fifth wheel to truck camper comparison

[maxum1989]

I have a 29 foot fifth wheel weighing in at about 9500 to 10000 pounds (pin at 1700) loaded up for a trip. This is our family trailer and we use it a fair bit. I am considering adding a truck camper to the mix for when just my son and I want to get away for an adventure where the fifth wheel wouldn't fit or is just not practical.

My question is, how does a 2500ish pound truck camper "feel" on the bed of the truck driving around compared to pulling a fifth wheel with the above weights? I have never even been in a vehicle with a truck camper on it so I have no idea whatsoever what it feels like. It must feel a little top heavy I would assume.

With my fifth wheel, driving on the good roads you can hardly tell its there. Rough roads I get pushed around a fair bit. Would a truck camper be the same? The truck camper would weigh way less than the fifth wheel so would the truck notice it less back there? I know the camper would weigh more than the pin weight if the fifth wheel but overall it is a way lower weight the truck is dealing with. Any thoughts or experience with both?

[campn4walleye]

Have you looked at the truck camper forum? There is loads of information and very smart people.

First and foremost: you must match the right TC to your truck, not the other way around. With a TC weight (payload) is the limiting factor.

If a TC states it weighs ****, don't believe it, weigh it and then add 500-800 lbs more.

Take a look at the TC forum. Folks are nice and very helpful.

Just trying to warn you before you buy and regret your choice because your truck can't handle the load.

[maxum1989]

Thanks everyone. Great responses. I am looking into finding an appropriate camper now.

[wintersun]

I have driven SRW pickups with campers all over the USA and on many bad forest service roads and never had a problem. A DRW with 4 tires at the rear will have more support and there will be less sidewall flexing with standard duty E rated tires.

I have been driving trucks from 1/2 ton to 3 ton in places like Los Angeles and the SF bay area and that can be a lot more stressful than any amount of driving with a camper in the bed. To say that a camper on a SRW truck is going to result in white knuckle experiences is a matter of opinion and someone with that little driving skill should be in a Class B motorhome.

[Puddles]

If you don't have dual wheels, some situations will be white knuckle... clover leaf exits, passing simi's, simi's passing you... have been in a 1 ton truck will a 12' camper verses 1 ton with dual wheels.. night and day the way they handle... not saying it won't work, just not as enjoyable. Much different that pulling a 5th wheel..

[wintersun]

The camper will weigh a 1,000 lbs. more and be a top heavy load so you will experience more truck sway with the camper. Not too difficult to add Supersprings and or a rear anti-sway bar to improve handling.

Getting on to a freeway with a 22-25 ft. long truck and camper and gross weight of 10,000 lbs. will be a lot easier than it is with your truck and 5th wheel with its much greater length and load.

[Tango__AE7UI]

generaljean,
Agree with all your views on carrying the camper and towing a fifth.
We had the camper for 15 years until my wife could no longer climb the vertical steps to reach the bed hence the fifth wheel.
I enjoyed both but, since we are both in our 70's the fifth is easier for us now.

[generaljean]

We have a 2006 Chevy 3500 4x4 diesel. We pull a Sunnybrook 32' with 3 slides for winter trips to Florida that weights in close to 15,000 lbs. We also have a 1997 Bigfoot 9.5' Pickup Camper for shorter trips after we're home from Florida. This is the second pickup camper we've owned through the years. As we have a 3500 that we ordered with the camper options and it's a 4x4, the truck bed is slightly higher which makes for a little more of a top heavy load, but the 3500 seems to do a good job of hauling it. Our mileage towing the 5er is 11.5 to 13.5 mpg and traveling with the camper is 17.5 mpg approx. There is a little more sway turning corners with the camper than without it, but the overall ride is basically the same as with the 5er. We have talked about and considered putting overload springs on, to help with the cornering, but don't feel it's an absolute necessity. According to the sticker on the camper, its weight is 1500 lbs (which might not be exactly accurate) and with it loaded with supplies, food, water, propane, it's probably closer to 2,000 lbs. As far as the truck noticing it less back there, I think the tongue weight on our 5er along with other items we haul back there is probably real close to the weight of the camper and doesn't seem to make much difference. We like the easy and quick traveling with the camper vs. all the prior prep to moving the 5er when making several overnight stops and sight seeing in a 1 to 3 week excursion. Also, if you can park your truck camper vehicle in a space, you can park it, whereas the 5er requires different tactics for parking space and many stops can't be made due to no parking to hold the length of the truck/5er combo. Every camping option has it's pros and cons.