Turning Radius: Fifth Wheel vs. Bumper Pull

[DallasSteve]

Another member posted a question about learning to drive a Class A motorhome and one of the issues that was raised is learning to turn a corner without clipping the curb with the back wheel or hitting oncoming traffic. That is an area that concerns me, but I'm looking at picking a trailer instead of a motorhome.

That brings me to my question. I will probably pick a trailer about 35 feet long, which is pretty long. I'm guessing it's complicated to turn corners at intersections with a long trailer, too. How different is it if the trailer is a fifth wheel instead of the same 35-foot length "box" hitched to a bumper?

[F-TROUP]

Don't get freaked out, just learn to drive what you have.

[DinTulsa]

My hitch is right at 14.75 from pin to ball. I

[Hannibal]

Thanks DinTulsa, We've had our TT in place of previous 5th wheels for a year now and oddly, haven't had the need or opportunity to make a full lock U-turn yet. I think most WD hitches have around 12-15" pin to ball so should be about the same.

[DinTulsa]

Hannibal wrote:
That's a biggin DinTulsa! What do you tow it with and can you make a forward full lock U-turn without contact?

I tow with a 2012 F250 psd, the trailer is an Open Range Roamer 310bhs. With my Blue ox sway pro hitch I can make a full lock U-turn without contact.

[Flapper]

Had a 30' fifth for 4 years, now a 32' TT. Effective length behind the truck has increased by about 5 ft due to differences in hitch point. I find turns are about the same. For turns, stay as far opposite your turn (left for a right turn, right for a left turn) as the lane allows, and pull out partially into the second lane in front of you to make the turn.

When going left from a 4-lane, start from the lane closest to the center line, just keep on the right side of that lane. If not, starting from the other left turn lane, your trailer will cut the corner, potentially crunching someone using the lane on the inside of your turn. As noted, also pay attention to tail swing. Same logic applies to right turns - start from the lane closest to the curb.
The overall watchword is - go slow! Give other drivers time to accommodate you, and you time to see what is going on. Watch semi's making turns, and do as they do! You are a "big rig" now, and most drivers will accommodate you as such. But there are the idiots, hence going slow.....

[Hannibal]

That's a biggin DinTulsa! What do you tow it with and can you make a forward full lock U-turn without contact?

[DinTulsa]

Never pulled a 5th wheel, but pull a 38ft TT. I've pulled it through cites and tight campgrounds, they are not hard to pull even at those lengths. Just be prepared to make unapologetic wide ride turns, people might give you looks but it's not worth damaging a wheel, axles the trailer.

[jaycocamprs]

Redwoodcamper wrote:
Use your mirrors. It really isn't that difficult. Swing wide

Take all the road you can. It's a lot easier to turn in, than widen out.

[BarneyS]

crcr wrote:

horton333 wrote:

You also can note the requirement for more pin weight on the 5th wheel sometimes moves the wheels back farther than a TT. Also increasing the radius. Of course 5th 2heels can also get Silly long too, :E

Pic is fake, photo-shopped. I have seen the original pic. That 5th wheel is no where near that long.

Agree on the Photoshop job. Easy to see when blown up very large. Look at the 1st two wheels. They are identical. Then look at the rear two wheels. They are identical also with a poorly done attempt at disguising the rear one. Too bad, as it would be a very interesting rig to see.
Barney

[crcr]

horton333 wrote:

You also can note the requirement for more pin weight on the 5th wheel sometimes moves the wheels back farther than a TT. Also increasing the radius. Of course 5th 2heels can also get Silly long too, :E

Pic is fake, photo-shopped. I have seen the original pic. That 5th wheel is no where near that long.

[horton333]

Hannibal wrote:
The pivot point for the 5th wheel is 3~" ahead of the rear axle of the truck. The pivot point for a TT is about 5' behind the axle. The hitch point of the TT will swing "out" to track closer to the rear wheels of the truck in a turn. The 5th wheel's hitch point being slightly ahead of the rear axle will pull it closer to the inside of the turn and closer to the curb. The difference isn't huge but after going from our 3rd 5th wheel back to a 32.5' TT, I prefer the TT in all but straight interstate towing. You need to swing wide either way. As said above, I watch my mirrors and start my turn when I'm ready for the trailer to start it's turn.

You also can note the requirement for more pin weight on the 5th wheel sometimes moves the wheels back farther than a TT. Also increasing the radius. Of course 5th 2heels can also get Silly long too, :E

[phillyg]

If you've ever watched a big rig go wide at a corner, that's similar to driving with a FW. It's not uncommon to have to drive into the opposing lane as you're turning, and hoping oncoming drivers understand what you're doing.

[Hannibal]

The pivot point for the 5th wheel is 3~" ahead of the rear axle of the truck. The pivot point for a TT is about 5' behind the axle. The hitch point of the TT will swing "out" to track closer to the rear wheels of the truck in a turn. The 5th wheel's hitch point being slightly ahead of the rear axle will pull it closer to the inside of the turn and closer to the curb. The difference isn't huge but after going from our 3rd 5th wheel back to a 32.5' TT, I prefer the TT in all but straight interstate towing. You need to swing wide either way. As said above, I watch my mirrors and start my turn when I'm ready for the trailer to start it's turn.

[samsontdog]

I have towed 5th ws {40 ft} , TTs all sizes, and I don't think a 5th w turns easer than a TT. The 5th w is much higher so you really have to watch out for tree branches, low over hangs etc. I am back to a 34 ft TT as I need the P/Up
bed for "things" plus with bad hips we needed less steps to climb