5th wheel vs travel trailer

jishele · 06-19-2016, 01:58 PM

I was wondering which is better 5th wheel vs travel trailer, for durability , permanent living.?
I'm considering buying a new one.

Jim34RL · 06-19-2016, 04:07 PM

In my very humble opinion it is a 5th wheel trailer. They are built better and tend to have more living space, such as a front living room model. The fivers have more storage space and basements are bigger than travel trailers, frames are stronger with some models having12 inch tall I beams in the them. The only negative would be the cost of some 5er's being over $100,000 or more.

**bikendan** · 06-19-2016, 04:11 PM

For permanent or full time living, 5th wheels are better.

jishele · 06-19-2016, 04:13 PM

Thank you, for the response , I will look at the 5th wheel,

jishele · 06-19-2016, 04:18 PM

Is it true , I have heard that you should have few slide out on travel trailer?
Is that true on 5th wheel?

**bikendan** · 06-19-2016, 04:23 PM

Have you been in any 5th wheels or TTs with slideouts?
If you had, you'd know the answer.

jishele · 06-19-2016, 04:33 PM

I've only been in a travel trailer, otherwise if I knew the answer I wouldn't have post, to get some opinion.

**Mr. Dan** · 06-19-2016, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jishele

... you should have few slide out on travel trailer?

Sorry... not sure what you mean by 'have few slide out'.

Davidg · 06-19-2016, 04:46 PM

Positives: more storage, pulls waay easier with no sway, (even when that 18 wheeler passes you), easier to maneuver/backup. solid hitch lockup (no swaybars, or leveling bars to contend with). Usually built stronger with stiff frames. Usually storage tanks are larger. Tend to be more stable when set up. Provides justification to buy nice truck.

Negatives: Requires a nice truck, heavier, almost always a 3/4 ton truck at a minimum with diesel preferred. Hitch takes up much of the truck bed. Carrying bicycles can be a challenge, depending on use of rear of rv. More expensive, usually 25% - 50% more expensive for same living space.

Some of these are not absolutes and are just my own opinion/perception from having owned both types.

Retired JSO · 06-19-2016, 04:54 PM

My bride has bad hips so we got away from the fifthwheel to another motorhome that ate my retirement so now a TT. So far so good. No slides either.

RubyDually · 06-19-2016, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davidg

Positives: more storage, pulls waay easier with no sway, (even when that 18 wheeler passes you), easier to maneuver/backup. solid hitch lockup (no swaybars, or leveling bars to contend with). Usually built stronger with stiff frames. Usually storage tanks are larger. Tend to be more stable when set up. Provides justification to buy nice truck.

Negatives: Requires a nice truck, heavier, almost always a 3/4 ton truck at a minimum with diesel preferred. Hitch takes up much of the truck bed. Carrying bicycles can be a challenge, depending on use of rear of rv. More expensive, usually 25% - 50% more expensive for same living space.

Some of these are not absolutes and are just my own opinion/perception from having owned both types.

Davidg nailed it... other than requiring a nice truck isn't a negative...

We've had both and with considering the negatives it's a fifth wheel hands down for us.

Easier to hookup, more stable (especially with the dually), lots of headroom, more storage and the list grows.

**dcheatwood** · 06-19-2016, 06:57 PM

5ers have more storage unless you compare it to a TH TT. There are a lot of large, really nice floorplans now in travel trailers but they get loonngg behind the truck.

Hutch333id · 06-19-2016, 07:06 PM

We've had both and definitely prefer a 5er. We also went with a 1 ton diesel dually so we have very little concern about towing it. Admittedly, we don't full time in our rig but certainly could if the opportunity presented itself. Acres of space inside for our needs. There's countless floor plans from a variety of manufactures but my DW fell in love with the CC38 FL. We have since looked at others but apart from the newer, six slide 38FL, we wouldn't change this for anything else.

Radio · 06-19-2016, 07:25 PM

The question not asked here is this: Are you going to park it in a site and live in it? Or are you going to go on a 10 year road trip, moving every few days.

I'd get a huge TT or park model to park at a site. No stairs, more floor plans, less cost. Towing manners are irrelevant if you're never going to tow it.

If going on the road, get a 5th wheel for the above reasons.

timfromma · 06-19-2016, 07:39 PM

TT's are good if you have budget constraints. Most if not all can be towed with a 1/2 ton truck and can be quite spacious too. My TT is 35' long, weighs 7300lbs dry, can sleep up to 9 people, has 2 kitchens, 2 entrances and only costs $30k.

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Croaker · 06-19-2016, 08:19 PM

Fifth wheels used to be more stable on the road. Better handling, tighter turning, more maneuverable, easier to hitch/un-hitch

Not anymore...the newer light-weight trailers with torsion suspension, large wheels and brakes, and the new hitches that mix weight distribution with anti sway. Also electric tongue Jacks and electric stabilization jacks make maneuvering and hook up no less bothersome than fifth-wheels.

Travel trailer hitches do not take up any space in the bed, require no holes drilled in the frame of the truck, and are easily towed with 1/2 ton trucks. Also, most travel trailers are not as high as fifth-wheels.

If you have a One-ton truck, fifth-wheel is the way to go.... If you have a 3/4 or 1/2 ton, stick with a travel trailer.

spock123 · 06-19-2016, 10:57 PM

I think the OP was maybe going to live in camper full time. I have had both and the fifth wheel pulls better and more storage under camper but if I was going to live in camper full time in one place I would get a travel trailer. I like my fifth wheel but the stairs will probably get me

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dalford · 06-20-2016, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spock123

I think the OP was maybe going to live in camper full time. I have had both and the fifth wheel pulls better and more storage under camper but if I was going to live in camper full time in one place I would get a travel trailer. I like my fifth wheel but the stairs will probably get me

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I don't understand the stair issue? If stairs are going to get you how are you going to get in and out of any RV you have? The entry stairs are far worse than the small inside stairs IMHO...

dalford · 06-20-2016, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croaker

Fifth wheels used to be more stable on the road. Better handling, tighter turning, more maneuverable, easier to hitch/un-hitch

Not anymore...the newer light-weight trailers with torsion suspension, large wheels and brakes, and the new hitches that mix weight distribution with anti sway. Also electric tongue Jacks and electric stabilization jacks make maneuvering and hook up no less bothersome than fifth-wheels.

Travel trailer hitches do not take up any space in the bed, require no holes drilled in the frame of the truck, and are easily towed with 1/2 ton trucks. Also, most travel trailers are not as high as fifth-wheels.

If you have a One-ton truck, fifth-wheel is the way to go.... If you have a 3/4 or 1/2 ton, stick with a travel trailer.

5th wheels are still more stable than bumper pulls and still much easier to hitch and unhitched. I owned a 2604ws before the 5th wheel I own now. No comparison in handling and setup/tear down.

Now, you do have a point about the TV issues..

spock123 · 06-20-2016, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalford

I don't understand the stair issue? If stairs are going to get you how are you going to get in and out of any RV you have? The entry stairs are far worse than the small inside stairs IMHO...

I go up the stairs a lot more than just getting into camper, bathroom, bed, it takes its toll. But I am not getting any younger. JMHO

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