I have towed both. I prefer our 5th wheel. It tows so much better. I have even considered swapping out my bumper pull car trailer for a goose neck car trailer.
Good job on explaining the difference between a TT and 5th wheel. For us we are definitely preferring our 5th wheel to our previous TT when it comes to hitching and unhitching. Not having to deal with the anti-sway bars which were heavy and cumbersome has made the job of hitching and unhitching a lot quicker and easier. We are so quick with our 5th wheel that it's no longer a dreaded task.
We have towed everything from a pop-up to a fifth wheel. We have owned six different camping trailers. A few years ago we purchased a 29 foot Alpenlite, which was a high quality fifth wheel. We towed it with our 2011 Ram 2500 diesel. While it towed well, I always felt that it towed heavy. I believe it weighed right around 10k pounds empty. After owning it a couple of years, we sold it and went back to a travel trailer. We have recently purchased an Alliance Delta 292RL. It is definitely a little longer than the fifth wheel in terms of overall length. The Delta is about 8700 pounds empty. Our first trip was out west to Wyoming, and there was one section of interstate where the expansion joints in the pavement about wore me out. It was terrible. I do believe that section of road would definitely had been better with a fifth wheel. We have since added a hitch with an air bag and it has improved the ride quality greatly. For now, our preference is a travel trailer. We like having everything on one level, and the reduced towing weight. As you mentioned, I also like towing a trailer with less height which results in less drag. And finally, with a travel trailer, I believe you get more square feet for your money, and for many, cost is a big consideration. Thanks for the video. I know a lot of people debate which way to go when it comes to choosing an RV.
Well said! I had a TT and went to a 5th wheel and everything you have said is absolutely true! I especially liked the feeling of never having to worry about the TT swaying and killing us!
We have so enjoyed going to the Fith Wheel for drivability and comfort! No more "White Knuckle" for John pulling the 36 foot Toy Hauler! 😂 There were some days with road conditions or wind that made the travel trailer a real challenge. Great video! Thanks Patrick and Patty. J&C 🍀
I have towed both and either can work fine. Have a travel trailer at the moment. Like the lower overall height mainly for some tight camp spots with lower branches and the like. If I have my weight distribution hitch putting enough weight on the front of my tow vehicle then it is very stable. No issues with trucks passing or meeting them on two lane roads. Reality is that most folks do have a weight distribution hitch, but don't have it properly set up, and ultimately are not transferring much weight to the front. Properly set up and sway is a non issue. But either can work well and tow well depending on your wants and needs for sure. My overall length with an almost 30 foot trailer and a long pick up is right around 50 feet, so ferries cost a little more :) but not a problem for towing, and I still seem to be able to get into most camp spots without issue. That is the beauty of RVing, there is something for everyone.. Great review, and as always safe travels....
Thank you for making this video! We picked up our new Cougar fifth wheel in a few weeks. We have a travel trailer and when a truck goes around you do hang on to the wheel a lot tighter. I can't wait to experience the fifth wheel and you're right about the room it feels more comfortable more roomy when we were looking. This video answered a lot of my questions you can't find from other channels.
Thanks for telling us about your experience with both. We've ordered our first fifth wheel, a Brinkley Z2900 and will have a Gen-Y Gooseneck hitch on it. Our current travel trailer is 35'7" and the Z2900 is 33'11" so our total length will be less with the 5th than with the TT. So exciting.
Any issues wit hgas stations? My biggest issue is getting gas in my truck while pulling camper. Was seriously considering buying a diesel just to make it less stressful getting fuel.
Love our 5th wheel. We experienced the same things going from a travel trailer. Both were basically same length so we are actually shorter with the fifth wheel. And yes more roomy than the TT. Great video.
I have had both and prefer a travel trailer. Backing a 5er takes a lot more tow vehicle movement and space than conventional and they tend to cut corners and not track the same path as the truck . Also from a physics perspective 5ers have a much higher center of gravity and can push more while cornering. Not much difference going forward down the road with a properly set up anti sway hitch system. 5ers tend to buck with expansion joints on the freeways. Smaller 5ers usually but not always require you to open the slide to get to the bathroom and bedroom which requires getting to a pretty level spot. I do agree about the increased living space once at your location.
This is the answer I was looking for. Which one is easier to back up into a spot sounds like 5th wheel is harder. This is all new to me so trying to learn!
