I've finally been able to talk "Congress" ie wife into buying a camper. I really would like a fifth wheel but I would be unable to get it to my house. We live on a one lane road with a sharp 90 degree turn. So the fiver turning radius might be a problem. I tow our 30 ft boat in and out but I have to use my wifes Sequioa to do it. I've been over to rv.net, and read alot but would also like some opinions here. We are looking at a Forest River 2004 29ft Wildwood and a 2003 Keystone Cougar 29ft. Are these good brands? If not,which would you recommend. I'm not trying to start a war, just need some friendly advice before we spend the money. Thanks in advance.

 

if you tow a 30' boat in with a drawbar pull, then the fifth wheel will make it, especially the 29'.

 

I have to use my wifes Toyota to get the boat around the corner. My truck is too long to tow through there. I've never towed a fifth wheel before so forgive the question, but does it track in line with the truck on a corner?

 

Jetdoc is there any reason that you cannot open up the turn? A big tree in the way? Not your property or something?
Seems if you can get that big boat down the road a 29 foot fiver would be easier due to the shorter wheel base from hitch to axle. And you can 90 degree jackknife turn a fiver without hitting the cab if you have the proper equipment. That should get you around just about any corner.

 

Also a fiver will track inside the corner, just like any trailer. Watch how a semi-truck goes around a corner. A 5th wheel camper will act the same, just not as drastic a cut because the wheelbase is a lot shorter than a semi trailer.

 

A fence on one side and a big ol oak on the other....

 

So what your saying is....If my truck will fit I can get the trailer in there? more or less?

 

If you cannot get your boat through, I don't think you'll get the fiver through either. They cut the corners quite a bit.
Whenever I am out with my 36' , I have to turn right from the next lane over and turn as late as possible or my wheels will jump the curb.
A shorter trailer doesn't require nearly as much attention when turning. My first trailer was a 21' and it didn't require as much attention when turning because it would hardly cut the corners at all. The wheel base between the rear wheels of the truck and the trailer wheels was about half the distance.

 

OK Thanks for that Kwik....I might just get the hitch for the bed and give it a try!

 

Another thing to consider but it requires a lot of skill is you can back a trailer through places that you cannot pull them. It requires a lot of very small forward and reverse maneuvers to get the front end of the truck swung around and pointing in the way you want to direct the trailer. I have to do that to get my trailer back into the driveway sometimes when I return home and there is a car parked in the way and the owner is at a ball game or something. It's VERY tight maneuvering due to the limited space that I have to work with when parking but it's do-able. Kind of like piloting a boat. You don't turn the front end and go, you swing the rear end around and proceed.
Just something to think about when trying to figure out how to get around that tree.
Also a partner at the other end of the trailer with a walkie-talkie or on the cell phone is a lifesaver. They can guide you to within one inch of hitting something and if you are very careful, you make it through. It requires going at a snails pace, but it beats fixing any damage on the trailer! When approching an obstacle I have my wife call out the distances as I get closer.
She'll say: "3 feet......2 feet......1 foot......6 inches......Stop." And she will get me within 2 inches of the house.
Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

 

Sorry, I have just been listening in here. I like kwik's advise about the extra person and walkie-talkies. I bought a set a couple of months ago, and now I don't know how I kept from hitting stuff without them.
Right on Kwik!

 

I own a 2003 Keystone Cougar 5th wheel.

I pull with a 2002 F250 LB CC.
I have had very few, minor problems, all but one I have fixed myself.

Check for the Dometic Refrigorator recall before purchasing. If the recall has not been done yet, get the owner to have it done first.

Only current problem is caulk on some seames cracking. Plan to fix next weekend.

Send me an email for additional info.