Pulling A Fifth Wheel vs. Bumper Pull

rhagfo wrote:

horton333 wrote:
"To each their own, but a 5er is naturally more stable, simple physics. There is a reason that 5er don't need sway control devices."

As documented below considering the physics of the fifth wheel must have greater sway forces to both wind and torsional problems, that's why the manufacturers recommend at least twice as much weight forward (and so a much stronger truck) to compensate.
The other sway control method 5th wheels use is to move the pivot point to slightly forward of the rear wheels. This is highly effective at reducing sway but it dominates the use of the entire truck bed.
TT owners can use their bed, and buy a lot cheaper truck for the addition of some much cheaper sway control on the hitch itself.

Horton, I really hate to inform you that a fiver can use a great deal of the bed for coolers, fire wood, tool boxes generators, dog cages etc.
The important camping stuff, can be stored in the 5er basement, where it doesn't need to be packed and unpacked before and after each trip. Bikes can go on a pin box mount where they are safely out of the way and within sight while towing.

Recommended tongue and pin weights are like TT 12% to 15% and 5er 15% to 25% that is not twice as much, most 5er do well at 20% to 22%, while to cut back on sway a TT should be close to 15%.

I do realize that there are many good thing about TT, fewer steps lower ceilings. that said with long rigs lower to the ground as it's own issues dragging at driveways!!

10% is what the SAE calls up in their towing specification and it's implicitly in most manufacturers specifications of both TV and trailers. Sure more is better, that is why 5th wheels recommend to double it. Putting a cooler and some firewood in the bed of a one ton dually is hardly having use of the bed. You pay a large price to control the sway on a 5th wheel.