5th wheel vs. travel trailer
1st day chasing the dream. Planning on lifestyle shift to full time rv resident in about a year. What are the benefits and drawbacks of a 5th wheel vs a trailer? I am a cyber commuter and will be work...
Forum Discussion
Having owned a TT for 18 yrs I can tell you a 5er is easier to hookup and a lot easier towing. We had what was called a "Garden Tub" in the TT, more like a oval at 45 degrees with a seat in the corner. I've learned to cope with the shower in the 5er. Being on one leg I use my crutches to get in and out without placing them on the shower floor. Once inside I have a shower stool that I use.
There are a lot units with islands in the kitchen. I would like one with wheels under the island making the space more useable when not cooking.
You don't say what size motorcycle. Most will tell you a garage or toy hauler is what you need. If you add a motorcycle to a rear rack on a TT you will be taking weight off the tongue, which can create sway. A rack on a 5er will be fairly high off the ground.
Slides: If the bed is inline with the front and back of the trailer you could still walk around it without a slide. Our 5er has 3 slides, one for just the bed which moves about 2ft making room to walk by the end of the bed to a full double closet in the front (a common layout in 5ers). In the kitchen & living area we have 2, 14ft long opposed slides that extend 3ft each and turn the thing into a ballroom. Love it.
If you go 5er the pin weight is usually 20/25% of the total or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Most 3/4 ton trucks have rear axle tires rated just over 3,000 each or 6,000 lbs for the axle. So if you get a 10-12,000 lb 5er with 2500 lbs of pin weight this will only leave you being able to have 3500 lbs for the trucks rear axle, with the hitch, fuel, people and whatever else you have the need for. My trucks is a dually, the 5er is 13,500 lbs GVWR. I am well under my weight limit, it's a gasoline engine and with 4.10 gears I am right at my towing limit. Anything larger and I would need to go with a diesel engine.
You'll see a lot of single rear wheel trucks pulling very large 5ers. With diesel engines they can easily tow this amount of weight but most of them pay no attention to the payload ratings and are overloaded on their tire capacities.
Good luck picking what will work for you. I hope you enjoy new life style to the max.
There are a lot units with islands in the kitchen. I would like one with wheels under the island making the space more useable when not cooking.
You don't say what size motorcycle. Most will tell you a garage or toy hauler is what you need. If you add a motorcycle to a rear rack on a TT you will be taking weight off the tongue, which can create sway. A rack on a 5er will be fairly high off the ground.
Slides: If the bed is inline with the front and back of the trailer you could still walk around it without a slide. Our 5er has 3 slides, one for just the bed which moves about 2ft making room to walk by the end of the bed to a full double closet in the front (a common layout in 5ers). In the kitchen & living area we have 2, 14ft long opposed slides that extend 3ft each and turn the thing into a ballroom. Love it.
If you go 5er the pin weight is usually 20/25% of the total or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Most 3/4 ton trucks have rear axle tires rated just over 3,000 each or 6,000 lbs for the axle. So if you get a 10-12,000 lb 5er with 2500 lbs of pin weight this will only leave you being able to have 3500 lbs for the trucks rear axle, with the hitch, fuel, people and whatever else you have the need for. My trucks is a dually, the 5er is 13,500 lbs GVWR. I am well under my weight limit, it's a gasoline engine and with 4.10 gears I am right at my towing limit. Anything larger and I would need to go with a diesel engine.
You'll see a lot of single rear wheel trucks pulling very large 5ers. With diesel engines they can easily tow this amount of weight but most of them pay no attention to the payload ratings and are overloaded on their tire capacities.
Good luck picking what will work for you. I hope you enjoy new life style to the max.