Good Sunday Morning ! Great comparison on the two types of RV units. I too have experienced the 'white knuckle' clutch ( on the steering wheel ) while driving my Rv Trailer down 495 in New England. When pulling my rig, I always keep an eye out for the wild cat trucker doing 75 mph, getting through the crowds of vehicles out there. I have noticed a recent uptick in the number of state troopers out patrolling our interstates here in Massachusetts. There seems to be an effort by the state to control the excessive speed out there. Pulling my Sonic 200 VML back to Maine for the summer...... Bill S.
That's the speed limit on US 30 in Indiana after leaving Ohio which is where we were. I choose to drive the speed limit. 55 years old and have never had a speeding ticket in my life and don't plan on changing that. :)
Good job on the video you made all good points! I've thought about making a similar video on truck camper vs travel trailer but I just haven't got around to it.
That was my thought along with the extra cost of the receiver hitch to be installed in your truck bed. But my husband says there is plenty of storage in a fiver. But for big items?
We are moving to a 5ver. We currently have towed a 20 ft TT towed by a Jeep Gladiator. 9-10 mpg with a small tank. The TT was actually high up for off road clearance so there were four steps to get in and it was about 11 feet high. We now have a 3500 turbo diesel and plan on getting an Alliance All Access, either 23ML or 24RK. Height will be about 12’2” and 27 ft long with 3-4 over the bed. Happy to be moving to the 5ver.
For backing a 5th wheel with a short bed truck, like what i have, the B&W slider hitch solves the issue. Without the slider, I have to be careful when backing or the front can hit my cab. So if I anticipate a need for tight turns when backing, I stop, put truck in park, pull a handle on the hitch to release the slider, then get back in the truck, hold the trailer brake, and gently ease the truck forward. That moves the hitch head backwards in the bed so i can turn up to 90 degrees.
i towed my 26ft travel trailer from florida to south carolina with a 15 ft box truck uhaul, had no extra sway bars or anything.,. it was perfect didnt even feel it behind me. smooth ride going 70mph pretty much all the way.
Pros n cons to both.. Im done with my 35 ft 5th wheel..Yea it might tow better but I get 300 miles less on a tank of fuel (and thats with no head winds)Its huge, tall..I cant roll it it in my shop to work on it..Cant go off road unless its wide open with no trees...Ill get a great hitch and be happy..I can deal with a few feet less space... JMHO..Great vid BTW
Great video. Hands down a 5th wheel is a lot less stressful towing than a TT. I have had several 5th wheels, travel trailers and motorhomes. Even the motorhome was stressful driving. A MH with their large windshield makes you feel you your right out front with no airbags on some MH.
We have had several th wheels and now are in our mid 70's. We now have had 3 bumper pulls due to or age and knees. So age sometimes dictates what you ca.p in .
Excellent video, thanks for putting it together, I found it very helpful. I need to replace one of my vehicles soon, and considering getting a new gas F350 7.3L SuperCab XLT SRW in the near future, equipped with what I need so that I can easily tow reasonably sized travel trailers or fifth wheels without a lot of drama. To do that I'm looking at getting the 8 ft bed and the factory fifth wheel prep package along with a fixed fifth wheel hitch compatible with the Ford puck system. My thought is to rent a couple of different size travel trailers and fifth wheels and see what suits us best before investing in my own trailer. Thanks again, best of luck to you.
With a fifth wheel, you lose space in bed. You have to have a 3/4 or bigger truck to pull, not because of overall weight but the hitch/ tongue weight. Then there’s the overall height issue. Most trailers are approximately 11’ or so, whereas the 5’ers are 13+’ . I’ve looked at 5th wheels in the past, but my wife had problems with steps into the trailer and didn’t want to climb more stairs inside. My vote is still travel trailers.😊
We don't camp any more. My thought is if you're full time then 5th wheel is the way to go. If your still working and camping part time then I need the pick up bed for hauling ect.
Great video. We have a 29’ traveltrailer and have been considering a 5th wheel because of all the reasons you mention. What is holding us back is the fact that we do lot of boondocking. That means off-roading. My concern is damaging tail gate when going over humps and ditches. But also most 5th wheel seems to have much less ground clearing compared to our travel trailer. Would appreciate your thoughts.
To help With the Wind & Milage U can use A Wing for the top of the Cap of the Truck to help with U-R Mileage U Can get in Fiberglass it is cheaper than The Chrome Aluminum Good Luck with U-R Milage.
