crash course in 5th wheel hitches?
I've done the whole Truck Camper thing (twice), and the Class A thing. Now I'm getting ready to try a 5th wheel next. I'm just starting to come to terms with how much I DONT know yet about 5th whe...
Forum Discussion
kzspree320 wrote:JeffPritchard wrote:Johndanielscpa wrote:
I also had a truck camper (arctic fox - big - heavy) for many years, and recently bought a (small 27') fifth wheel. I wouldn't even consider a fifth wheel setup with a half ton TV despite those who might argue to the contrary. The issue is never the pulling. It's the hill climbing and stopping that trumps the pull, and F150 just doesn't have the muscle. I tow with an F350 dually which, admittedly, may seem like overkill, but there is a lot of comfort when you are pulling 10+k pounds and having the feeling that I am in control, not the trailer. My brother pulls his fifth wheel with an F150. I've seen him experience a lot of white knuckle moments. I just don't want that kind of stress.
If you insist on the F150, I would seriously reconsider and go the bumper pull route versus a fifth wheel.
As for the hitch, I'm also in the B&W camp - they are great hitches!
Thanks John. You are not alone. Clearly there are plenty of folks here who agree with you. ;)
One suggestion that keeps coming up: pick a TT instead. As if that will magically make it better instead of worse. If the TT and the 5'er weigh approx the same...I say the 5'er would be more stable and less "white knuckle prone" with an identical TV. (assuming in both cases the numbers are "barely legal")
Am I wrong? :h
Yes. You are wrong. The reason is that fifth wheels have a much higher % pin weight versus a travel trailer hitch weight.
A rule of thumb is about 10% hitch weight for a travel trailer versus about 20% pin weight for a fiver. For a 10,000 lb GVWR trailer, that's about 1,000 lbs of hitch weight for the travel trailer versus 2,000 lbs of pin weight for the fiver.
That's why you see so many half tons pulling travel trailers and fewer pulling fifth wheel.
Hope this helps you. Keith
BUT hitch weight does NOT equal pin weight. ANY truck regardless of size/rating can safely handle significantly more pin weight (over axles) than hitch weight hanging off the back bumper. There is no comparing the two.
