Which is easier on the truck...TC or 5'vr

5er hands down. Problem is, with a 5er, you are limited to where you can camp. A TC and you can camp about anywhere that you can get to within reason.

deltabravo wrote:

kohldad wrote:
I would make the decision more on how you want to travel and how much room you want to relax. With a TC, traveling style is usually more on the move while the FW is much nicer for going to a base camp for at least a week before moving on.

DITTO.

Ditto Ditto

Flip a coin?

In your case, TC will be harder on rear suspension/axle, small fiver will take slightly more juice to tow.
For comparison, I get similar mileage with the TC, or with a 6-7klb long enclosed trailer (v nose, less frontal area than a TC or 5ver).

Neither one will break the truck, if you get the right truck, in a reasonable amount of time/miles and I would consider the convienence/limitations of both much more than which one the truck will like.

I think the FWs are better.

Frontal area is nowhere near as big a factor as weight is if you live or travel where there are mountains.
Whichever one is lighter is easier on the truck.

We are currently in the process of moving from a 35 foot fifth wheel to a multi slide TC, the truck will
be maxed with the truck camper until we replace it after the sale of the fifth wheel but I can tell you even with a diesel DRW it is working hard to pull a 35 foot 4 slide 15000+ lbs fifth wheel up a 8 or 9 percent grade I cant speak for the TC yet but it has to be easier on the drive-train but harder on the suspension/tires. Some of the reason we are making the move is in our state there will be no property tax on the TC or sales TAX since it is not a registered camper. no more dealing with wheel bearings, brakes and tires and hope it will be easier to get around and into some of the more rustic spots we like.The TC's with slides are pretty nice but yes heavy, we are planing to travel more and stay less time at a spot. The fifth wheel has been great for long stays over the past 8 years but we are getting close to having more time to travel.
Good luck with whatever you do
Mike

monkey44 wrote:
I'd think more about how you want to use it ... TC is certainly easier on the camping brain. No worry about site size, no worry about turning around on a skinny road. No worry about dead-ends ... less worry about tight curves on forest roads ...

Again tho', it depends on what kind of camping you do ...

You are right regarding the ease of maneuvering...only gripe with my 1172 is the finicky slide remote control. Personally, I prefer manual switching...more electronics in the middle of nowhere could be an issue. Thank God we have a Satellite phone for emergency.

I'd think more about how you want to use it ... TC is certainly easier on the camping brain. No worry about site size, no worry about turning around on a skinny road. No worry about dead-ends ... less worry about tight curves on forest roads ...

Again tho', it depends on what kind of camping you do ...

The examples you gave are not exactly apples to apples . You are comparing a heavy TC which would max the truck to a light 5'er which is half the trucks capacity . In that case the 5'er would be easier on the truck . If both were at max truck capacity the TC would probably be easier on the truck . Either way the 5'er would have a breaking advantage.

A main reason for owning a TC is that it can be nimble over rough terrain, is easy to maneuver and park and quick to set up and quick to go. It seems to me that if the OP is considering a 5800 lb TC on a 350 dually that most of that advantage will be lost. If 5800 lbs of comfort and convenience is desired, then I guess that the best bet would be a 5th wheel.