I'm sure there will be those that disagree with me, but here it goes anyway!
I've towed nothing but bumper pull type trailers and travel trailers all my life. When the questions on these forums arise, "Do I have enough truck to tow this trailer?", my initial response is almost always, "Probably, but not enough to tow comfortably!"
There there is the debate, which tows better? a travel trailer or a 5er.
Well, yesterday (Tuesday, Sept 25), we took delivery of our brand new Montana High Country 40 foot 5er. Everything went well, and the tech folks at the dealership helped me determine my turning radius, backing radius, what to watch for, bed rail height and even hitting the cab with the front of the trailer in a sharp turn.
Turns out my 3500 duly can exceed more than 90 degrees and not hit anything. So, that hurdle is over comes.
Away I went. Now, I figured if I was going to compare the difference in the way the two trailers towed - my 35 foot Outback TT or the now 40 foot Montana 5er, I'd feel the difference in the first 10 seconds and the first 5 minutes would be my gauge. After that, towing the 5er would feel "old hat."
The drive home was only about 35 minutes. But I took seriously evaluation the first 5 minutes and here's my conclusion!
Except for backing up? They towed identical!
The only difference was, I felt more pull and push with the travel trailer. But go so use to it, I never noticed it any more. Opposed to the 5er where I did not feel the pull and push, but I did feel more up and down motion, hitting bumps and stuff in the road.
After 5 minutes, the 5er felt perfectly natural. The extra length seemed to be nullified with the nose over truck bed, But I did notice the wheels tracking the 5er on turns seemed to be a bit more in-line with the truck. In other words, it seemed I could make sharper turns with the 5er and the wheels tracked more true to the truck than being offset. I think that was the only thing I really noticed that seemed truly a bit different. So, the pivot point and wheel base of the trailer makes a bigger difference than the old 5er or TT issues.
So, now that I will no longer being towing a TT again - probably for a long time-, what was the success to my towing, never having a white knuckle experience, never experiencing sway, never have any issues towing?
The success is all in the tow vehicle! "How much can I tow with this truck?" Bottom line.... If you have to ask that question, your truck is too small for the job.
My truck is a 3500 dully diesel 4 door crew cab long bed 6.6 liter with Duramax transmission. It's a towing beast. It's big, it's heavy, and... yes ... it cost a fortune!
Combined with a good quality weight distribution system, NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE A BAD TRAVEL TRAILER TOWING EXPERIENCE.
Which tows better? They ARE equal .... if set up correct and the tow vehicle is hefty enough.
What I immediately did NOT like about the 5er set up? Well? When I got home and started unhitching, I can't reach the 5er hitch jaws release handle while standing on the ground! I'm just too short, the sides of my truck are too high and that lever takes a good pull. I don't have enough body leverage to successfully do it. I have to get inside the truck bed to release the jaws. And the tail gate of my pick-up has always been too high for me to simply climb up on. Now that I've removed the shell from my bed, I don't have all those spots to hang onto to to help boost me up on the tail gate. I know, in time, I"ll figure out a routine that will eventually work.
So, for all the nay-sayers that say a 5er is so superior in towing over a trailer, well... I don't think so. With a correct match between trailer and tow vehicle and hitching systems, both a 5er and a TT can (and do) tow equally as nice!
By the way, we're heading out for General Butler State Park in Kentucky for a 4 day week-end. By the time we return home, on Monday, I think this 5er towing thing will be "old hat".
I'm actually very delighted the experience of towing the 5er the first time was positive. But, gosh dang ... is that camper big!
