Soloing in a TT

[diver110]

I took a look at Northwood TT's pursunt to Bronofan's suggestion. I mostly liked what I saw, but the salesman, who seemed to be a straight shooter, said it is harder to solo in a TT than a 5th wheel. The hookup is tougher solo. Agree, disagree?

[tatest]

Most people I know with TTs do their hookup solo. Other people in their party, if any, don't help with this task, have their own work to do getting ready for travel.

Solo, a recent condition for me, means you have to do all the work, inside and outside. Learning now just how much work my late wife did, while I was taking care of the outside stuff.

A checklist helps, when you don't have two brains working at remembering stuff.

[TomG2]

No matter what kind of trailer I am pulling, I prefer to park, hitch, and unhitch alone. I found that the third dimension (height) was a complicating factor with a fifth wheel, but I do not always park in the paved parking lot type of campgrounds. Going down back roads and seeing the truck in front of me smack the low hanging branches made me nervous.

[WoodGlue]

A little camera called iBall:

iBall Wireless Camera

It's a nice little unit and works very well - can't beat the price for a stand alone wireless camera!

WoodGlue

[goducks10]

After owning both, the only advantage of the 5'er over the TT is the stability when towing. However a smaller TT like WoodGlues Lance 1685 would be a dream to tow. With the 5'er you still need to drop the landing gear down before you raise the 5'er up. Not much different than having to using an elec tongue jack and lowering two stab jacks on a TT. The rear stabs on my 5'er are scissor type, same as a TT. Only difference is I have no WD spring bars to deal with, And I don't do a pull test. B&W Patriot:). Hitching up is way easier as I can see my pin and hitch. But then again installing a hitch up devise would eliminate that advantage. I know this for sure, it just seems physically easier to hitch and unhitch the 5'er. I would solo in my 28' 5'er before a TT any day. JMO though, as I like the towing stability. As an example we were heading south on 205 towards Frenchglen Or last week and the wind was blowing hard from the left side. All I could think about was the vvideo that been on here a few times of the guy with the dually and his TT flips over from high winds. I never felt sway at all but was worried some about the big sail behind me.
I do have a hard time backing in but attribute that more to the mirrors (Ram) than the 5'er/TT thing, as I towed the same TT with an F150 and our Ram and the clipon mirrors for the F150 just seemed to help more. The TT was 30'10" OAL and the 5'er is 27'10" OAL so they are pretty equal in that regards. If I were soloing and was serious I would go dually and a truck camper with slide out. That way I could haul a small fishing boat, cargo trailer or maybe an MC. Plus I could fit it in just about anywhere.

[vermilye]

I solo in a travel trailer - 35,000 miles and 100's of campsites over 2 1/2 years so far. I do have a back up camera (on both the tow vehicle & the trailer) and find it useful for hooking up, however when the sun is shining directly into the camera it is useless & I still manage to get hooked. Even with the camera, I often "get out & look."

[jamnw]

I hookup myself every time. It's no big deal. There is a mark on my tailgate that I use to line up with the tt
There are also magnetic telescoping devices to help you. I made one out of PVC but it broke after a couple years.

[APT]

So like many other TT vs. 5er threads, choose the type based on your own preferences. Use of truck bed, steps, costs, floorplans, features/amenities, etc.

[WoodGlue]

BobsYourUncle wrote:
98% of my TT travels are solo.
It is no big deal to do.

Hooking up? I aim for the ball but stop short and get out and look to see where I need to correct. Most of the time I can put it within a couple inches of the right spot the first time. No big deal getting in and out a few times to back it to the right spot.

Tiring? No, not at all. Looking in the mirror and seeing the TT following puts a smile on my face!

X2 on this!

Easy as pie!

WoodGlue

[Jayco-noslide]

I think the salesman is somewhat correct. A bigger worry for me would be backing any sizable trailer without someone outside to make sure I'm not about to hit something. I can back our 5th wheel pretty good but you just can't see very much at all behind and besides the trailer when backing.

[jmtandem]

I like TT better, but it is a personal preference.

Me too! But perhaps for different reasons. I like the bed of my truck for stuff, the lower overall height of the TT, and the less weight on the tongue vs the pin for a similar size coach. But, beyond a certain size I think the fifth is probably a better tow, is overall (tow vehicle and fifth) shorter by about five feet for the same size coach as part of it is over the truck's bed, and (at least for toy haulers) the hitch/pin weight changes significantly between loaded and unloaded as the toy load is all behind the rear axles and I think a fifth handles that variation in weights better than messing around with a WD hitch every time you pull the trailer depending if it is loaded or not.

[bluedogwilson]

I like TT better, but it is a personal preference. I have had two 5ers and two TT in the last thirty years and have enjoyed all. I am older now and do not need as much stuff/toys. If you need help in backing up, there is a product called iBall that is a back up camera you can put on and remove very easy. Check it out on the internet $149.00 pp. I ordered one this week and look foreward to using it. There is one big advantage the 5ers have over the TT. You can pull a trailer or boat behind them and you cannot a TT. Most states will not allow two ball hitches connected together. I will be going back to the 5ers in two years when I retire for this reason.

[2012Coleman]

Check out this thread by popular forum member WoodGlue. I think she solos all the time and states her Lance trailer suits her just fine. Drop her a PM or reply to the thread. Let us know how it works out! :B

[jmtandem]

I took a look at Northwood TT's pursunt to Bronofan's suggestion. I mostly liked what I saw, but the salesman, who seemed to be a straight shooter, said it is harder to solo in a TT than a 5th wheel. The hookup is tougher solo. Agree, disagree?

Of all the things to think about when choosing an RV, this is the biggest non-issue I could think of. I never have help hitching up my TT and have never had an issue. After a few times it becomes second nature. The salesman was trying to get you to purchase somethng else, probably more expensive.

[diver110]

PS: i looked at a couple of youtube videos after I posted my question. The FW did look easier, but the TT set up was not electric.

[diver110]

Thanks for all of the great feedback!