Going to a larger fifth wheel. Thoughts? Help!

[1Adam12]

Were giving serious thought to going to a larger unit We would be making the jump from approximately 33 feet to 38'5. The weight increase will be approximately 2500 pounds. I'm a little nervous about the length.

I would like to hear from anyone who has made a similar jump and what their thoughts about it are now. I would prefer to keep the discussion about the length and added weight with the fifth wheel and not discuss tow ratings. We will be purchasing something that will safely comply with our trucks abilities.

Any comments about topics like getting gas (dealing with gas stations on the road) backing into campsites etc. would be appreciated. I'm afraid I might be getting ready to plunk down some cash and picking up another 5-7 feet.

Just FYI we have in over 20 years had a slide on truck camper, pop up, small TT, large TT with slide, current fifth wheel which is a 31.5 bunk house. This will be the first behemoth so to speak!

Thanks!

[FOREVER_FREE]

Went from 36' to 38' and just that 2' extra makes a world of a difference especially backing into a tight spot. But the inside space is much larger with 4 slides vs 2. Try to stay where they have pull-throughs as much as possible.

[DazedNConfused]

Bird Freak wrote:

ken burke wrote:

1Adam12 wrote:
Were giving serious thought to going to a larger unit We would be making the jump from approximately 33 feet to 38'5. The weight increase will be approximately 2500 pounds. I'm a little nervous about the length.

Any comments about topics like getting gas (dealing with gas stations on the road) backing into campsites etc. would be appreciated. I'm afraid I might be getting ready to plunk down some cash and picking up another 5-7 feet.

Just FYI we have in over 20 years had a slide on truck camper, pop up, small TT, large TT with slide, current fifth wheel which is a 31.5 bunk house. This will be the first behemoth so to speak!

Thanks!

Well, for us, the extra 6 feet (and extra weight) of the 5th wheel really makes a difference in pulling, turning, and parking. We went from a 32 foot travel trailer to a 37 foot 5th wheel, weighing 14,500 pounds. Pulling and parking the big trailer takes a coordinated effort and is a lot tougher.
We have to think twice on going on a weekend camping trip.
Obviously, you have to figure out if the extra length/weight makes a real difference in your travel plans. The longer 5th wheel will be okay for you if you stay on the interstates and state highways, and stay at KOAs or some place with pull thru.
The longer trailer will be a hassle if you want to stay at a state park or county park. You don’t want to be driving through a campground with a lot of trees. You have to keep an eye out for the trees on the side of the road and of the power lines overhead.
You certainly will need a one ton diesel truck and fill up with diesel at truck stops.
We love our Cedar Creek, but plan on getting a shorter 5th wheel next year.
ken

I would bet your rigs total length is shorter with the 5er. You have a few feet over the bed and no trailer tounge from the travel trailer. I think your problem of being harder to pull is just a transition from the tt to the 5er.

I would agree. If you measured the overall length of TV plus trailer from front of one to rear of the other, I would expect very little difference in overall length between a 32' TT and a 37' fiver. I love the way the TV feels when towing the fiver...and having the extra space that's sitting over the truck bed available when we get to our destination is very nice. With that said, with the weekend warriors that we are -- a shorter fiver would also suit us just fine. We went from a popup to a 40' fiver -- and this thing is downright luxurious in comparison! A potty....and a real shower -- just 5 feet from where I sleep at night. What a revelation! 🙂

[Bird_Freak]

ken burke wrote:

1Adam12 wrote:
Were giving serious thought to going to a larger unit We would be making the jump from approximately 33 feet to 38'5. The weight increase will be approximately 2500 pounds. I'm a little nervous about the length.

Any comments about topics like getting gas (dealing with gas stations on the road) backing into campsites etc. would be appreciated. I'm afraid I might be getting ready to plunk down some cash and picking up another 5-7 feet.

Just FYI we have in over 20 years had a slide on truck camper, pop up, small TT, large TT with slide, current fifth wheel which is a 31.5 bunk house. This will be the first behemoth so to speak!

Thanks!

Well, for us, the extra 6 feet (and extra weight) of the 5th wheel really makes a difference in pulling, turning, and parking. We went from a 32 foot travel trailer to a 37 foot 5th wheel, weighing 14,500 pounds. Pulling and parking the big trailer takes a coordinated effort and is a lot tougher.
We have to think twice on going on a weekend camping trip.
Obviously, you have to figure out if the extra length/weight makes a real difference in your travel plans. The longer 5th wheel will be okay for you if you stay on the interstates and state highways, and stay at KOAs or some place with pull thru.
The longer trailer will be a hassle if you want to stay at a state park or county park. You don’t want to be driving through a campground with a lot of trees. You have to keep an eye out for the trees on the side of the road and of the power lines overhead.
You certainly will need a one ton diesel truck and fill up with diesel at truck stops.
We love our Cedar Creek, but plan on getting a shorter 5th wheel next year.
ken

I would bet your rigs total length is shorter with the 5er. You have a few feet over the bed and no trailer tounge from the travel trailer. I think your problem of being harder to pull is just a transition from the tt to the 5er.

