Fifth Wheel or TT?
We are planning retirement. Want to hit the road for 2-3 months and go somewhere warmer. We want to be able to bring a two seat golf cart or two seat UTV with us. Assume weight is no more than 1500...
Forum Discussion
Having towed a TT for many years we just pulled the trigger on our 1st 5er and are excited about towing it for all of the reasons mentioned. I would look at fifth wheel toy haulers and here's why:
1. Ease of loading and unloading. Yes, you could fit a golf cart of SxS in the truck bed, but dealing with ramps, etc., is not my idea of convenient.
2. Toys stay out of the weather, stuff loaded in the truck bed will get wet. Even if you go somewhere warm, you'll want the convenience of bringing the GC inside if you get rain.
3. Toy haulers load the weight of toys behind the axles, and that actually helps to decrease your tongue weight or pin weight. Toys loaded in the truck bed subtract from the amount of payload available for hitch weight limiting your choice of TTs. 5ers are much less weight/balance sensitive than TT's for proper towing and handling.
4. Most times the ramp/garage in toy haulers converts into a deck or patio with screening, sliding doors, etc. Nice extra space.
5. The 5er will give you more living space in the same length truck/trailer rig since part of the space overhangs the truck box.
ALSO: think about how you plan to spend those 2 months. If you're going to drive to a resort and stay there 2 months and drive home, then you're only loading/unloading one time. Putting the toy into the truck bed is not that big of a deal.
If you're planning a long trip with many 2-3 night stops, you'll be loading and unloading quite a bit and also towing more. A MH towing the toy ion a cargo trailer will tow the best, and be best top travel with, but as was noted you'll have no other street-legal vehicle when you park.
1. Ease of loading and unloading. Yes, you could fit a golf cart of SxS in the truck bed, but dealing with ramps, etc., is not my idea of convenient.
2. Toys stay out of the weather, stuff loaded in the truck bed will get wet. Even if you go somewhere warm, you'll want the convenience of bringing the GC inside if you get rain.
3. Toy haulers load the weight of toys behind the axles, and that actually helps to decrease your tongue weight or pin weight. Toys loaded in the truck bed subtract from the amount of payload available for hitch weight limiting your choice of TTs. 5ers are much less weight/balance sensitive than TT's for proper towing and handling.
4. Most times the ramp/garage in toy haulers converts into a deck or patio with screening, sliding doors, etc. Nice extra space.
5. The 5er will give you more living space in the same length truck/trailer rig since part of the space overhangs the truck box.
ALSO: think about how you plan to spend those 2 months. If you're going to drive to a resort and stay there 2 months and drive home, then you're only loading/unloading one time. Putting the toy into the truck bed is not that big of a deal.
If you're planning a long trip with many 2-3 night stops, you'll be loading and unloading quite a bit and also towing more. A MH towing the toy ion a cargo trailer will tow the best, and be best top travel with, but as was noted you'll have no other street-legal vehicle when you park.
