I have been towing my travel trailer for 8 years and other small trailers a little longer. I am really accustomed to hitching and unhitching by myself and travelling long distances with it. After towing a 5th wheel I am really impressed with the simpler and more robust hitching process (that you can see from cab) and the stability is like night and day. Not that I ever had my TT dangerously swaying down the highway but it never tracked as solid as the few 5th wheels I have towed. One thing I happily miss is hooking up WD and sway bars and that loud creaking noise from the WD when driving through a quiet campground while turning.

Glad you are enjoying the FW experience Joe!After having two TTs, I started towing FWs in 95. I never had sway from the TTs, not enough to bother me anyway, but I sure don't miss the hookup/disconnect process.I do miss the use of the truck bed.Jerry

I'll be joining you this summer. After over ten years with tent trailers and hybrids, I am in the process of moving up to a 40' fifth wheel. We ordered our Sabre 34 TBOK a few weeks ago.

Glad that it is going so well, can't wait for part 2 "First Experience Backing a 5th compared to TT".

Part 3, first experience jack knifing a 5th wheel. LOL, just joking, hope it never happens.

rowekmr wrote:I have been towing my travel trailer for 8 years and other small trailers a little longer. I am really accustomed to hitching and unhitching by myself and travelling long distances with it. After towing a 5th wheel I am really impressed with the simpler and more robust hitching process (that you can see from cab) and the stability is like night and day. Not that I ever had my TT dangerously swaying down the highway but it never tracked as solid as the few 5th wheels I have towed. One thing I happily miss is hooking up WD and sway bars and that loud creaking noise from the WD when driving through a quiet campground while turning.Just made the switch myself after 47,000 miles and 10 years of towing a TT. only towed the 5'er a couple of times, but I have the same thoughts as you. I Really like the 5'er

FIrst Excperience Towing 5th compared to TT | Good Sam Community

starcraft69
Explorer
May 15, 2015
RedJeep wrote:
starcraft69 wrote:
I just towed our new 5th wheel for the first time yesterday!!!!!! It was a first for me, and I loved it. I went from a truck camper and a boat to the 5th wheel. It was super easy to hitch up and tow. With in a few mile I was already speeding I am going to have to remember to slow down. I love how easy it is.

So no more boat? Was giving up the boat worth going to the FW?

I will be keeping the camper for the few trips that we do with the boat. Most of my fishing is day trip fishing. I still may be able to tow boat with 5th wheel. It is worth it the wife and I are starting to take much bigger trips 9-14 days and soon 1- 1 1/2 month. We are not just weekending it as much.
RedJeep
Explorer
May 15, 2015
starcraft69 wrote:
I just towed our new 5th wheel for the first time yesterday!!!!!! It was a first for me, and I loved it. I went from a truck camper and a boat to the 5th wheel. It was super easy to hitch up and tow. With in a few mile I was already speeding I am going to have to remember to slow down. I love how easy it is.

So no more boat? Was giving up the boat worth going to the FW?
Goostoff
Explorer
May 14, 2015
Everybody forgot part 4..... "Ok I dropped my fifth wheel."
laknox
Nomad
May 14, 2015
starcraft69 wrote:
I just towed our new 5th wheel for the first time yesterday!!!!!! It was a first for me, and I loved it. I went from a truck camper and a boat to the 5th wheel. It was super easy to hitch up and tow. With in a few mile I was already speeding I am going to have to remember to slow down. I love how easy it is.

:D

I know what you mean. You =will= get a reminder to slow down every time you fill up after driving too fast, though. :B Seriously, though, if you have ST tires on your FW, they are almost certainly speed-limited to 65 mph, so that will help, some, if you stick to that. I pick up 1-1.5 mpg by dropping to 60...

Lyle
starcraft69
Explorer
May 14, 2015
I just towed our new 5th wheel for the first time yesterday!!!!!! It was a first for me, and I loved it. I went from a truck camper and a boat to the 5th wheel. It was super easy to hitch up and tow. With in a few mile I was already speeding I am going to have to remember to slow down. I love how easy it is.
laknox
Nomad
May 14, 2015
Me Again wrote:
rode2nowhere wrote:
ok what can I tow with a 2004 gmc duramax as far as a 5th wheel goes?

2500, 3500 SRW or 3500 DRW?

If it is a 2500 with 9200 GVWR PIN weight is the issue. What size tires?

CHRIS

2wd?
4wd?
Long box?
Std. box?
Rear end ratio?
Transmission?
Crew cab?
Ext. cab?
Std. cab?
Tow package?

Lyle
Me_Again
Explorer III
May 14, 2015
rode2nowhere wrote:
ok what can I tow with a 2004 gmc duramax as far as a 5th wheel goes?

2500, 3500 SRW or 3500 DRW?

If it is a 2500 with 9200 GVWR PIN weight is the issue. What size tires?

CHRIS
rode2nowhere
Explorer
May 14, 2015
ok what can I tow with a 2004 gmc duramax as far as a 5th wheel goes?
rowekmr
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
I would offer take your time, pause and to get out to look (or have 2nd set of eyes) and don't be afraid to pull forward to adjust your trailer angle. In my case the 5th wheels don't respond as fast to turning angles as my TT did.

I pull many different sizes (job) so I don't have the luxury of getting used to how any particular trailer handles like my own TT but by following the above I haven't had any real issues yet from 25'-38' except one time.

Sometimes having the arm chair observers (park neighbors) can increase the anxiety. Talk about a show you should have seen me the first time I tried to hitch in the snow on a warmer day with many outside. In my rush and show off attitude (hey look at me) I didn't clear the snow off of my 5th wheel and lined up and reversed it and was dead on first time problem is the 5th wheel didn't lock. I pulled forward and back enough times they went it (probably got tired of watching me) and I got frustrated. I called the hitch installer who said they don't typically have failures with the 5th wheel and to check for ice. I didn't see any ice on the 5th wheel tried a few more times but in desperation (getting dark) I checked the trailer pin which had about 3/16 of compacted snow/ice right on the ridge of the pin. It was enough that it didn't allow the pin to set completely into the hitch so the jaws would lock. I took a wrench and lightly tapped it off then hitched up no problem! Learned an important lesson that day. LOL

beelbill wrote:
I am going to pick up my Jayco Eagle 5th wheel tomorrow. I also have towed lots of trailers but never a 5th wheel. I stayed away from them because they look like a semi. I am excited but also a little anxious about it. I don't know what a pinbox is or how to adjust it. I have to back it into the site where we will be keeping it. I bet it will be quite a show.
beelbill
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
I am going to pick up my Jayco Eagle 5th wheel tomorrow. I also have towed lots of trailers but never a 5th wheel. I stayed away from them because they look like a semi. I am excited but also a little anxious about it. I don't know what a pinbox is or how to adjust it. I have to back it into the site where we will be keeping it. I bet it will be quite a show.