My only other real problems with the 5th wheel were that it stuck up higher so I really had to watch for branches and stuff in the areas we go. Also, I really seemed to have less mpg with it. I can only blame it on wind resistance (it stuck up further than the tt). If you are not towing great distances it probably wouldnt matter but even 1-2 mpg adds up with as much towing as we do.

 

Thanks for al the replies. I realy like the idea of having the back of the truck for stuff. But on the towng side I have herd that backing up is a lot easyer along with more comfortable towing down the road. I dont know it is going to take a wile to deside

 

My favorite advantage to the 5th wheel.

I can U-turn with the trailer anywhere I can U-turn with the truck. I can turn +90 degrees. Can't do that with a TT. Also, with a TT for tight manuevering you need to remove the anti-sway bars.

 

That plus it's a lot of extra work hooking up and unhooking a TT because of the weight distribution bars and stuff. A 5er is soooooo freaking simple to hook/unhook. Takes maybe three minutes each way, if that.

Even my 40' trailer U-turns really easily.

Rob

 

I've had both. Right now its a 33' fifth wheel. When the time comes to get a different rig,I'll shop both styles again.

The blanket statements about a fifth wheel towing better aren't correct. A PROPERLY set up travel trailer will tow just as nice as a fifth wheel. Properly set up doesn't mean hitching up and driving away. You need to hit the scales and get the right amount of W/D for your rig and a quality sway control unit.

A friction bar is not a quality sway control unit. Something like an Equalizer or Reese Dual cam is what you should be looking at.

A fifth wheel is definately easier to get ready to tow well.

As far as hitching up goes,the fifth wheel is maybe 2-3 minutes faster to hitch than a TT. I wouldn't base my purchase decision on how fast I could hitch up.

 

I have to second what SundayMoney said about not deciding just based on hitch up time or towing ease. My current tt tows just as well as our 5th did. Also, when reconnecting at severe angles I find it easier to connect with my tt than the 5th (have to pull it around before putting the bars on it though). With that said, the 5th wheel people we go camping with can turn so much tighter than I can. Makes me look like I dont know how to drive.

 

2-3 minutes faster...?

After owning two TT's and three 5th wheels I do not find that to be the case.

But, to each his own.

I am curious to know the roll over ratio between TT's and 5th wheels...?

As to "proper" hitch setups, most RV owner's only know what their RV salesman sold them as to which hitch is the best. This goes for 5th wheel hitches as well as TT hitches.

 

Back up to the trailer,drop it on the ball,stick a W/D bar into the hitch head,snap the chain into place,and do the same for the other side.

Yea,2-3 more minutes than hitching a fifth wheel.

I'd probably blow your mind with how fast I can hitch my boat trailer.

 

My TT pulled great without WD but did get a little porposing when I would hit a large bump or expansion crack. I now have a 5er and like it much better because of the floor plan and space. I have a B&W hitch and love it. It is not a slider so I do have to watch my cab corners.

 

WoW. I am impressed. Some of the other discussions on this subject have gotten quite heated because those ingnorant 5th wheel drivers keep saying ................just kidding of course.
Guess there wont be a perfect trailer until they come up with a collapsable one. One that can sleep eight, hold four atv’s a boat and still fit under the drivers seat

 

Well it still wouldn't be perfect unless it added 45mpg to the tow vehicle.

 

I currently have a 32 ft 5th wheel, had a 24 TT before that, loved them both, the 32 ft is nice has more room, slide outs, lots of storage, pulls great with the diesel, so many floor plans to look at and consider, they are not all made the same! Some are very cheap quality, if i had to do over with this 5th wheel i would of bought a toy hauler! this one has no rear bumper, can't tow my bike or anything else. Our is the Sunny Brook Titan model it is very nice, sticker price was 51, we got it for 33, watch the prices and make them deal with you! they will come down alot.

 

RRAMctd: Very good point.
When out camping with a group we always wind up using one of the 5ers as the party house. So much more room than ours. But, for just my wife and I ours is great. The full walk around queen is always ready for me to snooze on. If we still had the kids around we would loose the dinning room at night. The right trailer for us wouldnt be the right trailer for others.

 

One big disadvantage of 5th wheel for me, vertical articulation. Fivers are inherently limited by how deep a ditch you can cross or how can you climb up onto a road over a hump. TTs have no such limitations (within reason) if you undo the WD bars. This is important for me as I tend to go to places that have un-manicured sites.

 

Pullrite Superglide
You will need a sliding hitch. Auto or manual it's up to you. I went with the auto sliding myself.