RV Pusher vs 5th Wheel and single or dual axle?

Question

I currently have a Jayco Seneca Diesel RV that i usually tow a large enclosed trailer with.  It rides and towes  amazing.  very stable and solid and I don't get thrown around very much by the wind.  I am working towards selling it so i can purchase a Grand Design 388M 5th wheel.  Loaded i will probably be around 18k lbs.  I am really only wanting a single axle Ford F350 but am worried i will get a lot  of sway action with the 5th wheel and winds.  I am new to 5th wheels and don't know anyone that tows one.  Is it best to get a dual axle truck or will a single work fine and will the wind and swaying be a scary issue for my wife or are they pretty solid either way?  I love our RV set up i am just thinking that being able to unhook with a truck and take off from camp makes more sense.

fj12ryder · Answer

JMO but you're towing something either way: a closed trailer with the RV or a 5th wheel with the truck. So with the 5th wheel you're tied into riding around in your (relatively) large truck, or you can tow a small car behind the RV, either in an enclosed trailer or not.

Personally I don't care for motorhomes, but if I were in your shoes I'd probably stick with the motorhome, unless it really isn't what you want. If you're happy with it, keep it.

And I tow my large(18,000 lb. GVWR) toyhauler with a dually. It never feels like it gets pushed around by the wind, and I've driven in some pretty high crosswinds and headwinds.

donn0128 · Answer

That fiver would duump something over 3000 and possible as much as 4000 pounds directly on top of the rear axle.  Tire rating on a late model Ford SRW is probsbly around 3500 pounds per.  Meaning around 7000 SRW rear capacity.  Leaving possibly as little as 3000 pounds before you add a trailer plus hitch.  Get the picture yet?  For that much fiver your really going to want an F450 or more.

avvidclif1 · Answer

dylanfdc wrote:I currently have a Jayco Seneca Diesel RV that i usually tow a large enclosed trailer with.  It rides and towes  amazing.  very stable and solid and I don't get thrown around very much by the wind.  I am working towards selling it so i can purchase a Grand Design 388M 5th wheel.  Loaded i will probably be around 18k lbs.  I am really only wanting a single axle Ford F350 but am worried i will get a lot  of sway action with the 5th wheel and winds.  I am new to 5th wheels and don't know anyone that tows one.  Is it best to get a dual axle truck or will a single work fine and will the wind and swaying be a scary issue for my wife or are they pretty solid either way?  I love our RV set up i am just thinking that being able to unhook with a truck and take off from camp makes more sense.I think you are trying to ask if you need a single rear wheel F350 (SRW) or a dual rear wheel (DRW or dually). At 18k GVWR on the 5th wheel you are looking at that is dually territory. If a SRW could make the numbers work it would be maxed out. Not a pleasant tow.My 2 cents.

agesilaus · Answer

Personally I don't care for motorhomes, but if I were in your shoes I'd probably stick with the motorhome, unless it really isn't what you want. If you're happy with it, keep it.
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That sounds like the best idea, what are you putting in that trailer? It sounds like a toad would be the best solution.

azjeffh · Answer

donn0128 wrote:
For that much fiver your really going to want an F450 or more.

When I was shopping around for trucks, while the F450 had a larger GCWR it had a lower payload capacity than the F350. Don't know if that's still the case in 2017 models.

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RV Pusher vs 5th Wheel and single or dual axle?

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