High Level Q: TT vs FW for Full-timing?

I apologize to the OP...I didn't intend to start a debate about how a trailer tows versus a fifth wheel. Ironically, if you look at my first post in this thread, I suggested a FW for full timing as it has more advantages than a TT. Most full timers are either in a FW or coach....only a small percentage of full timers are happy in a TT or other smaller rig. Let's try to keep any additonal posts on topic for the sake of the OP.....our differing viewpoints on the towing issue will always be present, and we have to agree to dissagree!

How tall are you. 5er have more head room.

I'm not going to get into the TT/FW towing fray... we currently own a 25' TT and have towed it with both a 1/2 ton SUV and 3/4 ton truck. With a properly set up WD hitch, they both handled just fine.

OP - you didn't say (or I didn't see) in which part of the country you plan to use your RV. We are working toward going full-time later this year (have five weeks of work left before retirement). In researching dozens of brands and hundreds of models of RVs, I've found that it's harder to find a TT with a fully enclosed and heated underbelly for four-season use. (Arctic Fox makes some very good units - but they may not be big enough for the four of you and they aren't cheap.) Double-pane windows are also a very good thing to have in both hot and cold weather - as much for reducing condensation as for the insulation/energy costs. Combine the all-weather factors with storage space and a few must/haves and won't-deal-withs, and we will be looking for a suitable fifth wheel for full-timing. The comment by a previous poster regarding the bunk house for the kids is a really good one - especially as young as yours are, too.

Lantley wrote:

C-Bears wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

scbwr wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If you like to have a relaxing towing experience go FW. If you like the white knuckle twisted sphincter experience go TT.

Not a valid statement! I've towed a trailer since 2002 and never had any sway or towing difficulties! And that's true for a lot of other trainer owners. Proper tow vehicle, anti-sway hitch, setup, weight load distribution and trailer design results in a very pleasant and easy towing experience.

Well you are the exception. Most try to tow too much with the TV they have.

I ask why have such a complex towing setup to try to control a TT that in it's nature wants to control the TV.

A 5er is simple and sway is not an issue.

I speak from experience. I rolled over with a "properly setup" TV. Load levelers and sway control did not stop the breast from passing me and cause a roll over. Towed the same rig later with a Dually not problem.

Most do not have enough "dog" for the "tail".

These are all good points. I will admit that I have only owned FW's. I have had 24' enclosed construction trailers (still have one), but I realize that is not the exact same pulling experience.

In windy conditions I just don't think you can sit back and relax pulling a decent sized TT down the road like you can a FW. I am basing that on my personal experience pulling my fivers in some pretty severe cross winds plus my work experience on interstates/highways observing TT's going down the road.

Ask most over-the-road semi drivers (without RV experience) if they think TT's and FW's pull the same and most will tell you FW's.

A Hensley or Propride Hitch will eliminate sway as advertised. Those premium hitches will allow a TT to tow just as well as a fiver.
I towed a 11K GVW 39' TT with a Hensley. It was rock solid in all conditions. My prior 39' TT towed just as well as my current 40' fiver.
If I were to full time with a TT I would use a premium hitch.
Yes Premium hitches are expensive. Yes premium hitches are superior and eliminate all sway issues.

I will have to disagree with this...towed up to a 33 foot TT using first a 10 thousand pound Pullrite and finally a custom built 20 thousand pound Pullrite. The TV was a 1 ton Dodge dually 3500. It did greatly reduce the sway, but it did nothing really for yaw caused by tractor trailers passing us. They were, however, FAR superior to regular weight distribution hitches, and I really thought there would be little difference in towing a fiver.

Boy, was I wrong...there is NO comparison and I will never go back to a TT!

Lantley wrote:

C-Bears wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

scbwr wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If you like to have a relaxing towing experience go FW. If you like the white knuckle twisted sphincter experience go TT.

Not a valid statement! I've towed a trailer since 2002 and never had any sway or towing difficulties! And that's true for a lot of other trainer owners. Proper tow vehicle, anti-sway hitch, setup, weight load distribution and trailer design results in a very pleasant and easy towing experience.

Well you are the exception. Most try to tow too much with the TV they have.

I ask why have such a complex towing setup to try to control a TT that in it's nature wants to control the TV.

A 5er is simple and sway is not an issue.

I speak from experience. I rolled over with a "properly setup" TV. Load levelers and sway control did not stop the breast from passing me and cause a roll over. Towed the same rig later with a Dually not problem.

Most do not have enough "dog" for the "tail".

These are all good points. I will admit that I have only owned FW's. I have had 24' enclosed construction trailers (still have one), but I realize that is not the exact same pulling experience.

In windy conditions I just don't think you can sit back and relax pulling a decent sized TT down the road like you can a FW. I am basing that on my personal experience pulling my fivers in some pretty severe cross winds plus my work experience on interstates/highways observing TT's going down the road.

Ask most over-the-road semi drivers (without RV experience) if they think TT's and FW's pull the same and most will tell you FW's.

A Hensley or Propride Hitch will eliminate sway as advertised. Those premium hitches will allow a TT to tow just as well as a fiver.
I towed a 11K GVW 39' TT with a Hensley. It was rock solid in all conditions. My prior 39' TT towed just as well as my current 40' fiver.
If I were to full time with a TT I would use a premium hitch.
Yes Premium hitches are expensive. Yes premium hitches are superior and eliminate all sway issues.

