If the goal is to get into camp sites with tight roads, which is easier to maneuver between these two?1. a 25ft 'B+' (which I realize is a C-class to be more accurate) and a trailer which measures around 20ft hitch to bumper2. A standard bed CC pickup truck pulling a 30ft (again hitch to bumper) FW?Total length-wise, the two are roughly the same but I get the feeling that #2 would be harder to fit through tight turns. Feedback from anyone with experience in this would be much appreciated!

Because a 5th wheel pivot point in above the rear axle and it tracks inside the wheel tracks of the truck, you cannot take as tight of a turn as a bumper pull. Think of semis that have to swing wide on tight corners to avoid jumping the curb.With bumper pulls and the pivot point behind the tow vehicle, it lessens that problem.Difference in trailer lengths also factors into the turn.

I would guess that a central pivot point (one half the total length) would be best.

With practice any setup in comparable length will get easy to maneuver.The problem will be if the roads are too narrow or turns too tight. There is a point with any setup where it is impossible to get where you need to be no matter how practiced you are. When you run into something like this then you either find someplace else to park or use some other means to get everything parked...like take the trailer in to the spot using a forklift or powered trailer mover and then park the truck or B+

A standard bed CC pickup truck pulling a 30ft (again hitch to bumper) FW? Because of the amount of the fifth overhang over the truck bed, the actual length of both the truck and fifth will be about five feet shorter than both measured separately. Of your choices, I would think that would be a little easier to maneuver after a few dry runs getting used to the fifth's turning and backing characteristics. The 'C' and the trailer will be around 45 feet long perhaps a little longer with the hitch, about the same as the truck (short bed/long bed?) and fifth. I would get the one you want and practice a little and you should be good. There are many on here that are adept at putting a 35-40 foot fifth where they want it so it can be done. Once a fifth starts backing up in a turn it tightens so in some circumstanaces it can back into tight corners. If you get a slider hitch (short bed) or if a long bed you can usually go to 75-80 degrees of angle depending on the fifth's front nose cap and that can be helpful in backing into tight spots as well.

I can back my TT a lot easier then I can back my 5th wheel, but my 5er is 10' longer then the TT. As others have said I would get the one you want.

Which is easier to maneuver, 25ft+20ft, or pickup+30ft FW?

25 Replies

Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Oct 25, 2014
I was camped out at Johnson Valley off road vehicle area over Christmas and some friends showed up for New Years. I was a little low on propane and moved the motorhome to town to get the 18 gallon tank filled around the 27th.

Then our friends set up about 1/4 mile towards town in their "Usual" spot, so I had to move again. It took about 20 minutes to raise the jacks, move the RV and get all set up again, including awnings out.

In the center of our camping area, there was a bon fire, so the guy in a weekend warrior did not want to park to close to the fire. But he did want to show the slidesshow on the side of his WW fifth wheel. We suggested that perhaps he could move it about 20' closer to the campfire. He declined. For me, moving the motorhome 20 - 30' to allow another RV into our "Ring" of RV's, it is really easy, and move that far at a crawl, I would even leave out the awnings. It might take 5 minutes tops. But the fifth wheel does not move that quickly.

Also backing a motorhome into a tight Federal campground place is fairly easy. Backing in a trailer is a bit more difficult. and to unhitch, then slide out a slide only to find it blocks the electrical post, or hits a tree, that becomes a problem. With a motorhome, moving over 10" is not going to take that long.

So my next RV probably will be a motorhome. But who knows, it might also be a toy hauler, so I can load a electric wheelchair easy.

Good luck!

Fred.
mrw8i
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
In the case of bumper pull, you could install hitch receiver on the front of your TV. Can put a bumper pull in almost any site when you hook up to the front of the TV. Assumes you will be able to unhitch, get turned around and re-hook up and get the trailer pushed in there.
avvidclif1
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
Because of the ability to "jack" the 5th wheel I can take tighter corners than a bumper pull. Also because I can go to 90 deg I can put the trailer in tighter spots. It may take several iterations but it can be done.

