Travel Trailer or Fifth Wheel

[camper1999]

Originally Posted by sor126

I started with a TT and it was nightmare to pull, every 18 wheeler that came by moved me all over the road. Inside was nice but almost no outside storage it was a Fleetwood Terry. Easy to back into any camping spot. Now own a Cardinal 30RK,, this beast tows like a dream. An 18 wheeler can barrel by and you will not move a inch on the road. There is so much outside storage it is crazy,,, I fit everything plus more that went in my pickup bed,, most importantly it stays there so there is little load time between trips. Hooking up takes minutes compared to hooking up anti sway bars and levelers. The only negatives for the 5vr is the height. Here in
Fl we have lots of live oaks which have lots of low branches, so you really have to be careful 12'8" is a lot of height.

X2 I had a 33 foot TT prior to my 35 foot FW. Height can sometimes be an issue with lower trees but I have been able to get my FW into the same parks that I did with my TT. State Parks etc.

[SKnight]

There are pros and cons to each, ultimately it's up to the individual.

Fifth wheels tow better, have more/better storage, are generally considered better layouts.

Travel trailers can tow as well as a 5er with the right hitch (So I've read) have no interior steps, are shorter meaning access to compromised height campgrounds. You have full use of your truck bed, the one thing that is really bothering me about having a fifth wheel, I can't carry my motorcycle with me.

Personally, my 5er is a better experience all around, motorcycle aside. The storage is awesome, I love the layout, tows like a dream, I get better MPG, the floor plan is great.

Fifth wheels have one handicap, an equal size and weight 5er needs more truck to tow it than a TT does because of the pin weight. You need a higher payload rated truck to carry the 22% pin weight compared to the 15% of a TT. Nowadays that's not a big issue as trucks now have pretty healthy payload ratings but if you're using an older TV or have a half ton it's something to consider.

[jimmyt11664]

I've towed both, more stable in 5ver, much easier to back up. More storage, room and comfortable. We full time. Yes you won't get into smaller parks. But there is a ton of floor plans. Walk into several of them and the go into a tt. We spent 2 years of research before we got into ours. We had a 30ft tt with a slide. What ever you do, your making the payment. Besides much easier to hook up and disconnect.

[Rugman1952]

DW and I just bought a 29' TT, toy hauler. We knew the advantages of a FW, towing, storage, etc. However, the FW that DW liked was 46K. The TT we bought was 20K! Since we both still work and can only camp about ten times a summer, could not justify making payments on a beautiful FW sitting in a storage lot the rest of the year. Also, some of the places we camp with our friends (boondocking in the National Forest) are not someplace I would want to take that big an investment. Maybe when we retire we'll make the move up to a FW. For now, I guess we'll just eat cake.

[Salt Shaker]

On our last purchase I kept all options open. I looked at many many layouts as this will be the one we will have at the coast and roam around the country when we retire in 5 years.

I would submit that airstream might put a dent in the price points.

Set up correctly they all pull great.

Salt