36 ft FW vs 30 ft TT backing

[davisenvy]

I am trying to see if my FW will fit a campsite I have booked. My FW is 36 ft overall and my dads TT is 30 ft. The CG says the TT will fit in the site, but the FW will not fit because of site access (too sharp of turn), not because the site is too small for my FW. I'm thinking they would be very similar in maneuverability because of my FW being over the axle. What say you?

[jffnkrn]

We have had travel trailers for most of the 18 years with rv and fifth wheel at about two and a half years of those. In all the towing I have done, for me, backing the fifth wheel can have its challenges. I so far have been able to get into all the spots we have picked. some are super tight, but like said before, watch not only the sides, but the top and bottom too! My co-pilot and spotter, Oh my best friend and wife, Is the best. I have at times got out and double checked, she reminds me then she won't let me hit anything. She is awesome. OH sorry, but we also check google maps and get an idea of the space before we make reservations. Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

[ken_burke]

davisenvy wrote:
I am trying to see if my FW will fit a campsite I have booked. My FW is 36 ft overall and my dads TT is 30 ft. The CG says the TT will fit in the site, but the FW will not fit because of site access (too sharp of turn), not because the site is too small for my FW. I'm thinking they would be very similar in maneuverability because of my FW being over the axle. What say you?

[ken_burke]

davisenvy wrote:
I am trying to see if my FW will fit a campsite I have booked. My FW is 36 ft overall and my dads TT is 30 ft. The CG says the TT will fit in the site, but the FW will not fit because of site access (too sharp of turn), not because the site is too small for my FW. I'm thinking they would be very similar in maneuverability because of my FW being over the axle. What say you?

Well, I have a 37 foot 5th wheel. I had a 30 foot travel trailer. By far the TT is easier to back up. I have a long bed, crew ercab, which makes it more difficult to back up. Out next 5th wheel will be shorter than 37 feet.
ken and sue

[700g]

goducks10 wrote:
I've only been 5th wheeling for 5 seasons. I still embarrassed myself. 🙂 Sometimes it's the mirrors, other times I miss the mark 2-3 times. Sometimes I nail it on the 1st try. If the site is on my left when backing in and visibility's good I can usually nail it. On the curb side it's harder.
A backup camera is on the spring to do list.
Part of my problem is the DW. She still doesn't understand that the 5er reacts slower than our TT did. By the time I get the "Go that way" message, I'm too far into the procedure. If the sight is gravel I drag a line with my foot and say this is where I want the 5er tires to go. The other thing I found is to go SLOW when backing up. If you go too fast you'll overshoot your correction point.
I'd much rather back up a TT any day.

Agree on rather back a TT.

[transamz9]

wing_zealot wrote:
Sure go for it. The campground don't know what fits on their sites.

90% of the time they don't.

[valhalla360]

wing_zealot wrote:
Sure go for it. The campground don't know what fits on their sites.

We were at an otherwise nice campground but they insist on directing you into the sites. Over a week, I watched as the super knowledgeable staff directed three rigs to scrape along the same tree branch.

No, I don't trust the campground staff to know much of anything.

Side note: If you are having difficulty because the 5er starts turning slowly, learn to do a "Z" turn on the approach as it primes the turn to get you past the slow to start turning issue.

[wing_zealot]

wing_zealot wrote:
Sure go for it. The campground don't know what fits on their sites.

I forgot to mention, make sure you buy a spare rear window for your truck. Your going to want it for the ride home.

[goducks10]

Edd505 wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
I've only been 5th wheeling for 5 seasons. I still embarrassed myself. 🙂 Sometimes it's the mirrors, other times I miss the mark 2-3 times. Sometimes I nail it on the 1st try. If the site is on my left when backing in and visibility's good I can usually nail it. On the curb side it's harder.
A backup camera is on the spring to do list.
Part of my problem is the DW. She still doesn't understand that the 5er reacts slower than our TT did. By the time I get the "Go that way" message, I'm too far into the procedure. If the sight is gravel I drag a line with my foot and say this is where I want the 5er tires to go. The other thing I found is to go SLOW when backing up. If you go too fast you'll overshoot your correction point.
I'd much rather back up a TT any day.

