Pulling A Fifth Wheel vs. Bumper Pull

myredracer wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
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.

With a TT you can have it fully covered and locked and not have to worry about stuff getting wet, stolen or go flying out along the freeway. We use 100 percent of our 8' bed all the time and really glad there is nothing in the way or dirty lube to get on you or your stuff. We also get to use 100 percent of the bed at home when we need to go get a load of building or farm supplies. I'd hate to always have a big heavy blob in the back of our truck.

Same 'ol, same 'ol - doesn't matter what the subject is, some will have all sorts of reasons why their opinion is the only correct one, will put their spin on things as needed or find reasons to ridicule or slam other's opinions or experiences.

Well not my point at all.
Yes with a TT you can put a canopy on the TV for dry secure storage of those items you chose.

My point is all of those that make it sound that the bed of the TV is totally useless when towing a 5er, this is not the case there are still many items that can be placed in the TV bed when towing a 5er. Many that tow 5ers also have fold up or roll up bed covers that are used once the 5er is disconnected.

Those that state the bed is useless, also forget that most 5ers have good sized basements where much of what those with TT haul in the bed, is carried in a 5er.

I will not go into the discussion of firewood, after seeing a couple of folks with TT's come in with what seemed like a full cord of fire wood in the bed!!

I will also state that every thing that goes into the bed of the TV reduces its payload by a like amount, so if you put 500# of "Stuff" in the bed, you now have 500# less of payload for the TV.

If you place 500# of stuff in the basement of a 5er, somewhere between 40% to 50% goes on the pin, the rest goes on the 5er's axles. So that 500# of stuff added to the basement only uses about 250# of TV payload.

I am just stating facts both ways, not saying a 5er is the best choice, it is for some, but not for others. If the owner is a contractor and uses the bed of the TV for hauling tools of the trade, with a canopy, then TT is a far better fit.

With the right TV, one could carry a TC, and tow a TT, some campgrounds might have an issue with two camping units in a single space, it is possible.


Well you also got me thinking on the point of stability in a cross wind.
While a TT is lower to the ground, and is not as tall as a 5er. I believe part of the reason that a 5er, is still very stable in a cross wind is the fact the hitch is as much as 2' to 2.5' higher than that of a TT, thus raising the point of rotation of the trailer. That would make the wind induced tipping force on a 5er less than the entire side of the 5er, where with a TT the hitch is on the same level as the bottom of the side wall so the entire side has wind induced tipping force. That said the driver of the 5er's TV, should also feel that force as a lateral more than a TT. I don't think this line of difference between lateral and tipping wind force would be a level line the length of the 5er rather run diagonally from the pin to the lower rear corner of the 5er.