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Old 09-21-2015, 12:50 PM   #21
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TT vs 5th wheel

I have a bumper pull, and use WDH, etc. Mostly the camper shell is on the truck, however for Elk Season, we remove it, and haul the ATV in the truck, so I need the bed space.
However, I am considering a short wheelbase 5W toy hauler.
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Old 09-21-2015, 01:12 PM   #22
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I've pulled a 35' TT with a 1 ton dually in heavy wind with NO PROBLEMS. Same trailer with a 3/4 ton, heavy wind and semi-trucks make driving a less desirable but doable challenge. Pulling a 35' 5th wheel with either, heavy wind or semi-trucks, ROCK SOLID, NO WHIP, NO PUSH. I would only go to a TT if going small, less than 24, to fit into the national park campgrounds. Above 24' (most, not all, NPS park spots are 25') the 5th wheel is king for the many reasons others have offered.
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Old 09-21-2015, 01:25 PM   #23
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Had both; buying a motorhome

I once owned a motorhome too, and if I had your money, I would buy a MH in a heart beat. Now, that's the way to travel. What are you looking at Lou?
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Old 09-21-2015, 01:32 PM   #24
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I would be curious what the ratio pro 5er's vs TT when it comes to my Demographic (cause its all about me dont you know). I know all the benefits to a 5er but for a family of 4, Bikes, Gear and what not the TT seems to offer much more value and floor plan options over the 5er.
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Old 09-21-2015, 02:14 PM   #25
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As others have stated the towing of a fifth wheel is so much better that a TT there is hardly any comparison. The ease of hooking and unhooking a 5th wheel is also so much easier. One last thought a TT WDH can be dangerous to unhook I already had to take one of TT friends to the hospital emergence room.
What happened with the WDH that cause bodily harm? Im curious.
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Old 09-21-2015, 02:18 PM   #26
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I would be curious what the ratio pro 5er's vs TT when it comes to my Demographic (cause its all about me dont you know). I know all the benefits to a 5er but for a family of 4, Bikes, Gear and what not the TT seems to offer much more value and floor plan options over the 5er.
This was my same thought. I feel like the "younger crowd" has TT's to accommodate the family and gear associated with the family (bikes/toys and what not) and I feel the "older" (no offense intended) has the 5ers.

Im in the younger crowd but once the kids are grown we are going to a 5er.

This is just how it seems to me and I do not mean to offend anyone and if I did I am truly sorry.
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Old 09-21-2015, 03:08 PM   #27
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We went back and forth trying to decide the same thing. We ended up with a 31 ft TT. Love it! My husband does most of the driving but I certainly have not had a problem when I drive. We love still having all the room in the covered truck bed for kayaks,chairs dirty stuff you don't want inside rig. We have friends that just got brand new 5th wheel and boy does it take up a lot of room in the bed of the truck.
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Old 09-21-2015, 03:42 PM   #28
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What happened with the WDH that cause bodily harm? Im curious.
There's a lot of stored energy in spring bars... have a firm grip and don't have your head near the pipe when releasing the chains (if that's how yours are attached).
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Old 09-21-2015, 03:57 PM   #29
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TT for us, we like the size and it pulls fine. Once the little one grows up we will prob do a 5er since we will not need to have as much for her or her at all... Although, I will say that I have been seeing more 5ers that have bunks for a family.

I do see the TT for us younger folks and the 5er for older folks. I also think it is an issue of a tow vehicle. Many people and those with family especially have small or medium suv's and light trucks (I started with a jeep then a Trailblazer) so they need a TT.
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Old 09-21-2015, 04:12 PM   #30
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TT for us, we like the size and it pulls fine. Once the little one grows up we will prob do a 5er since we will not need to have as much for her or her at all... Although, I will say that I have been seeing more 5ers that have bunks for a family.

I do see the TT for us younger folks and the 5er for older folks. I also think it is an issue of a tow vehicle. Many people and those with family especially have small or medium suv's and light trucks (I started with a jeep then a Trailblazer) so they need a TT.