I would have thought a fifth wheel would be harder to hitch up so this along with the overall length and the extra space…. this was both interesting and helpful knowledge for us who’ve never experienced both! 👍
Over the last 40 years we have had several different, Class A, Class C, Fifth wheels, and Bumper Pulls. We have tried them all. Currently we have a 32 ft bumper pull. Love the lower height and this time we installed a Hensley Sway Elimination Hitch. With this hitch this unit tows better than "Any fifth wheel" we've had (3 units 30 - 35 ft) The big difference is the sway elimination versus all the others that are sway control. If your unit is set up with the Correct Hitch and Setup Correctly then the towing issue should be strictly which trailer better suits you living needs.
The Scamp 19' is small but it is a goosneck hitch, The ball is in the pickup bed right where the fifth wheel would be. I had one and towed it with my V-6 2005 Tundra got excellent fuel mileage and no issues going up grades. The trailer was just to small for us. We now have a 1685 Lance trailer.
The big difference I found is with the disconnecting. A travel trailer can be slightly jackknifed. A 5th wheel has to be disconnected almost straight on. You can't go over the side of the bed of a truck.
@@TruckingInABlueDream depends on the 5th wheel hitch. I have a slider pullrite and I have to be less then 10* of an angle to get it to latch. That's the nature of this beast.
Awesome vids as always. I’m more curious about how you deal with the drop in quality. I have watched your videos of the new rig. Seeing trim in the seam panels is horrific in terms of fabrication…. What are they covering up or do they not use precision CNC routers? Glass windows versus thermal, electrical wiring thru the sub cabinets, looks like Medusa’s hair, versus a well thought out wiring bundle of the Lance. Maybe it is just me, but going from a Lance Trailer (or Oliver, Airstream, KNAUS/NuCamp) to ANY RV Product made in Indiana is like going from a 5 star seafood restaurant where a helicopter airlifts you fish from the fishing boat while you enjoy and $900 bottle of wine, to walking across the street and waiting in line for hours at a Jack in the Box. lol I can dewinterize with air in less than 2 minutes with on board air due to the smart layout , not to mention making 7 to 10 days off grid is cake in the Lance. So efficient on energy due to the 4 seasons build. Beyond quiet for those times we are at an RV lot we don’t hear anybody outside our trailer. Windows are a huge part of that. However, a large chunk our trips is enjoying the travel time; being able to quickly pass from 45mph to 90Mph in a few seconds around multiple semi trucks , stay up or out of potential traffic issues in high wind roads, cut thru back roads, drive in cities... As an engineer I don’t think using a weight distribution hitch with a trailer over 5000 lbs is ever a good idea, structurally , but our Lance tows amazing as is. ~So well balanced and we replaced the black tank with an additional 50 gals or freshwater which we take every time which technically is in the wrong direction. IF I am going to pay for an RV , I really struggle ever going to any RV dealer for anything once I purchase an RV. Have you had to take it back due to poor craftsmanship ? Your videos are one of the reasons we bought a Lance over an airstream. So glad we did so thanks for your effort depicting your Lance. I like a lot of what a 5th wheel could offer but there are virtually none made outside Indiana by a quality company so that would be a hard obstacle.
I think you are correct in all of your observations. We went from a NuCamp which in my opinion is the best built RV we have ever owned down to a Lance which is very well built down to the Alliance and that was a huge step down in quality construction in my opinion. BUT....we are loving the extra space it provides us so we are dealing with the construction issues. Great post...thanks for sharing.
@@TravelswithDelaney Thanks! Being that KNAUS owns NuCamp I keep hoping they would start to manufacture premier brands like KNAUS, Tabbert or other quality units from other companies within the USA. Or even other brands like ADRIA. The euro units and Caravans are miles head of what we have here in the USA at a fraction of the cost. 10 Year warranties are the norm there. There is a very large flood in western US, with Australian Caravans. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen a $200K BruderX8 on the road and 5 years ago nobody knew what that was. A lot of the problem is most Americans buy from features not quality and construction, picking emotion over education. So the structure to build cheap keeps growing. We have some friends that like our Lance but we actually steered them towards a Tab320 Black Canyon which they just ordered. Smarter, better, more efficient, smaller. To think a Chevy half ton diesel can pull one at 75mph and still get 23mpg is crazy.
The hot topic with 5th wheels lately has been nothing but "frame flex." Glad to see something else on You Tube instead of that topic when discussing 5th wheels.
