may have to invest in a power 5th wheel dolly!

http://parkit360.ca/

Chris
ricatic
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
After 45 years of backing up "bumper pull" trailers of one sort or another, my journey into the fifth wheel world was not traumatic...but I was surprised at the difference between th two types. After 5 years with a fiver, I am still better with a bumper pull but can put the fiver anywhere I could put the other...now

Regards
Ivylog
Explorer III
Feb 22, 2014
I would pull further forward before backing. I would worry more about pulling it than backing. Unlike a TT that will track better a 5er will cut the corner. A friend took out the side of his new 5er on a turn that he never had a problem with when he had a TT.
Now that your pictures came up... I might pull in onto the grass to the left and then back and jack knife it into the parking spot.
AuntSmurf
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
We just made the switch from a TT to a 5'er and haven't had to back it up yet. Sites have all been pull-thru's. But our next campground will be a back-in spot. It will be interesting, to say the least, to watch DH back in. :B I know he will do fine, as he's driven large trucks, etc all of his adult life. But I also know it will take him a time or two to position the 5'er.