[KFS]

If it helps we have a 21' Fifth Wheel that should be able to slide under low lying shrubs and STILL managed to be brutally violated by a tree branch. It happens. 😄

[Pete_k]

We went from a 9 ft Slide in Truck camper with a slideout to a 41ft 5th wheel and love it. It was nice to be only 3ft longer with the camper and also take the boat along. But we love the room our Heartland Landmark Key Largo gives us.
But then again I drove over the road with a big truck for years so 53 down to this is nothing.
Pete

[DazedNConfused]

We went from a popup with a 12' box and a minivan to a 40' fiver and F-250 diesel. The truck pulls the fiver fantastic. I was pretty nervous the first few times out...but am very comfortable now towing. Backing up is still a 2-person affair for me, but DW and I have developed a pretty good system. My driveway has one good way in and out...and if I don't nail the approach, I need to pull out and try again. My storage bay is the same with only 2 feet of space on either side of the fiver and a blind approach -- not something I'd be comfortable trying to back in myself without a good camera on the back. The extra space of a 40' camper is nice...but as weekend warriors, we could probably have been just as happy with a 33-footer. Now that we've lived with it for a few months, I know my favorite feature is the outdoor kitchen. We do all of our cooking outdoors..and take a Weber 220 and a Camping Chef dual burner stove. Those two, combined with a sink, prep area, and outside fridge are the absolute bomb. I could easily give up the half bath we currently have in favor of a shorter trailer -- but it would need to have an outdoor kitchen. But I digress. 🙂

[JohnBoyToo]

As Ken basically says...
It depends 🙂

on where you are and where you are going !

If in older limited campgrounds - just ask how long your sites are and clearances....

other than that u r good

[ken_burke]

1Adam12 wrote:
Were giving serious thought to going to a larger unit We would be making the jump from approximately 33 feet to 38'5. The weight increase will be approximately 2500 pounds. I'm a little nervous about the length.

Any comments about topics like getting gas (dealing with gas stations on the road) backing into campsites etc. would be appreciated. I'm afraid I might be getting ready to plunk down some cash and picking up another 5-7 feet.

Just FYI we have in over 20 years had a slide on truck camper, pop up, small TT, large TT with slide, current fifth wheel which is a 31.5 bunk house. This will be the first behemoth so to speak!

Thanks!

Well, for us, the extra 6 feet (and extra weight) of the 5th wheel really makes a difference in pulling, turning, and parking. We went from a 32 foot travel trailer to a 37 foot 5th wheel, weighing 14,500 pounds. Pulling and parking the big trailer takes a coordinated effort and is a lot tougher.
We have to think twice on going on a weekend camping trip.
Obviously, you have to figure out if the extra length/weight makes a real difference in your travel plans. The longer 5th wheel will be okay for you if you stay on the interstates and state highways, and stay at KOAs or some place with pull thru.
The longer trailer will be a hassle if you want to stay at a state park or county park. You don’t want to be driving through a campground with a lot of trees. You have to keep an eye out for the trees on the side of the road and of the power lines overhead.
You certainly will need a one ton diesel truck and fill up with diesel at truck stops.
We love our Cedar Creek, but plan on getting a shorter 5th wheel next year.
ken

[remdog_1]

We went from 30" TT to a 38" 5th wheel, and I had same concerns. After installing my vent covers, I took a 1x3 piece of wood and held on highest point of camper, measured down to ground and used a label maker and put height on dash of TV. It has saved me at gas stations. They also sell a Giraffe that measures heights for you. Next we bought 2 way radios. It saves all the yelling when backing into campsites. The wife calls them marriage savers!!!
Go for it, happy camping

[drillking]

Went from a 32 footer to a 38 footer, never noticed any difference in backing into spots or pulling into stations for fuel. A little more weight but I had a Dodge 6.7 then went to the 2012 Ford 6.7, no lack of power.

[sk734]

Went from a 31' to a 38'. I also went to a dually-glad I did as it feels very stable to tow. You also have so much more room inside. Keep your turns wide and always watch your wheels. If you get into a tight spot go very slow. Sate camp grounds with single lane roads and trees right next to the road can be a problem.

[Artemus_Gordon]

Lot has to do with the Truck. My new Ford F450 turns in less than half my older 450. It makes my 3750 Montana seem alot smaller. Already parked it where I never dreamed of before!

[Veebyes]

Size does make a difference. Case in point, just the last couple of nights at an Oregon SP. An older park with very few sites for larger rigs. Only 2 sites available with a hope of taking our 55'LOA. Site listed on the post as 51'. With trailer pushed into the bushes past the site pad & truck parked in front, right up to the pinbox, there was less than a foot spare to the edge of the narrow road.

Another 2' of trailer & we would have had to move on to somewhere else like the characterless private CG a few miles down the road @ twice the price. That was the one filled with big 5ers & class A's.

[Greentow]

Went from 34' to the current 39+. As others have stated, a couple trips will have you "feeling good" about hauling. Just use a bit of caution the first few times out.