UA-cam station big truck big rv talked to lippert and had a two part video. Mentioned the frame flex was happening close to 17000 lb trailers mentioned from lippert
Hello Delany. This helps out alot. I have a question. In regards to solar and a good sized battery bank and an atmospheric water generator (like water gen)... I don't see much discussion surrounding this. Granted, it's not cheap... Maybe 6 to 8k for a 2.4Kw system and another 2 grand or so for a water generator. Aside from cost, I just love the idea of always having power and producing all of my water needs. Say 6 to 8 litres a day for cooking cleaning, washing, toilet etc. If you're docking at a camp with hook ups, then obviously you don't need this but to have piece of mind to go wherever you want or boondocks on BLM land etc. it just seems like a no Brainer to essentially be independent of any hookups.
With the addition of antilock brakes on both TT and fifth wheels, it is more about diesel vs gas tow vehicle. No doubt with over 12,000 lbs a diesel is better. Less than 10,000 and anti sway hitch gas is better.
I'll stay with a travel trailer because with a fifth wheel I would not be able to put all the stuff in the back of the truck that I do. For example my kayaks up on the rack would not go with a fifth wheel. Then there's the firewood, electric bikes, my Blackstone camp stove, I could go on and on.
BIG one for me. I can rent a truck and pull a travel trailer. I cannot do that with a fifth wheel. Enterprise rents 2500 trucks and I haul my travel trailer to my work site and leave it for a few months. Then I move to the next location.
This is my main concern. I have a jeep grand Cherokee and I cannot imagine thing a travel trailer around, no matter what my towing rating is. Renting a truck seems like a better idea.
Possibly if you have a 1/2 truck with a large payload capacity and small 5th wheel with a low pin weight. Most 5th wheels though would need at least a 3/4 ton to properly tow.
Ours is just a fixed position Reese hitch. It’s what we used with our 35’ 5th wheel and we never had any issues with it. We do get some chucking with it but it doesn’t really bother me.
comparing 23 to 27 ft living space is not a fair comparison , i am not anti 5th wheel at all , those elevated ceiling are pain your air-conditioner proved it , bigger truck needed and constant towing for less gas mileage is a large added expense, its all about personal preference but good videos.
I have towed both. I prefer our 5th wheel. It tows so much better. I have even considered swapping out my bumper pull car trailer for a goose neck car trailer.
Good job on explaining the difference between a TT and 5th wheel. For us we are definitely preferring our 5th wheel to our previous TT when it comes to hitching and unhitching. Not having to deal with the anti-sway bars which were heavy and cumbersome has made the job of hitching and unhitching a lot quicker and easier. We are so quick with our 5th wheel that it's no longer a dreaded task.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Hitching my 5th wheel is super simple. I used to dread the TT hitch.
We have towed everything from a pop-up to a fifth wheel. We have owned six different camping trailers.
A few years ago we purchased a 29 foot Alpenlite, which was a high quality fifth wheel. We towed it with our 2011 Ram 2500 diesel. While it towed well, I always felt that it towed heavy. I believe it weighed right around 10k pounds empty. After owning it a couple of years, we sold it and went back to a travel trailer.
We have recently purchased an Alliance Delta 292RL. It is definitely a little longer than the fifth wheel in terms of overall length. The Delta is about 8700 pounds empty. Our first trip was out west to Wyoming, and there was one section of interstate where the expansion joints in the pavement about wore me out. It was terrible. I do believe that section of road would definitely had been better with a fifth wheel.
We have since added a hitch with an air bag and it has improved the ride quality greatly.
For now, our preference is a travel trailer. We like having everything on one level, and the reduced towing weight. As you mentioned, I also like towing a trailer with less height which results in less drag. And finally, with a travel trailer, I believe you get more square feet for your money, and for many, cost is a big consideration.
Thanks for the video. I know a lot of people debate which way to go when it comes to choosing an RV.
Well said! I had a TT and went to a 5th wheel and everything you have said is absolutely true! I especially liked the feeling of never having to worry about the TT swaying and killing us!
We have so enjoyed going to the Fith Wheel for drivability and comfort! No more "White Knuckle" for John pulling the 36 foot Toy Hauler! 😂 There were some days with road conditions or wind that made the travel trailer a real challenge. Great video! Thanks Patrick and Patty. J&C 🍀
Thank you so much!
