TT or 5'er? Splurge for the 5'er?

In my opinion a very good choice, 5th vs bumper pull.

You will love how it pulls when trucks or anything else passes, no sway just a solid ride.

On the hitching up just remember that the trailer hitch should be just low enough to force the hitch up the ramp on the hitch in the bed of the truck. In other words the truck should squat just bit when it hitches up. This will keep you from "high hitching" and a dropped trailer on the bed. Use a teflon plate on the trailer hitch instead of grease.

When you have backed into the hitch and it has latched before doing anything else put the truck in drive and let it roll forward. Don't try to pull the trailer just let the truck roll forward and it should stop if the trailer is hitched properly. Then put it in neutral and let the truck settle and then set the truck brake, put it in park and finish hitching, raising the trailer jacks, removing the chocks, etc.

Following this if the hitch didn't catch for whatever reason the truck will pull out from under the trailer and it will settle back on the front landing gear with no damage to anything. If you do the "pull test" after raising the landing gear the trailer could land in the bed causing damage. For the people who do the pull test after raising the landing gear they sell "bed savers".

I don't need one.

Took everyones advice and spent the extra $'s. Now a happy owner of a new Winnebago 26FWRKS and love it. Far more outside storage than the same floorplan TT. Towed it home about 300 miles. Went thru a canyon area that had high profile wind warning signs. Slowed down a bit to play it safe but didn't notice the wind one bit.

An initial learning curve hitching and unhitching at understanding the proper trailer height for each but I think I've got it figured out. Dealer tech was zero for help on that!

We just went through this process, and ended up with a 5er which I really didn't want when we went shopping as I really like to use the bed of my truck and thought I couldn't live without it.

We were moving up from a 10 year old, no slide, light weight travel trailer bunkhouse and haven't had kids with us for the last 3 seasons, so it was time to get something with two slides and set up for a couple. After shopping it was easy to fall into the fifth wheel, since it seems like so much more trailer with better towing characteristics.

Our original thought was move up to a nicer TT now then to a 5er in 6 years when I retire. After thinking about it, this idea was just bad all around since we would loose a lot of valuation in the TT and interest rates can't stay this low forever.

Yes, we may be spending $5000 more, like you for the 5er but with interest rates low and not wanting to have to sell and go through this process again down the road in a short 5-6 years, we went with a triple slide 32 RE, so we will be comfortable for some years to come, as I don't see us needing to move up.

I only needed the standard hitch, since the Shasta has the Reese Revolution (Sidewinder) hitch and is set up for short beds, so the new Equalizer brand hitch for a heavier TT would be within a $100 or so of the new 5er hitch. Of course I'm looking at a Trailer Saver hitch down the road if it beats us up towing down the road.

Were looking forward to getting into it this week and hopefully sneak a night of camping out of it next.

Good luck

The steps inside are a good point....we made sure ours were 9 inch high....while a lot out there are 11-13 inches.....if you are young probably does not matter, but for us the 9 inch steps are the way to go. Along with all the other + s .....I like the crew cab with 8 ft bed for wheel base length in my truck....with fold up cover for bed....good luck with your shopping....

mileshuff wrote:
Looking for a new trailer and narrowed it down to either a TT, or a 5'er from the same manufacture. They are nearly identical, same floorplan, options etc. The 5'ers MSRP is $41600 and I can buy for $31800 including destination, prep and PDI. The TT's MSRP is $39600 and I can buy for $26,800. I know all the pluses of a 5'er but the cost difference for nearly identical models is substantial especially adding in a decent slider hitch for my short bed truck. The TT is about 800 lbs lighter but both are well below my trucks ratings.

Question: Is it worth splurging an extra $5000 + slider hitch ($2500 installed?) to get the 5'er with all else being fairly equal between the models?

Once you have towed a 5er you will never want to tow a TT.

mileshuff wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
I do miss backing in my TT though. You would think after 4-5 trips with it I would get the hang of it. But the 5'er kicks my but every time.

I've never towed a 5'er but I was always under the impression that a 5'er was easier to back in and maneuver than a TT. Am I mistaken?

The difference between a TT and a 5'er when towing is the 5'er will cut the corner tighter than a TT.
When backing in the 5'er won't reverse its direction as quick as a TT. So if you want the 5'er to go the other way you have to start sooner.

Well I went from a fifth wheel to a travel trailer and I clearly prefer the fifth wheel as it is way easier to hitch and unhitch and never have to worry about sway. the only benefit I see with a travel traler is not having to worry about height issues but that's it.
You get more storage in a fiver and many modles are better built, todays travel trailers are not as well built as my 1999 Sunnybrook.
I will most likely take the hit and switch back to a fifth wheel.

5er all the way we just did it was more then worth it

We just went from 12 years in TT to a fifth wheel. Some pros and cons. My husband says no sway even in bad wind and rain with the 5th wheel. We prefer more storage underneath than more space in truck bed. He still thinks it is harder backing up the 5th wheel than the TT. You have to be more careful to watch for low hanging trees and bridges in 5th. One thing I never hear anyone talk about - it is harder for me (I am only 5'3") to reach in the cabinets in the 5th wheel because the cabinets are higher. I am constantly having to get up on a small stool. More stairs in the 5th. The 5th feels much bigger because of the taller ceilings. More movement in the 5th wheel when walking around. Don't have to carry heavy sway bars and ball with a fifth when unhooking and hooking. Have to really concentrate when connecting with a fifth so you don't drop your 5th and ruin your truck. Some food for thought what things are important to you.

Go for the fiver, if you can afford it, and have the truck for it.... GO FOR THE FIVER..

Thanks!

Jeremiah