Compare and Contrast TT's and 5er's

[beelbill]

I have towed Travel Trailers for over 40 years and just switched to a 5th wheel for the first time. Everyone Camping World kept telling me that I will love the 5th wheel because it is so much easier to handle than a Travel Trailer. So far, it has been a rocky start. In the beginning, I had to learn how to do things with the Travel Trailer but over the years they have become second nature and I did them without even thinking about why. Now with the 5th Wheel, things are similar but not the same and I have to stop and think about why I did the things I did and how they will be different now.

So, I thought it would be good to start a thread to compare and contrast Travel Trailers to 5th Wheels. For those people who recently switch from a 5th wheel to a travel trailer or switched from a travel trailer to a 5th wheel, what problems did you have adjusting? How are things different or the same?

For example, when you go to unhitch a trailer, you often have to rock the hitch a little to get the latch on the trailer to lift up before you can crank the trailer up away from the ball. I did that without thinking. But when I went to unhitch the 5er, I pulled on the handle to release the trailer and it wouldn't release. The 5er is much heavier than the TT and you don't just rock it a little. You have to set the 5er in position and then shift the tow vehicle a little to release the latch.

Fifth Wheels tow better than Travel Trailers, but they don't back worth crap. I had to learn how to back a trailer but it was so long ago, I forgot how hard it was at first. I did it without thinking. But, 5ers back differently because they have a different pivot point. As soon as you start to jack the rig, to the left, the front of the 5er swings out to the right and totally blocks your view. You can not see what you are doing on the passenger side of the rig. Things are much closer than they appeared in your mirror when you lost sight of them.

Those are the two biggest differences I have found so far. Please share your experiences in switching rigs. What is better? What is worse? What mistakes did you make and how did you adjust to prevent them from happening again?

[CavemanCharlie]

This thread gives me a idea.

A TV show called 5th wheel vs travel trailer. It would be a reality type show where the contestants would gain points on how fast they could get hooked up, unhooked, and ready to camp. There are a few more details to be worked out. But, in this day and age of reality (read bad) TV shows some network would probably air this show for a couple of seasons.

It could even have spin offs.

I'll win by the way. My 20 foot TT has no WDH and I can hook up and go in 10 minutes.

I apologize to the OP for hijacking the thread. Sorry.

[bodyshop_bob]

I'm only a few months into owning a new 5'er. Here's some quick observations:
1. That is one big dang camper that now looms over my truck bed.
2. Actual towing experience isn't greatly different. Haven't made long trip yet
3. Backing is different enough to know I have to practice. Bruises the ego
4. Hitching/Unhitching and set up is SO much easier.
5. I have new respect for OTR semi drivers
6. When everything works on the 5'er it's pretty decadent living. I like it.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

I found the easiest way to transition from TT to 5er (have owned both) is that with the 5er I backed in the 'wheels' with the TT I backed in the back of the trailer.

[colliehauler]

They sell lots of different types of RVs. Peoples needs are different from use, tow vehicle, cost, storage and other needs and wants.

Get what works best for your needs.

[pnichols]

One very important difference that is rarely mentioned is that probably a 5th wheel places much more weight on the towing truck's rear drive wheels than a tow trailer does.

What this means is that traction when pulling a 5th wheel off-pavement may be a lot better than when pulling a tow trailer off-pavement.

For boondocking use, I'd definitely go the 5th wheel route - although a SMALL 5th wheel ... not one of the big tall and long units.

[dave_smith1]

Since I switched to a FW myself a few years ago allow me to share some thoughts on your questions.

beelbill wrote:
Everyone Camping World kept telling me that I will love the 5th wheel because it is so much easier to handle than a Travel Trailer.

At risk of offending anyone I tend to discount what I hear from CW!;) And I think most offers here (probably including you) are in the same boat. This is not a useful reply of course but I couldn't help myself...

beelbill wrote:
...I had to learn how to do things with the Travel Trailer but over the years they have become second nature and I did them without even thinking about why. Now with the 5th Wheel, things are similar but not the same...

My experiences exactly. After nearly three years I'm still waiting for that casual familiarity I had with the previous TT to kick in!

beelbill wrote:
But when I went to unhitch the 5er, I pulled on the handle to release the trailer and it wouldn't release.