I have towed both and either can work fine. Have a travel trailer at the moment. Like the lower overall height mainly for some tight camp spots with lower branches and the like. If I have my weight distribution hitch putting enough weight on the front of my tow vehicle then it is very stable. No issues with trucks passing or meeting them on two lane roads. Reality is that most folks do have a weight distribution hitch, but don't have it properly set up, and ultimately are not transferring much weight to the front. Properly set up and sway is a non issue. But either can work well and tow well depending on your wants and needs for sure. My overall length with an almost 30 foot trailer and a long pick up is right around 50 feet, so ferries cost a little more :) but not a problem for towing, and I still seem to be able to get into most camp spots without issue. That is the beauty of RVing, there is something for everyone.. Great review, and as always safe travels....
We went from Rockwood mini lite to 26 RD Alliance. The room is such a difference and the towing is easier.
Great video. I see you were listening to Yacht Rock radio. The best station!!!!
We love Yacht Rock and seem to listen to it most of the time.
Thank you for making this video! We picked up our new Cougar fifth wheel in a few weeks. We have a travel trailer and when a truck goes around you do hang on to the wheel a lot tighter. I can't wait to experience the fifth wheel and you're right about the room it feels more comfortable more roomy when we were looking. This video answered a lot of my questions you can't find from other channels.
Congratulations on the new Cougar 5th wheel!
Thanks for telling us about your experience with both. We've ordered our first fifth wheel, a Brinkley Z2900 and will have a Gen-Y Gooseneck hitch on it. Our current travel trailer is 35'7" and the Z2900 is 33'11" so our total length will be less with the 5th than with the TT. So exciting.
Congratulations! The Brinkley’s look so nice. We loved the look of them inside….almost felt more like an apartment than an RV which we loved.
Any issues wit hgas stations? My biggest issue is getting gas in my truck while pulling camper. Was seriously considering buying a diesel just to make it less stressful getting fuel.
Love our 5th wheel. We experienced the same things going from a travel trailer. Both were basically same length so we are actually shorter with the fifth wheel. And yes more roomy than the TT. Great video.
Thank you.
I have had both and prefer a travel trailer. Backing a 5er takes a lot more tow vehicle movement and space than conventional and they tend to cut corners and not track the same path as the truck . Also from a physics perspective 5ers have a much higher center of gravity and can push more while cornering. Not much difference going forward down the road with a properly set up anti sway hitch system. 5ers tend to buck with expansion joints on the freeways. Smaller 5ers usually but not always require you to open the slide to get to the bathroom and bedroom which requires getting to a pretty level spot. I do agree about the increased living space once at your location.
This is the answer I was looking for. Which one is easier to back up into a spot sounds like 5th wheel is harder. This is all new to me so trying to learn!
Great breakdown. i bet this video will find new people that haven't seen you before. The 5th makes more sense to me between the two.
Hopefully it will help someone who is trying to decide which one would be best for them.
If we did not have a motor home we would definitely have a fifth wheel. They just have the most space. Lynn and Danny
Good Sunday Morning !
Great comparison on the two types of RV units. I too have experienced the 'white knuckle' clutch ( on the steering wheel ) while driving my Rv Trailer down 495 in New England. When pulling my rig, I always keep an eye out for the wild cat trucker doing 75 mph, getting through the crowds of vehicles out there. I have noticed a recent uptick in the number of state troopers out patrolling our interstates here in Massachusetts. There seems to be an effort by the state to control the excessive speed out there. Pulling my Sonic 200 VML back to Maine for the summer...... Bill S.
Thank you Bill! You know we love Maine. I don’t think we will make it up there this year though
no matter the truck, i love how he's coasting at 60:) safe speed
That's the speed limit on US 30 in Indiana after leaving Ohio which is where we were. I choose to drive the speed limit. 55 years old and have never had a speeding ticket in my life and don't plan on changing that. :)
Indiana highway comment. If Hwy 30 is anything like I70 in that state, anything over 25 will tear you apart. 😂😂
Everyday is saturday!!
Good job on the video you made all good points! I've thought about making a similar video on truck camper vs travel trailer but I just haven't got around to it.
Thanks Todd! I think you should do that video. I know I would love to see it as we have always thought about a truck camper.
ODTR, Bruh! ODTR! Great video, BTW!
And, as always, Bentley says, "Woof, woof!" to the the pups!
Thanks for the information. Actually, good information. I support you bro.
Thank you!
Love all your sharing and comparisons. Please keep your channel 🙏 ❤😊! You won't run out of ideas.
Thank you so much!
