towing a TT vs. a FW

[Miller]

i am going to get a new RV this summer, the 33 foot motorhome with a 454 is draining me....

so im looking for some opinions between towing a TT and a fifth wheel. i have an f350 dually and i was wanting to get a 30-35 foot TT but some people are telling me that i will hate towing something that long that is not a fifth wheel, the only thing is that i do not want to lose the storage space in the bed.

[c.f.moore]

I went from a 30'TT to a 34' fifthwheel. Very similar overall length when hitched to the tow vehicle. I used the TT while the kids were at home, so I could haul their stuff in the bed of the truck.

With the TT you will become very watchful of cab over trucks and buses that are passing you. The wind wake that these vehicles give off cause a TT (I've owned 20', 24', and the 30') to sway as the other vehicle passes. The sway isn't really dangerous, but if you're caught unaware of the passing truck/bus, it will cause some anxiety for you as the driver. TT are also effected (sometimes dangerously) by cross winds/gusts. TT's also take longer to hookup (lift bars and sway controls).

The fifthwheel is basically immune (or almost so) to the side hitting winds. Fifthwheel trailers will "cheat" to the inside of a turn a lot more than a TT. Generally, TT are a lot cheaper to buy than a fifthwheel.

I have found that I can carry a lot of stuff, in the bed of my truck, and still haul the fifthwheel. Depending on what you haul in your bed, will have a major influence on your decision.

Good luck,

[mel2000f150]

Go with the 5er, they travel better and are easier to hookup.
Once you go 5er, you wont go back. lol

[Dogwood36322]

Went from a 28 TT to a 35 Fiver in March. My fuel mileage is better even tho I am pulling 3000 lbs more. Also ride so much nicer. I carry quiet a bit of stuff in my bed also.

[Kepler4]

I pull a 28' Weekend Warrior TT. We went with a Hensley hitch and, though expensive, it really helps with stability. The weight distributing bars are fully adjustable and it almost eliminates the 'truck passing sway' mentioned above.

I went TT because we have a lot of trees on my property and 5th wheel trailers are really tall!

BTW, do you have a short or long bed?

[Toyman]

The fifthwheel will be much easier to manuver onto a camp site over the same length TT. I have pulled both and much prefer the fifthwheel, for comfort of ride, ease of hooking up, and parking. Toyman

[wreckit72]

I would recommend the fifth wheel also. Fifth wheels have more storage room too. What are you wanting to haul in the bed?

[X_Hemi_Guy]

I tow a 31' (35' hitch to bumper) 9000# travel trailer also with a Hensley Arrow Hitch...

I can say that towing this huge tag along is rock solid in up to 40 MPH cross-winds so far at 65mph on the highway!!!...BUT I have the Hensley...

Another option over the Hensley for a tag behind is the Pull-Rite. The Pull-Rite mounts up next to the rear axle and places the pivot point right at the axle...which aides in stability...Pull-Rites are expensive...similar to a Hensley...

However a good air ride 5'r hitch is going to set you back a few $$$ too.
One thing I didn't like riding in my buddies pickemup while pulling his 5'r was that on what appeared to be a smooth highway...the expansion joints were spaced just WRONG for his setup...each and every bump...produced a noticable clang from the 5'r on the hitch in the bed...thankfully our trip was short...or that banging would have been annoying...to be fair though...when on other roads with expansion joints spaced just WRONG...I can get small up/down waves if you will...not porpoising...but cyclic rhythms...no banging...but still there...

I've rolled down the road at 19' Excursion + 1' hitch bar + 35' TT + 3' bike rack for a total of 58' front to back...and haven't found a camp site I can't get into yet...

There ARE advantages and disadvantages to both 5'rs and TT's...head over to RV.Net and do a search...there are countless posts on these advantages and disadvantages...

I will end by saying that a properly hitched TT will tow just as stable as a 5'r...and depending on your 5'r hitch...you may not have that much more in hitch hardware...plus for ME the third row seating in my SUV was not something I wanted to give up for long trips of peace and quiet that can ONLY be achieved by separation between siblings!

Good luck!

joe.

[Kwikkordead]

I vote 5th wheel.
Best example I can give I one trip I was crossing Bonneville salt flats on that long straight stretch of road and there was a cross wind strong enough to kick the trailer sideways a bit and I never noticed it until I looked in the mirror. It was just following along behind me, but at a slight angle from the wind.

[racerchick21]

I've had both, we now have a 38' 5er with a toybox/garage in the last 10', we can haul more in there than we could in the pickup bed with the TT. This has been the best set-up so far, and I've had everything from a tent trailer to a class A motorhome. They're about the same length (TT was 36') over all and the 5er is much easier to tow, even though we had a load leveling hitch with the anti-sway bar on the TT. We can also still put some stuff in the bed if need be. A 5er is a little more difficult if you have a short bed, though. Also, we got slightly used (2yrs old) instead of new and saved a lot of money that way.

[X_Hemi_Guy]

Very few have ever towed a travel trailer with a Hensley or Pull-Rite...they are in a league of their own as far as tag behind pulling characteristics...comparing a typical WD hitch with friction bar or even a Dual Cam or Equal-i-zer to the pulling characteristics of a Hensley or Pull-Rite is not a fair comparison what so ever...this truly is a case of you get what you pay for...IMO...

I'm not saying a 5'r isn't inherently more stable...it is because of WHERE the load (king pin) is applied to the TV...what I'm saying is that the Pull-Rite and Hensley do an excellent job of diminishing that gap of stability thru mechanical means...and until you have experienced it...it is hard to describe or imagine...

joe.

[racerchick21]

Yes, I can see how those would come closer to putting the load in the right place (i.e. over the rear axle), but I've never used them myself. There was a noticeable difference with the load leveler and sway bar (we still use it on the race car trailer), but I prefer the 5er, not just for the towing properties but also the way the trailer is laid out.

[elmo8641]

i vote 5ver. i had a tt then got a 5vr. the 5vr pulls alot better. i don't know what you want to put in the bed, but i put a good bit of firewood in mine. the only problem i had when i got the 5vr is it does not react as quick as a tt when backing up. it turns sharper but you have to start turning a little sooner.

[Locopower]

I have had both types in at least five different sizes. The latter two RVs have been a Fiver. Been all over the place with the Fivers and would not go back to anything else. Unless I got to where I could not drive. Then a small class B that the Wife could drive might be in the picture.

[Miller]

i have a long bed truck, but i also have a cross-bed tool box and a propane tank in the bed so its more like a short bed.

i wanted a TT because they are generally lighter and seem to have better aerodynamics's because they are not as tall. i wanted to be able to put motorcycles and firewood in the bed of the truck. i would not be able to put hardly anything in the bed if i had the 5th wheel hitch along with my tool box and propane tank.

I'm starting to think that a fifth wheel toy hauler is the way to go for me... what is the difference between a regular weight dist. hitch and a pull-rite or other "higher end" hitches?