Trailer or 5th wheel?
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 213
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From: Port Coquitlam, BC Canada
Trailer or 5th wheel?
Well a quick question, wife wants to get rid of camper and buy trailer, 19' or so, but I am thinking a 5th wheel might be better, I have propane tanks mounted right under the rear frame, so don't think a hitch would go in there.
So was thinking a fifth wheel would be easier to tow.
I have a 77 F-250 super cab, 400 CI auto 2 wheel drive.
So was thinking a fifth wheel would be easier to tow.
I have a 77 F-250 super cab, 400 CI auto 2 wheel drive.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 851
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From: N. Georgia
Yes, a fifth wheel will pull easier. They seem to pull, turn and I believe are less strain on the truck because of the weight distribution. Now with all that said, I own a bumper pull travel trailer. My truck bed has two tool boxes on it and is always loaded with tools or materials in the rest. No room left for the hitch in the bed. Also, I don't want to unload the bed everytime I want to go camping. Check them out before you buy and decide which is better for you. I do think fifth wheels pull easier though.
Joe
Joe
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Broken Arrow, OK.
I would make sure that you look at both trailer and a 5er and then make a decision. Trailers seem to have more storage space but 5ers seem to have more living space. If you plan on spending a ton of time in it you may want to look at a fifth wheel. I own a travel trailer and have no problems pulling it. With your current setup of having a propane tank under the back you may have a problem getting a hitch back there. Also something to think about is if you get a 5er you will have a large chunk of your bed used up by the hitch in the back. Good luck with your decision.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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I have had several trailers (18 to 30') and a couple of fifth wheels (31'). I pulled these with my Chevy 2500 Duramax (now the happy owner of an F350!) and the 5er pulls much easier! Sway is non-existant on the 5er and hithcing up is dramatically easier. I also found the ride in the truck to be much better with the fifth wheel versus the trailer. Overall, I would take the 5er hands down.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Port Coquitlam, BC Canada
Well went looking at trailers and fifth wheels last weekend.
Ended up at a dealers, they had a 1989 18.5' Prowler Lynx that they wanted 7900.CDN for, and I offered them 6000.CDN and they took it.
So now have to get a hitch, a brake controller, plus wire it for the fifth wheel hook up and learn all about using a fifth wheel and towing it and of course dumping the black water and the grey water.
Lots of fun this summer.
Ended up at a dealers, they had a 1989 18.5' Prowler Lynx that they wanted 7900.CDN for, and I offered them 6000.CDN and they took it.
So now have to get a hitch, a brake controller, plus wire it for the fifth wheel hook up and learn all about using a fifth wheel and towing it and of course dumping the black water and the grey water.
Lots of fun this summer.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 605
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From: Broken Arrow, OK.
Well, congrats on the purchase. Only advice I would like to give is to always make sure you put about 4 or 5 gallons in the black tank before using it, fill it pretty full before you empty it and empty it first before your grey water, that way the grey cleans out your hose. If you have any questions feel free to ask!
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Northern Va
Originally Posted by cody47
I have had several trailers (18 to 30') and a couple of fifth wheels (31'). I pulled these with my Chevy 2500 Duramax (now the happy owner of an F350!) and the 5er pulls much easier! Sway is non-existant on the 5er and hithcing up is dramatically easier. I also found the ride in the truck to be much better with the fifth wheel versus the trailer. Overall, I would take the 5er hands down.
Backing up is a little different, but the ride quality and stability is FAR better than a standard setup.
Someone above said 5ers have less storage. I dissagree. The 5er I want has 2 55 cubic foot storage areas and a 25 cubic foot storage area. Find that in a pull behind less than 35ft long.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Cross Plains, TN
Originally Posted by partsman01
Well went looking at trailers and fifth wheels last weekend.
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 164
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congrads. 5ver are the way to go for us. we have a 38ft #11,000 prowler regal. trust me when i tell you hitching it up takes HALF the time a travel trailer does, if not less. also, it pulls MUCH SAFER than a TT because of the FW hitch position. enjoy your camper and happy RVing!!
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Port Coquitlam, BC Canada
Well I am finding this to be a really great site, and yes I will have to visit some RV forums, for years they said my truck was an RV, a wrecked vehicle.
Anyway, thanks for the info and advice, just have to look up how to hook up a hitch and brake controller and the harness for plugging in the 5th wheel, and thanks for the tip on emptying the black water first, then the grey, good tip.
Of course I am a Canadian after all and my S**t doesn't stink.
Bill
Anyway, thanks for the info and advice, just have to look up how to hook up a hitch and brake controller and the harness for plugging in the 5th wheel, and thanks for the tip on emptying the black water first, then the grey, good tip.
Of course I am a Canadian after all and my S**t doesn't stink.
Bill
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