Great video. Should do a video on how you hook up the 5th wheel to your truck like you did with the trailer.
Thats a great idea….I will work on that.
I thought about a fiver but I am concerned about the loss of truck bed space for kayaks and bikes, so I have been hesitant.
Gooseneck hitch is the answer to that issue.
I should have mentioned that as a difference between the two.
Exactly my concern. I don't want to give up the use of the truck bed.
That was my thought along with the extra cost of the receiver hitch to be installed in your truck bed. But my husband says there is plenty of storage in a fiver. But for big items?
We are moving to a 5ver. We currently have towed a 20 ft TT towed by a Jeep Gladiator. 9-10 mpg with a small tank. The TT was actually high up for off road clearance so there were four steps to get in and it was about 11 feet high.
We now have a 3500 turbo diesel and plan on getting an Alliance All Access, either 23ML or 24RK. Height will be about 12’2” and 27 ft long with 3-4 over the bed. Happy to be moving to the 5ver.
For backing a 5th wheel with a short bed truck, like what i have, the B&W slider hitch solves the issue.
Without the slider, I have to be careful when backing or the front can hit my cab. So if I anticipate a need for tight turns when backing, I stop, put truck in park, pull a handle on the hitch to release the slider, then get back in the truck, hold the trailer brake, and gently ease the truck forward. That moves the hitch head backwards in the bed so i can turn up to 90 degrees.
i towed my 26ft travel trailer from florida to south carolina with a 15 ft box truck uhaul, had no extra sway bars or anything.,. it was perfect didnt even feel it behind me. smooth ride going 70mph pretty much all the way.
I have a Scamp 19 - think it's the best of both worlds really. With a Nissan Titan can fit it in two tandem parking spots. Great video!
I agree - have a Scamp 19 too! We tow with a GMC diesel and get great mileage.
Pros n cons to both.. Im done with my 35 ft 5th wheel..Yea it might tow better but I get 300 miles less on a tank of fuel (and thats with no head winds)Its huge, tall..I cant roll it it in my shop to work on it..Cant go off road unless its wide open with no trees...Ill get a great hitch and be happy..I can deal with a few feet less space... JMHO..Great vid BTW
Will you sale travel trailer
Great video. Hands down a 5th wheel is a lot less stressful towing than a TT. I have had several 5th wheels, travel trailers and motorhomes. Even the motorhome was stressful driving. A MH with their large windshield makes you feel you your right out front with no airbags on some MH.
Have had both and towing a fifth wheel is much easier for me. I found backing in much easier too.
Excellent insights. We are considering downsizing from a Class A and your video helps a lot! Many thanks!
We have had several th wheels and now are in our mid 70's. We now have had 3 bumper pulls due to or age and knees. So age sometimes dictates what you ca.p in .
As always a great talk 👍
We have a Lance 1995 and are considering a 5th wheel. You put my mind to rest on a lot of issues especially overall vehicle length.
Hi, thank you the information regarding the differences between the two.
Excellent video, thanks for putting it together, I found it very helpful. I need to replace one of my vehicles soon, and considering getting a new gas F350 7.3L SuperCab XLT SRW in the near future, equipped with what I need so that I can easily tow reasonably sized travel trailers or fifth wheels without a lot of drama. To do that I'm looking at getting the 8 ft bed and the factory fifth wheel prep package along with a fixed fifth wheel hitch compatible with the Ford puck system. My thought is to rent a couple of different size travel trailers and fifth wheels and see what suits us best before investing in my own trailer. Thanks again, best of luck to you.
Great video.
With a fifth wheel, you lose space in bed. You have to have a 3/4 or bigger truck to pull, not because of overall weight but the hitch/ tongue weight. Then there’s the overall height issue. Most trailers are approximately 11’ or so, whereas the 5’ers are 13+’ . I’ve looked at 5th wheels in the past, but my wife had problems with steps into the trailer and didn’t want to climb more stairs inside. My vote is still travel trailers.😊
Cant wait to sell 5th wheel.. I have same issues.. Dont know about your set up but man I burn thru the diesel pulling that thing..
@tray8411 you don't think you'll burn through diesel pulling a trailer. The difference is minimal.
We don't camp any more. My thought is if you're full time then 5th wheel is the way to go. If your still working and camping part time then I need the pick up bed for hauling ect.
