Tt or fifth wheel?

[DinTulsa]

My wife and I are looking at getting into rving. This will be our first trailer, but we are not new to the camping thing as our inlaws have a motorhome that we use. I have a 2012 f250 with the PS diesel. I have never pulled anything around the 10k range. We are looking at a sundance 322res TT or a cougar 327res fifth wheel. Both units weigh in the 10k range loaded. I know a fifth wheel pulls better, and if we were going to be full timing it would be a no brainer. This is for the lake and a going to different camp grounds around home. I would like to keep the bed open for bikes or an atv if possible. So I guess my question is...Would anyone be concerned about pulling a 35 ft 10k lb tt?

[mtofell1]

I've had both and ended up going back to a TT for some of the reasons you mention. Mainly, I like having the bed of my truck open for bikes and stuff. Also, not having to clear it every time I want to hook up the trailer is a huge plus.

As for towing, the 5th does do better but with modern anti-way technology and having a big truck as you do, the difference is not that noticeable.

As for usability of the actual trailer I did like the 5th better with the bedroom being so separate from the other parts of the trailer. Again though, not a deal killer.

I agree with the previous poster that said start small (cheap) in case you want to jump ship. Also, REALLY look at the floor plans to decide what YOU want. I made the mistake of buying the first trailer that I fell in love with when I didn't have much experience and ended up with a floor plan I really didn't like.

[Still_Searchin_]

Just a couple other pluses for TT over 5vers: Less weight for same length, less height for getting under trees, and better backing accuracy. Some folks never get the hang of backing 5vers. We have never had sway with the combo below and like having a lot of storage in the back of our pick-up (w/ canopy).

[DinTulsa]

Thanks to everyone....I think I will just stick with the TT.

[69_Avion]

There is not "correct" choice. It is what works for you. In my family there are several trailers and a 5th wheel. 5th wheels tow great, but a well built and set up trailer will also tow properly. 5th wheels are known to have the same manufacturing defects that plague the TTs, including broken frames.

For me it is a TT. In fact, I have two and the small one with good ground clearance and an outdoor stove gets most of the use.

I too don't want to give up my truck bed because I put a quad back there.

[goducks10]

It's not uncommon for an F250 to have low payload capacity. Any F250 6.7 4x4 with the upper trims levels will be payload challenged. OP needs to check his door sticker. I seen them as low as 1972lbs on a KR F250 6.7 4x4 20" rims.

[thewhitehat]

Include in your budget a Hensley Hitch. May all your worries be small ones!:C

[RedRocket204]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Ditch comment; To low of tongue weight is likely to cause massive trailer sway problems, thus, a trip to the ditch.

To make sure the OP is not mislead...the above is overcome by heavily front loading the TT bringing up the tongue weight to approximately 13%.

It's not rocket science and it's not a scary situation. Just something to be aware of that can be easily handled.

Back to your original question though...TT vs. 5th. Your call. My call was I am not giving up truck bed space so the decision was easy. TT can be loaded and hitched so they track extremely well. Don't let someone scare you into believing only 5ths handle/track well.

[beemerphile1]

I didn't say any particular trailer, I said a large trailer.

You should figure 13 to 15% of the trailer weight will be on the tongue. Subtract that tongue weight, all other gear and passengers from the GVWR. Then you also need to weigh the rig fully loaded and look at the rear axle weight together with the GAWR.

Ditch comment; To low of tongue weight is likely to cause massive trailer sway problems, thus, a trip to the ditch.

[PA12DRVR]

I wouldn't worry about the steps. We camped with grandbabies in our 5th and the two levels weren't a problem.

As a proudly card carrying member of the weight police, I'm struggling to see how that trailer would be a problem for the F250...while I don't know what specific F250 you have, it appears that a 10K GVWR trailer will certainly not implicate GCWR and (using 15% of the trailer GVWR) won't use up all of the leftover truck GVWR.

[Peg_Leg]

I had a TT for 18 yrs and now have a 5er. Our 5er with 3 slides gives us massive room. I would sit down with the other half and make a list of pros and cons. Make the decision together.

Oh don't worry about the steps, as soon as the young-en figures out how to go up and down them this will provide hours of entertainment. Just make sure the door to the outside is secured.

[DinTulsa]

This is discussion is why I made this post. Why would I end up in the ditch? Lets say it was loaded to 10.5 with a hitch weight of 1100. Even as it is, with my current load minus the Atv I have 1700lbs of payload left in the truck. Throw 1100 lb hitch weight that leave 600 for the atv. That's without the assistance of a wd hitch. Truck is rated 14k conventional towing. When I add a wd hitch that would offset some of the tongue weight correct? I would still be under all of my ratings.

[beemerphile1]

Major Dad wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
With a large TT you may end up with little or no weight capacity to haul something in the bed.

That Sundance 322 RES has a gross weight of 10,500 and hitch weight of 670 lbs. My guess is that there should be plenty of weight capacity left over for cargo in an F-250.

Do you really believe that? No way that trailer will be towed like that unless the driver wants to end up in a ditch.

[Major_Dad]

beemerphile1 wrote:
With a large TT you may end up with little or no weight capacity to haul something in the bed.

That Sundance 322 RES has a gross weight of 10,500 and hitch weight of 670 lbs. My guess is that there should be plenty of weight capacity left over for cargo in an F-250.

[beemerphile1]

With a large TT you may end up with little or no weight capacity to haul something in the bed.