Serious RV Type Question
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Serious RV Type Question
Greetings everyone. I am new to this part of the forum as I mostly stay in the diesel area. Here is my question:
It is time to get an RV. I know what I want inside and about the size, slides, yada yada yada. Situation is this...bumper pull or 5'er?
What are the pro's and con's to a 5'er. I have borrowed friends 28ft bumper pull and seemed to be a good trip pulling that unit.
Truck details are in the signature. Would like to know as may good and bads about each kind as I plan to purchase very soon.
Thank You All!!! RC
It is time to get an RV. I know what I want inside and about the size, slides, yada yada yada. Situation is this...bumper pull or 5'er?
What are the pro's and con's to a 5'er. I have borrowed friends 28ft bumper pull and seemed to be a good trip pulling that unit.
Truck details are in the signature. Would like to know as may good and bads about each kind as I plan to purchase very soon.
Thank You All!!! RC
New User
Joined: Jul 2008
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I agree with look for the floor plan that suits you! You can tow either one, so that is not a real factor. A bigger issue might be slide outs, bed comfort (easy to make?) location of bathroom - and is it available when the slide out is closed? Back kitchens tend to shake rattle and roll... things like that.
I've only had "regular" tow behinds, but the floor plans have always been the deciding factor.
I've only had "regular" tow behinds, but the floor plans have always been the deciding factor.
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Great information guys.....keep it coming.
I agree with the floor plan comments and beleive it or not I have found layouts in both designs that I like and would suit us. that again is why I am looking for more input on things to base my decision on.
thanks again!! RC
I agree with the floor plan comments and beleive it or not I have found layouts in both designs that I like and would suit us. that again is why I am looking for more input on things to base my decision on.
thanks again!! RC
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Az City, Az
I would go with the 5er, Ive pulled both and like the 5th wheel alot more. The TT was ok but there was alot more sway from semi's and it was harder to unhook from the tow vehicle. They say it's better having the weight over the rear axle than at the very back too.
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From: Nothern Indiana
After having both and finally getting the biggest one I could find. Fiver all the way . If your staying in the 20' and under range stay with a TT anything over that the fiver is the way to go.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
The only reservation I'd have about a fiver is that on some - cracks form on the sidewalls right where the overhang on the front comes out from above the front storage compartments. It doesn't happen to all of them, but on the biggest ones it can be a real annoying problem.
Once it happens to one, it can be nearly impossible to resolve it.
Once it happens to one, it can be nearly impossible to resolve it.
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From: Windsor, Colorado
You also need to look at where you will be pulling it. 5ers are tall. If you like to head into the woods this can be a huge issue. Just need to keep the height in mind. Dont want to be like the guy in that bank security video!!
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Most of the layouts I found that I like are in the 24-28 foot range
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No woods for me!!!!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
Some other thoughts - with a TT you need a load distribution hitch and a sway control.
A fiver doesn't need an LDH, and they are usually stable enough that sway control isn't needed either.
Both of these contribute to faster hook-up and setup.
Shock Absorbers can be added to either one, and comes stock on some of them. They can be helpful.
No trailer I know of just now has anything like a swaybar/torsion bar in the suspension.
One of the plusses with an LDH though, is that you can vary the lift at the tongue to compensate for different loading.
Also keep in mind that if you want dual sway control bars, the front ball mount will be on the LDH head. If it doesn't have two mount points for them, the LDH would have to be changed if you wanted to double them up.
By the way - avoid LDH heads that use spring pins to retain the load bars. The spring pins wear out, and can let a bar drop out of it's socket. I always liked Reese/Huskey because they did away with that.
A fiver doesn't need an LDH, and they are usually stable enough that sway control isn't needed either.
Both of these contribute to faster hook-up and setup.
Shock Absorbers can be added to either one, and comes stock on some of them. They can be helpful.
No trailer I know of just now has anything like a swaybar/torsion bar in the suspension.
One of the plusses with an LDH though, is that you can vary the lift at the tongue to compensate for different loading.
Also keep in mind that if you want dual sway control bars, the front ball mount will be on the LDH head. If it doesn't have two mount points for them, the LDH would have to be changed if you wanted to double them up.
By the way - avoid LDH heads that use spring pins to retain the load bars. The spring pins wear out, and can let a bar drop out of it's socket. I always liked Reese/Huskey because they did away with that.
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Cow Town, CA
you can also typiclay make a much tighter turn in a 5er as you can just about jack knife it without really any issues.......tyring to turn in a tight area not out on the road that would be bad in anything....
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that is a very good point also in many states you can have passengers in the 5er so if you have kids or a wife that likes to stop every 50 miles to pee or eat or something just put them in the back and let them do what they want and you can just keep driving! cant do that with a TT
you can also typiclay make a much tighter turn in a 5er as you can just about jack knife it without really any issues.......tyring to turn in a tight area not out on the road that would be bad in anything....
you can also typiclay make a much tighter turn in a 5er as you can just about jack knife it without really any issues.......tyring to turn in a tight area not out on the road that would be bad in anything....
I neglected to think of that aspect but a very good point indeed.