Great video. We have a 29’ traveltrailer and have been considering a 5th wheel because of all the reasons you mention. What is holding us back is the fact that we do lot of boondocking. That means off-roading. My concern is damaging tail gate when going over humps and ditches. But also most 5th wheel seems to have much less ground clearing compared to our travel trailer. Would appreciate your thoughts.
To help With the Wind & Milage U can use A Wing for the top of the Cap of the Truck to help with U-R Mileage U Can get in Fiberglass it is cheaper than The Chrome Aluminum Good Luck with U-R Milage.
I would have thought a fifth wheel would be harder to hitch up so this along with the overall length and the extra space…. this was both interesting and helpful knowledge for us who’ve never experienced both! 👍
Thank you! You did a good job, very informative.
Over the last 40 years we have had several different, Class A, Class C, Fifth wheels, and Bumper Pulls. We have tried them all. Currently we have a 32 ft bumper pull. Love the lower height and this time we installed a Hensley Sway Elimination Hitch. With this hitch this unit tows better than "Any fifth wheel" we've had (3 units 30 - 35 ft) The big difference is the sway elimination versus all the others that are sway control. If your unit is set up with the Correct Hitch and Setup Correctly then the towing issue should be strictly which trailer better suits you living needs.
Great Video. Where do carry your electric bikes when traveling with the 5’er.
Do the make mini 5th wheels....that would be crazy
The Scamp 19' is small but it is a goosneck hitch, The ball is in the pickup bed right where the fifth wheel would be. I had one and towed it with my V-6 2005 Tundra got excellent fuel mileage and no issues going up grades. The trailer was just to small for us. We now have a 1685 Lance trailer.
Our big question is will we ruin the trucks bed capacity with a 5th wheel hitch when we use the truck when we are not towing
The big difference I found is with the disconnecting. A travel trailer can be slightly jackknifed. A 5th wheel has to be disconnected almost straight on. You can't go over the side of the bed of a truck.
Very good point!
A 5er can be hooked and unhooked at an angle.
@@TruckingInABlueDream depends on the 5th wheel hitch. I have a slider pullrite and I have to be less then 10* of an angle to get it to latch. That's the nature of this beast.
Hands down pulling a 5th wheel is way less stressful
You do loss bed space
But.
5th wheel have way more under storage that a TT
Awesome vids as always. I’m more curious about how you deal with the drop in quality. I have watched your videos of the new rig. Seeing trim in the seam panels is horrific in terms of fabrication…. What are they covering up or do they not use precision CNC routers? Glass windows versus thermal, electrical wiring thru the sub cabinets, looks like Medusa’s hair, versus a well thought out wiring bundle of the Lance. Maybe it is just me, but going from a Lance Trailer (or Oliver, Airstream, KNAUS/NuCamp) to ANY RV Product made in Indiana is like going from a 5 star seafood restaurant where a helicopter airlifts you fish from the fishing boat while you enjoy and $900 bottle of wine, to walking across the street and waiting in line for hours at a Jack in the Box. lol I can dewinterize with air in less than 2 minutes with on board air due to the smart layout , not to mention making 7 to 10 days off grid is cake in the Lance. So efficient on energy due to the 4 seasons build. Beyond quiet for those times we are at an RV lot we don’t hear anybody outside our trailer. Windows are a huge part of that. However, a large chunk our trips is enjoying the travel time; being able to quickly pass from 45mph to 90Mph in a few seconds around multiple semi trucks , stay up or out of potential traffic issues in high wind roads, cut thru back roads, drive in cities... As an engineer I don’t think using a weight distribution hitch with a trailer over 5000 lbs is ever a good idea, structurally , but our Lance tows amazing as is. ~So well balanced and we replaced the black tank with an additional 50 gals or freshwater which we take every time which technically is in the wrong direction. IF I am going to pay for an RV , I really struggle ever going to any RV dealer for anything once I purchase an RV. Have you had to take it back due to poor craftsmanship ? Your videos are one of the reasons we bought a Lance over an airstream. So glad we did so thanks for your effort depicting your Lance. I like a lot of what a 5th wheel could offer but there are virtually none made outside Indiana by a quality company so that would be a hard obstacle.
I think you are correct in all of your observations. We went from a NuCamp which in my opinion is the best built RV we have ever owned down to a Lance which is very well built down to the Alliance and that was a huge step down in quality construction in my opinion. BUT....we are loving the extra space it provides us so we are dealing with the construction issues. Great post...thanks for sharing.