What were you towing it with?

scbwr wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If you like to have a relaxing towing experience go FW. If you like the white knuckle twisted sphincter experience go TT.

Not a valid statement! I've towed a trailer since 2002 and never had any sway or towing difficulties! And that's true for a lot of other trainer owners. Proper tow vehicle, anti-sway hitch, setup, weight load distribution and trailer design results in a very pleasant and easy towing experience.

Agree with scbwr. I've never had a bad or uncomfortable towing experience. With the right combination of tow vehicle, trailer, and hitch-sway set-up, a trailer will tow (and brake) like its not even there.

Lantley wrote:
A Hensley or Propride Hitch will eliminate sway as advertised. Those premium hitches will allow a TT to tow just as well as a fiver. I towed a 11K GVW 39' TT with a Hensley. It was rock solid in all conditions. My prior 39' TT towed just as well as my current 40' fiver. If I were to full time with a TT I would use a premium hitch.
Yes Premium hitches are expensive. Yes premium hitches are superior and eliminate all sway issues.

X2 on a quality hitch. It is my impression that most travel trailer owners that have had a bad experience do not or did not take the time to understand the relationships of tow vehicle wheelbase to trailer length and the need for proper tongue weight, weight distribution and sway control/prevention.

We have had a Hensley for almost 10 years and have towed over 75,000 miles with it. Never even a hint of sway from passing trucks on two lanes or cross winds up to 40MPH (higher than that I'm off the road or don't even start). During that time it has been my experience that no one other than another Hensley or Propride owner even has a clue as to what it is. Even RV service centers and experienced RV technicians are not familiar with it. I have had to teach every service center I have visited how to connect and disconnect it. When I had it switched from one trailer to another, it was a good thing I still had the installation instructions, which are very thorough and simple to follow. I believe Hensley may offer recondition units, not sure about Propride.

C-Bears wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

scbwr wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If you like to have a relaxing towing experience go FW. If you like the white knuckle twisted sphincter experience go TT.

Not a valid statement! I've towed a trailer since 2002 and never had any sway or towing difficulties! And that's true for a lot of other trainer owners. Proper tow vehicle, anti-sway hitch, setup, weight load distribution and trailer design results in a very pleasant and easy towing experience.

Well you are the exception. Most try to tow too much with the TV they have.

I ask why have such a complex towing setup to try to control a TT that in it's nature wants to control the TV.

A 5er is simple and sway is not an issue.

I speak from experience. I rolled over with a "properly setup" TV. Load levelers and sway control did not stop the breast from passing me and cause a roll over. Towed the same rig later with a Dually not problem.

Most do not have enough "dog" for the "tail".

These are all good points. I will admit that I have only owned FW's. I have had 24' enclosed construction trailers (still have one), but I realize that is not the exact same pulling experience.

In windy conditions I just don't think you can sit back and relax pulling a decent sized TT down the road like you can a FW. I am basing that on my personal experience pulling my fivers in some pretty severe cross winds plus my work experience on interstates/highways observing TT's going down the road.

Ask most over-the-road semi drivers (without RV experience) if they think TT's and FW's pull the same and most will tell you FW's.

A Hensley or Propride Hitch will eliminate sway as advertised. Those premium hitches will allow a TT to tow just as well as a fiver.
I towed a 11K GVW 39' TT with a Hensley. It was rock solid in all conditions. My prior 39' TT towed just as well as my current 40' fiver.
If I were to full time with a TT I would use a premium hitch.
Yes Premium hitches are expensive. Yes premium hitches are superior and eliminate all sway issues.

One thing you should look into is getting one with bunks for the children so they have their own space and it's out of the main living area. Making up the sofa all the time would be very inconvenient and also for naps and early bedtime they would be in your midst.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

scbwr wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If you like to have a relaxing towing experience go FW. If you like the white knuckle twisted sphincter experience go TT.

Not a valid statement! I've towed a trailer since 2002 and never had any sway or towing difficulties! And that's true for a lot of other trainer owners. Proper tow vehicle, anti-sway hitch, setup, weight load distribution and trailer design results in a very pleasant and easy towing experience.

Well you are the exception. Most try to tow too much with the TV they have.

I ask why have such a complex towing setup to try to control a TT that in it's nature wants to control the TV.

A 5er is simple and sway is not an issue.

I speak from experience. I rolled over with a "properly setup" TV. Load levelers and sway control did not stop the breast from passing me and cause a roll over. Towed the same rig later with a Dually not problem.

Most do not have enough "dog" for the "tail".

These are all good points. I will admit that I have only owned FW's. I have had 24' enclosed construction trailers (still have one), but I realize that is not the exact same pulling experience.

In windy conditions I just don't think you can sit back and relax pulling a decent sized TT down the road like you can a FW. I am basing that on my personal experience pulling my fivers in some pretty severe cross winds plus my work experience on interstates/highways observing TT's going down the road.

Ask most over-the-road semi drivers (without RV experience) if they think TT's and FW's pull the same and most will tell you FW's.