Fortunately this has not been a problem for me. Not sure if it's due to the hitch I'm using or what, but so far I can just yank on the handle after unloading the weight from the hitch & it releases fine. YMMV

beelbill wrote:
Fifth Wheels tow better than Travel Trailers, but they don't back worth crap.

Agree. Maybe******is a strong word but definitely seems to be more challenging. I think you're correct about the pivot point which not only causes the view problem but also the response time for the trailer to turn. For me it really helped to set up some cones in an empty parking lot & spent a couple hours spotting the trailer from various approaches. Still not a whiz at backing up a FW now, but at least I have some idea of what to expect.

beelbill wrote:
Please share your experiences

I too am looking forward to some sage advice from others here. Other than posting etiquette of course! 🙂

FWIW I really feel it's easier & faster to hitch/unhitch a fiver than a pull trailer. I've got our hitch & go times down to an easy 20 min. & that includes the missus schlepping all the stuff inside & stowing while I take care of the outside tasks. 15 min if we're in a hurry. And the unhitch & setup is running about 30 -45 min. including utilities & leveling...depends on how much the neighbors want to jawbone while watching.:S The actual unhitch is <5 min.

[dave_smith1]

beelbill wrote:
I realize I could just look up information using the search function but if everyone just did that on every subject forums like this would be very boring. As you said, it is much more fun to have a lively discussion. Also, the opinions of people 5 years ago may be different than the opinion of people now.

Two very valid points - agree 100%!

[beelbill]

dave_smith wrote:
Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you might be new here but a long-time camper so I second the invitation to take full advantage of the available search tools. Of course a lively discussion is also a great way to flush out some good tips contrasting TT vs. FW behavior.

Thanks for the welcome. I realize I could just look up information using the search function but if everyone just did that on every subject forums like this would be very boring. As you said, it is much more fun to have a lively discussion. Also, the opinions of people 5 years ago may be different than the opinion of people now.

I appreciate all those who have taken time to join in the discussion with a newbie.

Thanks

[dave_smith1]

beelbill wrote:
I have towed Travel Trailers for over 40 years and just switched to a 5th wheel for the first time.

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you might be new here but a long-time camper so I second the invitation to take full advantage of the available search tools. Of course a lively discussion is also a great way to flush out some good tips contrasting TT vs. FW behavior.

BTW - it's good forum practice to avoid reposting full messages in replies as a quote (not that you did but I see this a lot from inexperienced users). Just clutters up the thread with useless data & consumes uneccessary disk space.

Again, glad to see you here!

[shepstone]

I went from a shorter fiver of 25' that was tricky to reverse with, to a 31' and I thought it was going to be a bear to back up but it turns out it is actually easier .

[rhagfo]

CavemanCharlie wrote:
A 5th wheel does tow better hands down. You end up wasting a lot of storage in your pickup bed though, if that matters to you.

My brother has a 5th wheel and it takes about the same amount of time to unhook as my bumper pull. I suppose that all depends on what type of weight distribution hitch you have.

Yep but you gain it back in the basement of the 5er! I feel that is far better as most of what you load in the bed of the TV is camping stuff anyway, so with a 5er is already packed! :B

That is why we have a shortest time of deciding in the morning of a work day, to head out that evening of one hour and fifteen minutes.
That is from me leaving work, stopping at the house airing up TV tires, putting hitch in bed, loading DW and two dogs and their bed, and tote of food in the TV. Driving to storage yard, putting food in Refer, starting refer, hitching up 5er, and leaving storage yard.

[Me_Again]

Regarding backing a 5th wheel one has to pull half again as far forward before starting to back. Chris

[CavemanCharlie]

A 5th wheel does tow better hands down. You end up wasting a lot of storage in your pickup bed though, if that matters to you.

My brother has a 5th wheel and it takes about the same amount of time to unhook as my bumper pull. I suppose that all depends on what type of weight distribution hitch you have.

[covenantbro]

We recently went from a TT to a FW. We traveled in the TT for 8 years. Moving to FW was intimidating at first because of the height and length of the FW. We've discovered that hitching and unhitching the FW takes less time, however it did take some getting used to. Backing the FW is slightly different from the TT.

The FW tows much easier and more comfortable than the TT. We haven't experienced any effects from high winds or semi-trailer trucks speedily coming from behind. Sometimes we forget the FW is back there.