Lets Talk - TT Vs Fifth Wheel

[jerem0621]

Greetings,

I have been considering moving from the Minivan/Pup combo back to a hard sided trailer and a full size TV. The pup experiment failed miserably. Coming from a TT.

Really been considering a Fiver and a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. Still may go with the fiver…

but… I am starting to lean back towards a TT again…mostly because of how familiar I am with WD hitches and how they work and how to set them up.

Anyway.. why did you choose a TT over a Fiver?

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[jaycocamprs]

TomG2 wrote:
I must be the only one who realizes that a test pull with a fifth wheel is a good idea. The smashed tailgates that I see can attest to that. Ho Ho HO.

I test pull, but just go from reverse to drive. With the style of hitch I have I don't have to get out and close it around the pin. No need for blocks either.

We don't use the truck for much but pulling the 5'ver. If I did then I can see where the TT could be a better option.

[Houston_Remodel]

Late night in Raleigh August 2015, the local PD waved us off the road into a McDonalds parking lot. Due to squad cars, ambulance, and fire trucks we could not back out. We squeezed our TT through the drive through lane and out the only other exit. Luckily the steel pipe with the height sign barely missed the side of the AC unit. The only ding was a bad bend to the radio antenna.

A shorter TT comes in handy every once in a while.

[TomG2]

I have no idea what he was "thinking", but I can read the question that he posed and can see which forum he posted it on. If he had asked, "Why did you choose a fifth wheel", I would have given him the positive side of that argument. I like all kinds of RV's and don't think that mine is the only good choice out there.

[Lantley]

TomG2 wrote:
The OP asked, "Anyway.. why did you choose a TT over a Fiver?" Not, "Which requires a bedsaver?"

Many of us who have travel trailers have given our reasons. Lighter and cheaper per square foot, etc. etc. I assumed that they were looking for positive comments.

I think he was looking for all comments. Asking on the TT forum will get more pro TT responses. Asking on the 5'er forum will be pro 5'er

[TomG2]

The OP asked, "Anyway.. why did you choose a TT over a Fiver?" Not, "Which requires a bedsaver?"

Many of us who have travel trailers have given our reasons. Lighter and cheaper per square foot, etc. etc. I assumed that they were looking for positive comments.

[Lantley]

TomG2 wrote:

Lantley wrote:
...snip......
I also have a Blue OX bedsaver that will catch the fiver before it hits the tailgate and cause any damage.

Why?

I got it when I was a newbie. I wanted the peace of mind. Now that I have gained experience I've come to understand with the Holland Binkley hitch head I really don't need it.
Nevertheless it's installed now. So I left it in place.

A bedsaver is a simple static part that should probably be included with all 5'er hitches. It would eliminate drops altogether

[jaycocreek]

BTW the big trucks also do a test pull. Don't want 50,000lb falling to the ground

I never did with my semi's..It's easy to tell if it is locked in..Never had any problems..Same situation..Back into the fifth wheel hitch and it snaps shut and locks.A simple walk by confirms.

[Terryallan]

TomG2 wrote:

Lantley wrote:
...snip......
I also have a Blue OX bedsaver that will catch the fiver before it hits the tailgate and cause any damage.

Why?

In case the latch don't catch / lock.

The big trucks latch, and lock automatically when the pin is shoved into the jaws. As I understand it. That is not the case with "some" 5th wheel campers. You have manually lock the pin into place. Some forget.

BTW the big trucks also do a test pull. Don't want 50,000lb falling to the ground

[TomG2]

Lantley wrote:
...snip......
I also have a Blue OX bedsaver that will catch the fiver before it hits the tailgate and cause any damage.

Why?

[Lantley]

TomG2 wrote:
I must be the only one who realizes that a test pull with a fifth wheel is a good idea. The smashed tailgates that I see can attest to that. Ho Ho HO.

By the way, a ten dollar mirror on the closed tailgate makes coupling a one time, don't get out of the truck, thing. I never said that everyone has it figured out or that I am the only one who knows everything about everything.

With a Holland Binkley head test pulls are unnecessary. B&W and others use Holland Binkley heads that latch securely. You can visually see the hitch is closed and the pin is secure. Pull test are not necessary.
I also have a Blue OX bedsaver that will catch the fiver before it hits the tailgate and cause any damage.

I also agree while the 5'er maybe easier to hook up the difference is negligible and certainly not a deal breaker or the deciding factor between going with a TT or 5'er.

[GWolfe]

About the only reason I would want a fiver is so I could tow my ATV or a small boat behind it, and the less overall length when hitched up compared to a TT of the same size.

I'm limited with my half ton truck to TTs and I'm Ok with that. My little trailer doesn't need a WDH so hitching up is quick.

If the OP were to get a 2500 you could probably get by without the WDH on a 24'-25' TT. I would still use sway control though.

[jfkmk]

There are certainly many arguements for buying a 5th wheel snd many for buying a TT. I would think, though, hitching time would be the least of them. Even if it takes an extra minute to hitch up a TT, that time difference is minuscule in the overall "breaking camp" process. I've never been in the situation where I thought to myself that I should have bought a 5th wheel because it's taking me too long to hitch up. I've also never left the TV more than once while lining up the hitch. As far as installing the WD bars, yeah, that can be a pain. If it were too much of a problem, though, I'd install an electric tongue jack.

[TomG2]

I must be the only one who realizes that a test pull with a fifth wheel is a good idea. The smashed tailgates that I see can attest to that. Ho Ho HO.

By the way, a ten dollar mirror on the closed tailgate makes coupling a one time, don't get out of the truck, thing. I never said that everyone has it figured out or that I am the only one who knows everything about everything.

[goducks10]

TomG2 wrote:
Jaycocreek, repeating the same opinion over and over does not make it fact. It is still your opinion and personal preference, "My personal limit...".

I enjoy making things efficient and can hitch/unhitch quicker with a travel trailer. Think about it. Which requires more blocking under the jacks? Twice as much for the fiver. Just one small difference. Those blocks must be placed and retrieved. Not a big deal with a helper, I admit.

I only have two sets of jacks, both don't need blocking. A TT has 5 jacks. You still have to raise and lower the front jacks on a TT. The front jacks on a 5er are equivalent to the tongue jack on a TT.
I never do a pull test with my B&W. Don't need to. Unless you have a backup cam or other hitching device you need to get out of the truck multiple times for a TT. With a 5er you just look out the back window. No backup cam required. Once you lower the coupler on the ball you still have to raise it to snap chains, then lower it. On a 5er once you lower the pin you don't need to raise it again, just keep lowering it.
I suppose for those that aren't using any WD then yes a TT will be quicker. No chin banging from a 5th hitch, If you have a WD that takes washers for adjustment and have at least 6 then the head is tilted down a lot. That can make for coupler/WD binding on sloped spots forcing the owner to drive forward to release the coupler latch. Not so with a 5th hitch. For some a TT may be quicker but for most probably not. You may be quicker because you don't need blocks and have no WD but what about others that do?
You do realize that the front jacks on a 5er can be dropped prior to lowering all the way. Once I level side to side then it's drop the front jacks and unhitch. Only reason to use any blocking is if the ground is soft. Not to mention no safety chains to hookup.
Again if you're not using WD then yes it's quicker. But not using WD is not the norm. There's way more variables with a TT then a 5er. Different WDs and sway control will change the game. 5ers are pretty much the same across the field.