Well I am looking to purchase a 35 foot 5er and need to ask a simple question. Presently I own a 31 foot TT and have a very confined space by my garage in the alley to park the rig. I know the 5er sits on the bed so I am working with about the same length. My question is do 5er's have the same backing angles as a TT even though they sit in the bed. With the TT I have a foot clearence on the telephone pole when I have to crank the wheel all the way and then by the time I get it all the way in the truck is 6 inches from the neighbors garage across the alley. I am thinking the 5er will actually be better because I can go to almost a 90 degree angle where as the TT is about 45 degrees. Any input would be great. I am looking forward to owning my 1st 5er.

 

My opinion is that you will have more control of the front part of the trailer to move over when you want it to instead of waiting for it to catch up with the bumper system you have now. The key is having someone with a radio watching all your blind corners as you squeeze it in.

Since you have some blind spots, you might concider grabbing a handful of orange cones, two way radios, take some measurements and someone to help to see if you can do the geometry to get it wher it needs to go. Better to knock a few cones over than a tele pole. And when you're done you can do dougnuts in the parking lot!!

I'm getting my first 5iver as well, hopfully by the fall. Got the diesel, now we're going after the trailer

Good luck!!

AZ Billy

 

I find a 5er to be more manoeverable, but they back up a bit differently since the pivot point is over the axle instead of leveraged behind the tow rig. When cutting, you get to a point where you want to kind of follow the trailer around, where you would still have the wheels cut hard the opposite way with a tag along. This is once it's pretty much aimed for where you want it to go, otherwise it will continue to turn harder. My 5ers are my most manoeverable trailers, once I got used to them. Be a good idea to practise a little first before getting into a tight spot.

 

Billy, Thanks for the cone idea, your are right telephone poles don't move. Good Luck to you as well

 

95van,
thanks for the info. That is what I wasn't sure of it it turned like a TT or if it took a different route. Thanks for your help. Tom

 

A fifth will definitely back better than the bumper pull, and seem to be more maneuverable. I much more prefer to back a bed hitch over a bumper hitch any day. Not to mention the ride is better...Watch out for the tail swing though, I wiped out a fence post with a friend's 38' car trailer because I forgot about the tail swing...

 

Good point! Exactly what makes it easier backing up, will wipe out the scenary on the way out! The further forward the last axle is, the more rear overhang swing you'll have. If in doubt, have an assistant guide you out. Good luck!

 

One thing you can do to increase your confidence in this situation. Go to a parking lot after you measure out what you have for measurements around the area you are going to back into. Set up the cones simulating the obstacles . Then practice backing the trailer.

 

you also may want to get a slide fifth wheel hitch. I have the same thing at my house with a fence agaisnt the alleyi park my fifth wheel right next to my garage. i have 15 feet in front of te alley and about 12' of alley and park 28 foot fifth wheel camper with a f-250 superduty super cab with long box the total lenth of the vehicle is 44' long. the sliding hitch really helps to pinch the camper in. if you like send me your email and i will send you pictures.

 

I towed a 31' TT for 7 years and got very goodbacking and manuvering the thing. I switched to a 34' 5th last year and I can tell you from my experience the 5th manumers better and handle on the road better. Thes hardly any vertical sway, the TT had a lot of movement at the hitch vertically and made my wife sick when ever we towed. I'm still learning the 5th backs up different than the TT, turns sharper at the pin. and I have a slider that allows me to almost hit a 90 degree angle when backing up. The TT could never do that. Good Luck

 

Thanks to all for the help. I will definately have to remember the tail swing. I appreciate all the responses. Take Care

 

Tom:

How did you do with the new trailer??