Fiver parking vs same length TT

[Phenom]

Considering a fifth wheel that's about the same length as my current TT. 2-3' longer at most. We don't really do the RV "resort" thing so mostly state and national parks. Some of which require some tight maneuvering with my current 29.5' TT. With some practice would a fiver of similar length be able to maneuver in as tight of an area as a TT.

[DaveandSue]

Short answer is yes. I've had both and can put both in tight spots. Now have a 42' 5er and still get where I need to be. Just takes practice and want to.

.

[NMWildcat]

Given a choice, I'd rather back a fifth wheel/gooseneck than a bumper pull. And I swear, the longer the fifth wheel, the easier to back

[rockfordroo]

This woman can do pretty darn good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huaDTDBkJI8

[asquared]

It will take awhile to get the hang of the difference in backing. You can't straighten out while backing a fiver like you can a tt. You will need to leave room to pull forward some to straighten out. That had me struggling getting into some tight spots with my 42' fiver that I didn't have as much issue with my 30' tt. (Big difference in length I know). I have gotten better but still not as sure of myself backing this fiver as I was backing the tt.

Do remember that the fiver will have some of its length over the bed of your truck and as long as you have cap clearance (fiver cap vs truck rear window) you should be able to get in. If you are planning in tight spaces and have a short bed hitch I recommend a slider hitch of some sort to prevent truck/trailer damage.

[Phenom]

Besides cost. This is my biggest deterrent. The other issue is my storage area. I use every bit of the width of alley way in front of my spot to get backed in. It sounds like from what you all say, if my 30' TT can get in there, a 31.5' fiver should make it.

[KingFisher]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

This woman can do pretty darn good.

Gal's got it going on. Maybe that's where I fail. I should let the wife drive and I do the directing back into the campsite.

I love my wife dearly but every time I look into my mirrors for directions she seems to have disappeared. And then when I do see her I can see her lips moving but obviously can't hear her over the roar of the duramax since she's 50 ft away.

We have a loving relationship the rest of the time though, all the time except when backing in the travel trailer.

It took me 10 tries to get the windjammer where I wanted it in Florida. She told me after we were done, "You had it perfect the first time, don't know why you pulled up and did all that other stuff". Me: "Couldn't you have shared that information with me at the time dear?"

[timfromma]

I need to hire her to come to my house at the end of a trip.

[5picker]

It takes just a little getting used to as the 'begin to turn' ratio is slightly different between the two because of the connection point. I tow both and I prefer the 5th wheel/gooseneck both going backwards and forwards.

[BandJCarm]

Is Kingfisher really me??

LOL

One thing I learned, and it WOULD help if she would just do it. My truck has my phone bluetoothed to the radio. Well woo hoo!! Now, if she would just take out her cell phone, and call me.........I can hear her and talk to her with no hands!!! While I'm backing!!

But no...........she stands where I can't see her (Honey, if you can't see me in the mirror, I can't see you), and then I can see her mouth moving. Like what? I can't hear you most of the time when you are next to me in the living room!!! How am I gonna hear you over the truck noise from 50 feet away?? Yet, she persists in wondering why I don't pay attention to what she's saying.

Lastly, I can't convince her that I can see the left trailer wheel (I ONLY back in from the left side unless the earth shifts or some other cataclysm occurs), but I can NOT see A) the right trailer wheel, and most importantly B) the right front truck wheel. In front of my driveway is a HUGE ditch. Five foot drop off. Narrow street. Backing into my driveway, and probably a lot of places, is made worse by where that right front truck wheel might end up. So getting her to simultaneously tell me the status of right rear trailer and right front truck, is a challenge!

I have a 40' fifth wheel and had a 30 foot bumper pull, plus the tongue. Since there's about 4-5 feet hanging over truck, I'm not far off from having the same distance behind my bumper. But one big difference most don't mention, is that the 5'er fills up the space behind me. Totally blocks the back window, up to the Sky! The bumper pull blocked a lot, but not that much. It feels like you are a house mover. And I guess you are!

I admit, I 'wiggle' into spots more with the 5'er. And go much slower.

[D_B Travelers]

I am about to find out the difference between backing a 35' TT and a new SOB 40' 5er this afternoon. Luckily, we have a pull thru storage lot so I don't have any problems there, but we are headed out for the shake down camp and may be backing up into a slot. Before we ever bought the Windjammer the DW and I sat down to discuss backing up etiquette. We use radios for communication, however the BT phone in the truck cab will also work. I watched several other people try to communicate parking instructions for an RV over the years and developed a shorthand version. Do NOT tell me to turn right or left...who's right or left are you talking about? Yours...Mine? See? The DW tells me turn more or turn less while I am moving backward and of course there are the old stand bys of OMG STOP!, a little bit more, and "Why don't you get out, come look, and see what you think?" We get parked and are still speaking to each other unlike my brother and his wife who start out yelling instructions and finish by not talking for about an hour.
Thanks for the info on getting a 5er straightened out, I keep that in mind today.

[stacyrus]

Try walking talkies. Might help🤗

[jtesta1]

Get yourself to an empty parking lot bring some folding chairs to the approximate size of a camp lot and have at it.practice, practice, practice.

[timfromma]

I've never owned a fifth wheel but I imagine it easier with the pivot point being over the rear axle compared with the bumper.

[asquared]

Those if you with communication issues... walkie talkies or blue toothe/speaker phone work great. Use drivers side/ passenger side instead of left and right to eliminate confusion. It works well. DH also will telling me How far things are. Ie tree 3 feet drivers side. Our biggest issue is keeping DD quiet and out of the way.

[325BH]

The dynamics are different for sure.

Between the pin on the 5er being directly over the TV axle and the 5er's wheels being farther back -vs- the pin on the TT being behind the TV axle and the TT's wheels being closer toe the middle make for a different experience. There are pros and cons to each.

On a 5er you can turn past 90 degrees, which makes it easy (relatively) to place the trailer in a tight spot.

On a TT, it tends to follow the TV path in a turn slightly more due to wheels being closer to TV's rear wheels. When backing, less input is required to get the TT to react. This can be good or bad depending on the situation.

Simply put, there just different.

[GreenImp]

Originally Posted by Phenom

With some practice would a fiver of similar length be able to maneuver in as tight of an area as a TT.

You will have NO problem adjusting to a 5th wheel. A 30' 5th wheel will be more maneuverable than a 30' TT.

[Big Bill]

IMO 5th wheel is easier to handle and 3-4-ft over the truck bed

[tahoe1840]

I think it also has a lot to do with your hitch type. Standard or Reese Revolution. I feel with the Reese Revolution (pivots at the coach) I can get my 30' fifth wheel into some extremely tight spots where it would be very difficult to get into with a TT. Just a thought.

[pdqparalegal1]

Originally Posted by KingFisher

Gal's got it going on. Maybe that's where I fail. I should let the wife drive and I do the directing back into the campsite.

I love my wife dearly but every time I look into my mirrors for directions she seems to have disappeared. And then when I do see her I can see her lips moving but obviously can't hear her over the roar of the duramax since she's 50 ft away.

We have a loving relationship the rest of the time though, all the time except when backing in the travel trailer.

It took me 10 tries to get the windjammer where I wanted it in Florida. She told me after we were done, "You had it perfect the first time, don't know why you pulled up and did all that other stuff". Me: "Couldn't you have shared that information with me at the time dear?"

My God! I thought it was only me. Cannot explain that if she can't see me in the mirror, I can't see her. Or, drivers side at rear of trailer is best for me. Biggest help I found is a rear view camera on TT. Still need help with TT clearance on sides. We put on a show at cam ground sometimes. Enjoy the show!