Watch a "good" big rig driver sometime. He can put a 53' trailer in places you wouldn't believe, and with a tractor with a 260" wheelbase.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2014
Know your size limitations & your driving ability. With good directions from the DW & reasonable driving skills we get into all kinds of SPs & NPs sites. Always get backin sites just for the practice.
Padlin
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
I was able to maneuver my 41' total length single axle bumper pull better then the new 36' total length dual axle FW.

But the FW tows better, is easier to hookup, and I get a bit better mpg.
mrw8i
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
My crew cab long bed (about 22' long) along with my 17' (21' bumper to tip of tongue) can get me into some pretty tight Forest Service campground roads - but I have to be careful due to the length of the truck and the trailer is only 7.5 wide. I would not hesitate taking that combination to a National Park.

My 35' FW - that I would not take to the same Forest Service campground I take my shorter bumper pull. The term "off tracking" is because the FW does not come close to following the same tracks as the pulling vehicle on corners, especially tight corners; whereas the bumper pull tracks pretty closely.
BurbMan
Explorer III
Oct 24, 2014
In that video, the guy with the 5er was not supposed to be on that road. I've not been there but from what I understand there are signs warning that no large vehicles are permitted. It's not always the length but oftentimes the height as well....low bridges, etc.

Last year I was following Google directions to a CG I had never been to, and I could see ahead that the county road I was on took me right into the middle of town, where the asphalt was turning to bricks. I couldn't see that far ahead but saw the sign that said "NO TRUCKS". It didn't say why, so it could have been low clearance, too narrow, turns too sharp, etc. So I turned off on a side road and wound up in a residential neighborhood, which wasn't much fun either. I was able to flag down a cop who steered me back to the road I was looking for. She asked me why I was in the neighborhood, and I explained that I turned when I saw the "no trucks" sign....she said that was only there to cut down on traffic and that there were no restrictions that would prevented me from going downtown....but there was no way for me to know that.

This guy made it OK but it could have ended badly for him also....

To your original question, neither option you mentioned would be good in these extreme cases...your best option may be your original plan, and as jmtandem says, park the Newmar in a local CG and take the toad into the park.

Length had nothing to do with this guy getting stuck....
Acei
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
BurbMan wrote:
Regardless of the rig, it's the driver's responsibility to heed all warnings about oversized vehicles. This guy probably wishes he had paid more attention to where his trailer was instead of just driving along assuming it would follow him.

I saw this video before and in fact it is this video that got me to start seriously thinking about downsizing. Both myself and DW are pretty small and we don't horde much stuff with us so it may work out ok even if it is full-timing. We are planning to visit the upcoming Tampa RV show in January, so we will get a better idea with more variety. Toronto RV show is decent but hard to get a feeling on specific models as they only show one model per line up.

Our original plan was to go with a 43ft Newmar DMH pulling a Grand Cherokee. We now think this is too big...
BurbMan
Explorer III
Oct 24, 2014
Regardless of the rig, it's the driver's responsibility to heed all warnings about oversized vehicles. This guy probably wishes he had paid more attention to where his trailer was instead of just driving along assuming it would follow him.
g4sbrg
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
I would get a truck and two smaller trailers, that way in an argument she can stay there and you somewhere else? LOL I just got my first RV its a FW 26ft, it was very easy to back up and I've never done any real pulling before (jet ski, small boat), even my DW as you say was able to get me in the site the first time, I would look at practicality having a class C/B or A means there is a lot of investment sitting in the drive when not in use (at least in my case) hope to average a trip or so every 4 to 6 weeks, I would still need a PU in the driveway for those occasional 2x4s, bags of potting soil for the DW, to pull the fishing boat 20 miles early in the morn on a Saturday to get a few hours on the lake. ETC. so there are other things to consider, in general I agree get what you want and the rest is achievable one way or the other.

good luck