trailer vers 5th wheel

I have no experience with a 5er but pulled my 31 ft. TT over 7K miles last year with no problems. Never did bottom out and had no sway or pulling problems. Pulling with Nissan 1/2 ton. I think much lower profile helps with wind etc. not nearly as high as some 5ers.

Generally speaking a TT is more susceptible to sway than a 5'er. Also the TT will back/swing very differently than the 5'er. Like apples and oranges, both are trailers but they are not alike.

Artic Fox and Outdoors RV trailers have some of the best ground clearance going. They both claim off-road capability with shocks and strong frames.

But some TT hitches seem to have lower ground clearance than others, depending upon how they are set up. That might be an issue?

Don't characterize ALL travel trailers as sitting lower than 5th wheels. Many brands and models are built on top of the axles exactly as most 5th wheels are built and would have the same ground clearance. Also don't characterize all toy haulers as needing 45 feet to get a full time bed. Sounds like you just need to look at some different brands and models than you've looked at so far.
Good luck / Skip

I had a 35ft Jayco fifth wheel and I can say, fifth wheels do tow better than trailers but it isn't that much of a difference. In comparison, I had a ft 34 Terry trailer and it towed well with the equalizer hitch and sway bar but not as good as the fifth wheel especially on windy days.

Unlike the trailers of old, most of these newer ones have plenty of clearance. Haven't scrapped the rear of mine yet and most all of my travels are off road in the hills with lots of dips getting to a camp. My 34ft Terry used to scrape all the time.

Taking am ATV along is important to some. My son and I yesterday in his truck with a 700 Grizzly in the back and a 24ft Security trailer.

Travel trailers tow as well as a fifth wheel given the truck, trailer, and hitch are set up properly.

People think a fifth wheel can't sway and that is simply not true. Fifth wheels tend to not sway because of the incredibly heavy pin weight (20- 25 ish % of the trailer weight rating is on the pin). Travel trailers tend to run 12-15% ish on tongue weight.

I personally like travel trailers because they generally have a lower center of gravity, the attachment point is lower to the ground (easier for me to reach) and I can still use the bed of my truck while pulling.

thanks!

Jeremiah

I tow a 35' Gooseneck trailer fairly often and we have a 30 foot TT. I find backing the TT to be easier as you do not have to move the truck as much to get the trailer to start to change direction.

As for sway the Gooseneck is a bit better than the TT but we have hauled the TT all over and it's not much of an issue. Just make sure you have a good quality hitch.

If you get a good hitch, you will not have a problem.

Taking the ATV with you will be much more fun than dragging a 5th-wheel and no ATV. Good move.

If the TT has 15-16" wheels and the springs are mounted on top of the axles then they will have the same clearance as a 5th. Only difference is when you get into a longer TT like the 32A you could have more rear over hang since the TT's axles are more forward than a typical 5'er. Not always the case but something to look at.