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Old 03-28-2013, 09:06 AM   #1
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5th wheel vs travel trailer

Ok we are stuck between 2 options with a new camper.

Option 1 9072lb scaled dry 5th wheel

or

Option 2 7500lb Travel trailer

Both are within my trucks abilities and both have different positives and negatives.

My question is what will be a better tow for long trips from NY to FL, one or 2 times a year other trips will be short 2-5hrs.

Most the guys I know have switched to bigger heavier 5th wheel campers and would never go back to a travel trailer. I'm still stuck on the almost 1600lb weight difference?

Opinions? I have left out the brands as I do NOT want this to become a brand discussion!
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Old 03-28-2013, 09:08 AM   #2
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5th wheel hands down imo.
Owned both.


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Old 03-28-2013, 09:11 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by bardeenm1 View Post
Ok we are stuck between 2 options with a new camper.

Option 1 9072lb scaled dry 5th wheel

or

Option 2 7500lb Travel trailer

Both are within my trucks abilities and both have different positives and negatives.

My question is what will be a better tow for long trips from NY to FL.

Most the guys I know have switched to bigger heavier 5th wheel campers and would never go back to a travel trailer. I'm still stuck on the almost 1600lb weight difference?

Opinions? I have left out the brands as I do NOT want this to become a brand discussion!
From my 40+ yrs of pulling rv's, 7 tongue trailers and 2 5vers, I can honestly say my present 5ver is the best towing rv we've owned bar none even tho' according to the weight police I am overloaded.
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Old 03-28-2013, 09:20 AM   #4
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It generally comes down to pros. vs. cons.

For me, the pros of a fifth wheel won.

I like that I have more headroom inside (at the cost of being taller outside *and* having more steps to deal with).

I like that hookup is simple (just back into the hitch & throw the handle vs. sway controls, weight distributing hitches, etc.).

I also couldn't wrap my head around a TT over 30' (I know lots of people do it)- I just felt like I needed a FW for those lengths.

The loss of my truck bed for storage was made up for by the basement storage on the fiver. I like that I'm not moving stuff back and forth from the truck to the camper and vice versa.

I never found a TT with the shower the size that we have in our FW. (Nor in many other FWs for that matter.)
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Old 03-28-2013, 09:23 AM   #5
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5th wheel hands down imo.
Owned both.

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Old 03-28-2013, 09:25 AM   #6
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I purchased my 1st Fifth Wheeler (40') last July, but have had many pull trailers all the way from Tent Trailer to Travel Trailers (last one 30'), at this point if I have the capacity to pull the Fifth Wheeler that is what I will stay with, it pulls wonderfully.
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Old 03-28-2013, 09:56 AM   #7
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Sounds to me that once you go 5th wheel you never go back!

This reinforces others opinions that I have had. The not ever having the 5th wheel and having numerous TT previous though had me wondering if the few people I had spoken to had just drank the 5th "Kool Aid" but it sounds as if the 5th wheel "Kool Aid" is in fact the good stuff!
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:20 AM   #8
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Quote:
Option 1 9072lb scaled dry 5th wheel

or

Option 2 7500lb Travel trailer
Check your state driver license requirement if you go over 10000lbs GVW.
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:24 AM   #9
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We ended up with a TT, but we toyed around with the idea of a 5'er. The difference for us ended up being that we could by an ultra-lite and still use our current vehicle (an SUV). Rather than buying a TV and camper.

I do love the floor plans of many 5th wheels, though. Perhaps one day we'll upgrade, but probably not until I don't need the space in my vehicle for kids.
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:25 AM   #10
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Having towed both, I'd never go back to a TT. Our 5W seems more aerodynamic and in spite of the extra weight compared to our previous TT, no penalty in towing at least on flat land.

Considerably more storage room, higher ceilings for the feeling of more open space and better towing manners for the 5W.