@@TravelswithDelaney Thanks! Being that KNAUS owns NuCamp I keep hoping they would start to manufacture premier brands like KNAUS, Tabbert or other quality units from other companies within the USA. Or even other brands like ADRIA. The euro units and Caravans are miles head of what we have here in the USA at a fraction of the cost. 10 Year warranties are the norm there. There is a very large flood in western US, with Australian Caravans. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen a $200K BruderX8 on the road and 5 years ago nobody knew what that was. A lot of the problem is most Americans buy from features not quality and construction, picking emotion over education. So the structure to build cheap keeps growing. We have some friends that like our Lance but we actually steered them towards a Tab320 Black Canyon which they just ordered. Smarter, better, more efficient, smaller. To think a Chevy half ton diesel can pull one at 75mph and still get 23mpg is crazy.
Do you have to worry going to state or national parks with the height clearance?
The hot topic with 5th wheels lately has been nothing but "frame flex." Glad to see something else on You Tube instead of that topic when discussing 5th wheels.
UA-cam station big truck big rv talked to lippert and had a two part video. Mentioned the frame flex was happening close to 17000 lb trailers mentioned from lippert
We have a friend that had that issue with their 41’ 5th wheel. Fortunately Grand Design took care of it under warranty for them.
Four travel trailers, first fifth wheel, I will never go back to travel trailers.
Super vidéo merci
Looking for the cost of the pin box reciever that goes in the truck bed. I have looked and looked, but NOTHING! Needing to know the cost....
Ours was around $1600 installed.
@@TravelswithDelaneya definite con that nobody talks about....
Great info!
Hello Delany. This helps out alot.
I have a question. In regards to solar and a good sized battery bank and an atmospheric water generator (like water gen)... I don't see much discussion surrounding this. Granted, it's not cheap... Maybe 6 to 8k for a 2.4Kw system and another 2 grand or so for a water generator. Aside from cost, I just love the idea of always having power and producing all of my water needs. Say 6 to 8 litres a day for cooking cleaning, washing, toilet etc. If you're docking at a camp with hook ups, then obviously you don't need this but to have piece of mind to go wherever you want or boondocks on BLM land etc. it just seems like a no Brainer to essentially be independent of any hookups.
I’ve pulled both and a 5th wheel is so much better towing!
Can you comment on the truck that you are currently towing your 5th wheel with?
It’s a Silverado 2500HD gas truck. It does a great job for us. We average around 8.5 mpg
With the addition of antilock brakes on both TT and fifth wheels, it is more about diesel vs gas tow vehicle. No doubt with over 12,000 lbs a diesel is better. Less than 10,000 and anti sway hitch gas is better.
I'll stay with a travel trailer because with a fifth wheel I would not be able to put all the stuff in the back of the truck that I do. For example my kayaks up on the rack would not go with a fifth wheel.
Then there's the firewood, electric bikes, my Blackstone camp stove, I could go on and on.
BIG one for me. I can rent a truck and pull a travel trailer. I cannot do that with a fifth wheel. Enterprise rents 2500 trucks and I haul my travel trailer to my work site and leave it for a few months. Then I move to the next location.
This is my main concern. I have a jeep grand Cherokee and I cannot imagine thing a travel trailer around, no matter what my towing rating is. Renting a truck seems like a better idea.
Can you have a fifth wheel on a half ton truck?
Possibly if you have a 1/2 truck with a large payload capacity and small 5th wheel with a low pin weight. Most 5th wheels though would need at least a 3/4 ton to properly tow.
Grand Design has a 150 series. So yes.
5th wheel all day long !,!! It does so much better and it’s so much easier to hook up and on the hitch so much Saver
My F150 has a max tow of 11,300#. Is that sufficient or do I need a 250?
The issue most likely would be payload of your truck. The pin weight on our 5th wheel is 1550#.
What hitch do you use? Autoslide?
Ours is just a fixed position Reese hitch. It’s what we used with our 35’ 5th wheel and we never had any issues with it. We do get some chucking with it but it doesn’t really bother me.
comparing 23 to 27 ft living space is not a fair comparison , i am not anti 5th wheel at all , those elevated ceiling are pain your air-conditioner proved it , bigger truck needed and constant towing for less gas mileage is a large added expense, its all about personal preference but good videos.
Cost?
Is your truck gas or diesel?
Ours is a gas 2500HD Silverado
WTF so what’s better?
Did you watch the whole video?
You have to make wider turns
Everything was no difference to me
Then you should stick with a whichever you prefer. We’re all entitled to our opinions