Towing a mid-profile vs a full-profile 5er?

I really don't notice much of a difference towing a 30' FW with an F150, and a 38' and 40' FW with an F350. You just have to remember your height at all times and allow room on the sides turning, especially to the right because of curbs and either side when fueling up. I'm sure there's a difference with frontal surface between a mid and high FWs and the newer FWs seem to have more streamlined front caps, but I've never owned one of each and can't report on potential fuel savings. I suspect it's marginal.

We bought our Full profile because I'm 6' 4" and wanted headroom in the bedroom. :) Actually, made shopping and choices a LOT easier because that's the first place I would walk and then walk right back out of the mid-profiles.

As mentioned the only difference I can think of is actually in the HEIGHT that you will want/need to pay attention to branches, wires, etc. I have changed the exit route from the neighborhood because of the additional height. I typically prefer getting onto the main thoroughfare at a traffic light. The street we used to go down with the light at the intersection had a LOT of low-hanging wires going across the street. Instead of getting a tape measure out and a long stick, I decided to turn the other direction and go down a different street with no wires to access the main highway. Technically, the wires should be 13'6" or higher but last year there was a wire pulled off the pole and an RV antenna laying beside it on the street. So I'm not going to chance it.

There's always a way..... so to speak.....

I have done both. From our 2007 Laredo at 11' 6" tall and 32 feet long.


To our new Montana at 13' 7" tall and 38 feet long.


The statement above about having enough truck has been very true in my case because I have a lot of stability in any condition. The big difference I see going from one to the other is you really have to watch for low tree limbs and every thing else that you go under. You just get used to it.

By the way the height difference in the bedroom of the Montana is much better and we would never go back to anything smaller.

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I had never towed a trailer other than a small boat trailer before we purchased our full profile 5th wheel. By the third day towing from SE Kansas to NE Illinois I was fairly confident in my towing ability. After 6 years and 50,000 miles I am very confident. I continue to be cautious when driving in campgrounds and RV parks for low hanging branches after a few brushes and minor repairs, Areo vent and gutter extensions.
At 6'1" I would not have been a "happy camper" with a mid profile.

janegowest wrote:
Is it easier to haul a mid vs full profile fifth wheel? We never owned one...not even a TT, so we feel intimidated about pulling period, so we want to buy one that would be the easiest for a beginner to deal with.

There are a lot of the lighter FWs out there that I would consider "mid-profile", being right in the 12' range...with a single A/C. You add a 2nd A/C, and you're now bumping into full-profile range. To me, "full-profile" is anything 13' or over. Currently, we have a low-profile, and trying to sell it as crawling into bed, literally, is really getting old. As others have said, you get used to it pretty quickly, no matter what you get. My next FW will be over 2' taller, so I know I'll have some adjustments to make, mostly in looking UP. :-)

Lyle

99 percent of the time height is not a factor in pulling a trailer. Weight, Wheelbase (and distance between the pivot point and the wheels), and rear overhang are the things that decide how a trailer tracks. Every combination is slightly different and practice is your friend.

Tow rating of your truck is the most critical limit. While the expression "There is no such thing as too much truck" may be an overstatement, it contains a basic truth. It is always better to have more truck capacity than you need than to have too much trailer. You may be able to tow a heavy trailer, but then NOT be able to stop it.

Due to the way fifth wheels track, sway and push (the trailer trying to move the rear end of the truck from side to side) are not realistic problems. A fiver just follows the truck. Floor plan and livability are much more important than profile.

Relax, try not to overthink things, and enjoy RVing.

A

((That other 1 percent? In a campground with low hanging trees and very, very seldom a low clearance bridge.))

BB_TX wrote:
Our first 5er a 35' high profile. Intimidating pulling out of the dealer lot. Then quickly realized it was no big deal. I think the only difference towing is having to be a little more careful in parks with lots of trees and possible low hanging limbs.

Thank you! What a comfort to hear that!

janegowest wrote:
So, is it about the same hauling a mid-profile or full-profile of the same length? Is length the crucial element here in terms of maneuverability? Does weight play a part, given the proper TV for the trailer?

Having towed products from 17 to 40 feet long, length is the key difference I notice when towing. Weight and height don't seem to make much difference as long as you can clear any low objects and your TV can handle the weight.

Jim

Our first 5er a 35' high profile. Intimidating pulling out of the dealer lot. Then quickly realized it was no big deal. I think the only difference towing is having to be a little more careful in parks with lots of trees and possible low hanging limbs.

TucsonJim wrote:
Feeling intimidated is a good thing. It means you understand that it's not as simple as hooking up and heading down the road with no worries at all. A mid profile FW (like I own) can be intimidating to pull, and if you don't approach towing in a careful manner, you can be overwhelmed and get yourself into a lot of trouble. Typically, the smaller the trailer (TT) or fifth wheel (FW), the easier the job.

First things first though. What ever you purchase, make sure that you properly match it to your tow vehicle (TV). Get an understanding of towing capacity, axle weight ratings, payload capacity, tire capacity, etc. before you think about purchasing a towable product. It is very unnerving to find out that you purchased a TT or FW that exceeds the capacity of your TV. If fact, it can be downright dangerous. If you don't understand every nuance of matching a TV to a towable product, do not proceed until you do.

Once you have the properly matched TV and FW, it's time to get some training. Ideally, you can find a friend or relative who can take a trip with you while you learn the basics. Some dealerships even have training for new owners. Once you're hooked up, head to an empty parking lot and learn the subtleties of turning and backing up. In fact, I'd recommend putting out some traffic cones and learning how to maneuver through them. It's so easy to turn too quickly and hit a curb or gas pump if you haven't practiced.

Finally, ask questions here and we'll try to help as much as we can. The learning curve is quick, and if you start out carefully and plan accordingly, it can be a real joy to join the RV world.

Jim

Thank you!! Excellent advice!!