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Old 03-28-2013, 10:26 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by bardeenm1 View Post

Option 1 9072lb scaled dry 5th wheel

or

Option 2 7500lb Travel trailer

Both are within my trucks abilities and both have different positives and negatives.
What truck do you have, along with the GVWR and GCWR ?? Just because it is rated to tow "x" amount of weight, does not necessarily indicate that it can handle the pin or hitch weight.
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:26 AM   #12
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Check your state driver license requirement if you go over 10000lbs GVW.


Will do.

Anyone from NY and other eastern states know if we have limits at 10K?
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:28 AM   #13
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What truck do you have, along with the GVWR and GCWR ?? Just because it is rated to tow "x" amount of weight, does not necessarily indicate that it can handle the pin or hitch weight.
I have used the calculators and I am within the needed ratings.
The topic is purely to discuss what is more enjoyable towing experience.
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:29 AM   #14
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Check your state driver license requirement if you go over 10000lbs GVW.
Don't think it applies to RV's in the States.
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:35 AM   #15
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Don't think it applies to RV's in the States.
It's very state-dependent. In Maryland, if you go over a gross combined weight rating of 26,001 pounds, you're required to have a special class A non-commercial license. Which reminds me... I need to head into the MVA.

BUT- you don't have to be licensed for the state that you're driving into. Just where your license actually is issued from. If you're fine on a regular license in your home state, coming to MD doesn't mean you have to have the class A/non-commercial license.
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:39 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by bardeenm1 View Post
I have used the calculators and I am within the needed ratings.
The topic is purely to discuss what is more enjoyable towing experience.
Then why not list your tow vehicle ??

That 5th wheel hitched to a 1/2 ton truck is gonna be way over the GVWR, and would not be a enjoyable experience, as well as being dangerous. A 3/4 ton truck maybe, and a 1 ton truck most probably would be OK.

Even the hitch weight of a that bumper pull trailer may put a 1/2 ton truck over the GVWR limit depending on passengers and cargo. If that were the case, again it would probably not be an enjoyable towing experience.
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:50 AM   #17
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Don't think it applies to RV's in the States.
I only mentioned that because someone from California on one of these threads? was surprised about that requirement. Perhaps another RV forum? Certainly applies to us in most of Canada.
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:54 AM   #18
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I have used the calculators and I am within the needed ratings.
The topic is purely to discuss what is more enjoyable towing experience.
A most enjoyable towing experience is when your camper, bet it fifth wheel or traveling trailer is within your truck's spec'd ratings and you've verified them yourself (via weighing and not trusting online guides or calculators). Not saying that you haven't.

I matched the truck that I have to the fifth wheel that I wanted.

When I had my Durango, I had a pop-up and had an enjoyable towing experience.

Hands-down, it's hard to argue that a TT will tow as well as a FW unless you're towing a fifth wheel beyond your truck's means. (Which, you say it isn't- so it should be a moot point.)
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:58 AM   #19
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Even more important than the 26k GCWR is the stipulation of a Class A non-commercial license if you tow anything over 10k. But that's MD. It sounds like the OP would need to check FL and/or NY laws on the matter.

NY DMV states that your Class D license allows you to drive a truck with 26k GVWR or less and a trailer of 10k or less. OR you can drive a truck with 26k or less and a trailer of MORE than 10K ONLY if the GCWR of both vehicles is 26K or less.

If you want to drive an RV of more than 26k combined, you need to get the R designation for your Class D license.

They do not state whether that R allows you to TOW an RV with a combo in excess of 26k, so you will want to check with your state. You may need a CDL to be legal.

In FL, it looks as though it has to be under 26k GCWR and 10k GVWR on the trailer. Otherwise you are into a CDL. I could be reading their site wrong though.

On the original discussion, I have a 35' TT and I've towed my dads 40' 5er. Both towed easily enough for me due to the truck/hitch setup, but I preferred the hitching/unhitching of the 5er to my TT.

They provide more space, they are more stable. But then they also cost more money. If money isn't an issue, then I would definitely go with the 5er.

I'm just biding my time with the TT until the DW lets me upgrade.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Old 03-28-2013, 11:21 AM   #20
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Towed both, the 5th Wheel is much more stable at speed, particularly in a crosswind, and easier to maneuver. JMHO
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