Blind side backs are the hardest, CDL drivers try to avoid them. Can you approce from the other way and make it a site side back? Secrets the spotter and the directions. Go to an empty parking lot with her and practice backing into the painted stalls. DW traveled with me when I did CDL and we make a great team with the little 35ft 5W.

Good idea. Ironically I've had her back in while I gave instructions when we were in some really tight situations. It worked perfect. But the testosterone in me just can't give up the drivers seat on a regular basis. 🙂

[wing_zealot]

Sure go for it. The campground don't know what fits on their sites.

[Veebyes]

I'd say, given the site itself is long enough, that the difference between can do & can't do is the skill of the driver & the directions given by the spotter. There has not been a 30' max CG that we have not been able to get our just <36' selves into.

There have been differences of opinion between driver & spotter but the driver has final word. There have been a few, very few, times when the driver has had to concede defeat & move to another site, however most times when the spotter has doubts, she gets told yes we can now get us in there. Any unsolicited advice from surrounding inhabitants is politely ignored.

[Edd505]

goducks10 wrote:
I've only been 5th wheeling for 5 seasons. I still embarrassed myself. 🙂 Sometimes it's the mirrors, other times I miss the mark 2-3 times. Sometimes I nail it on the 1st try. If the site is on my left when backing in and visibility's good I can usually nail it. On the curb side it's harder.
A backup camera is on the spring to do list.
Part of my problem is the DW. She still doesn't understand that the 5er reacts slower than our TT did. By the time I get the "Go that way" message, I'm too far into the procedure. If the sight is gravel I drag a line with my foot and say this is where I want the 5er tires to go. The other thing I found is to go SLOW when backing up. If you go too fast you'll overshoot your correction point.
I'd much rather back up a TT any day.

Blind side backs are the hardest, CDL drivers try to avoid them. Can you approce from the other way and make it a site side back? Secrets the spotter and the directions. Go to an empty parking lot with her and practice backing into the painted stalls. DW traveled with me when I did CDL and we make a great team with the little 35ft 5W.

[ScottG]

If there's one thing about a TT that's better than a FW, it's the ease of which to back up. TT requires much smaller steering input than a FW and it's not uncommon to have to saw the steering wheel back and forth with near lock to lock movement compared to the half turn a TT needs.
Certainly a skilled driver can put either one in a given spot but it just requires a lot less movement on behalf of both the operator and the truck to back a standard trailer into a tight spot.

[4x4ord]

A 36 foot fiver would go anywhere a 30 foot tag would go.

[goducks10]

I've only been 5th wheeling for 5 seasons. I still embarrassed myself. 🙂 Sometimes it's the mirrors, other times I miss the mark 2-3 times. Sometimes I nail it on the 1st try. If the site is on my left when backing in and visibility's good I can usually nail it. On the curb side it's harder.
A backup camera is on the spring to do list.
Part of my problem is the DW. She still doesn't understand that the 5er reacts slower than our TT did. By the time I get the "Go that way" message, I'm too far into the procedure. If the sight is gravel I drag a line with my foot and say this is where I want the 5er tires to go. The other thing I found is to go SLOW when backing up. If you go too fast you'll overshoot your correction point.
I'd much rather back up a TT any day.

[Dayle1]

I've been backing fivers for near 30 yrs and while I've never had a site I couldn't get into, I disagree with most. Maybe I'm just not proficient as everyone else. But I would say the opposite, I could put a 36 ft TT into the space as a 30 ft fiver. With a TT you have to be careful because it reacts so fast. But with the slowness of a fiver, it is ez to run out of maneuvering room for the tow vehicle. Now if there is plenty of room in front of the site and the only issue is how sharp the trailer needs to be jack-knifed, then the fiver might be better. But since the CG is saying the fiver won't work, I would go with their judgement as the only knowledge and eyes on the site rather than inputs here. My $0.02.