My 5'r is a bunk house model. My TT before it was as well. Having two kids, I prefer a bunk house model so that everyone has their own fixed bunk. There is nothing more miserable than wanting to go to bed and waiting for everyone else to go to bed so that you can unfold the sofa bed. Click image for larger version

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Old 09-21-2015, 04:19 PM   #31
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I just installed a Andersen WD anti sway hitch on my 303RLS Catalina which I pull with a F-150. Just returned from a 160 mile trip and it was all the difference in the world. No sway even when big rigs passed, NO white knuckles, and I could drive at any speed without the steering wheel feeling queezy. I'll stick with my TT now. Also takes about five minutes to hook up. No heavy bars, no messy grease, wife can do it.
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Old 09-21-2015, 04:26 PM   #32
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My 5'r is a bunk house model. My TT before it was as well. Having two kids, I prefer a bunk house model so that everyone has their own fixed bunk. There is nothing more miserable than wanting to go to bed and waiting for everyone else to go to bed so that you can unfold the sofa bed. Attachment 89479Attachment 89480


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My crossroads TT was a bunk.
Wanted a bunkhouse with a DOOR not a curtain. Found the qbok fifth was exactly what I wanted.


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Old 09-21-2015, 04:40 PM   #33
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For me and my wife, the difference is one word... stability! We have owned 5 travel trailers over 20 years and the last one, a 37 foot Open Range we absolutely loved (pulled by a 2005 Ford Excursion. A year and a half ago we were coming down I-81 at the NC/VA state line (a several mile steep grade down the mountain). While in the right lane a tractor trailer went by us in the left lane so fast it literally pulled us into teh left lane behind him. We almost lost it off the mountain. That was the last straw even though we had issues before with high winds and tractor-trailer trucks. We sold the Excursion two weeks later and bought a F-350. We sold the TT a few weeks later and bought a fifth wheel. No complaints from me or my wife now.

The mountain downgrade was so bad my wife swore she would never go camping in the TT again... and didn't.
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Old 09-21-2015, 04:51 PM   #34
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When I was with the Carnival, my Gypsy friends always traveled with a TT pulled by a Cadillac car. I have traded my Cadillac for a Truck, that's my only difference.
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Old 09-21-2015, 05:01 PM   #35
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I have one of those long bumper pull tt(32+ feet) and have no issues pulling it at any speed I want. A properly setup WDH allows that. I really want to keep my covered bed of my truck for other things during travel. Im sure the 5er is wonderful. Just not enough for me to go that route.
X 2 plus the additional height and frontal area of 5er is big drag and cost fuel mileage. Also not having to climb stairs as we get older. I can hook up my tt about as fast as one hooking up 5er. Later RJD
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Old 09-21-2015, 05:02 PM   #36
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have been over road driver for 42 years. 5th wheel handle better on down the road. are heavier thus need for big expensive truck .have more living space . I have a 33 foot tt pulled by a 2009 2500hd . I installed e rated trailer tires, double sway bars and travel back and forth from Pittsburgh pa to Miami fl . if I hit heavywinds it does sway a little but nothing you cant handle .pulls wv mountains with no problem
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Old 09-21-2015, 05:22 PM   #37
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No matter what you buy, there are tradeoffs. Weight, towing, storage, accessories, capabilities, tank sizes, cost, etc. What helps is to make a list of what you must have, what you want, what you won't put up with, etc. Then score each item to help decide what best meets your needs.

I will say a TT of the same size usually costs less than a 5er.
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Old 09-21-2015, 05:58 PM   #38
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We did a comparison of TT And 5th wheel. Found that 5th wheel depreciated much faster than TT. If you plan to trade within 5 years or so, might consider the TT.
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Old 09-21-2015, 06:01 PM   #39
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The bodily harm was caused by the WDH bar when trying to release the pressure on the arms to remove the chains. The bar slipped when releasing and cut a deep gash in the TT owners thigh. But after several stitches he was good the go the rest of the weekend.
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Old 09-21-2015, 06:11 PM   #40
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We went 35' TT so we could haul an ATV.
Just got back from 10 days of camping and 2000 miles.
No issues in wind, on freeway or grades.
Very happy.
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