fwnewbie
California
New Member
Joined: 08/18/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
I've had a TT since 1980. I just got my fifth wheel last summer. Here's what I have learned. The first thing I noticed was that it doesn't track the same as a TT. It takes corners tighter than a TT so give it some room when turning. The other thing is that I have to "learn" how to back up the fifth wheel all over again. What I mean is that the TT would respond much more and quicker to my steering wheel than the fifth wheel does. It takes me more time and tries when I back up. I am sure that I'll eventually overcome my back up learning disability.
|
jlnix
Georgia
Senior Member
Joined: 07/20/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Road Ruler wrote:It is a well known fact that 5ers have a great straightline feel on the highway. Where they fall short is in emergency avoidance maneuvers........
News to me!
1992 Avion 35.5 5th Wheel
2006 F-350 King Ranch
6 liter PSD Torqshift Tow Command
|
klenger
Tucson AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 12/10/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
In addition to ease of towing, hitching up is just plain simple. Back into the pin box, snap, done.
2008 Tiffin Allegro 32BA FRED Class A Motor Home
2008 Honda CRV, Blue Ox, SMI DUO Stay-in-Play Brake
|
Dennis M M
Geneva, IL
Senior Member
Joined: 11/06/2004
View Profile
|
Quote:It is a well known fact that 5ers have a great straightline feel on the highway. Where they fall short is in emergency avoidance maneuvers. The high pin point (high centre of gravity) is the negative and limits the maneuver especially on a rough road.
Huh??
I've towed extensively with both TT's and a fiver (with the same truck) and the fiver is more stable and responsive in all situations. The area where a fiver is less responsive is in backing up. A fiver does not react to input while backing as quickly as a TT.
'99 Volvo VNL610 - 425 HP Volvo; Super 10 Spd
'05 smart fortwo on Volvo
'05 Newmar Mountain Aire 35 BLKS
Trailer Saver; Bigfoot; Pressure-Pro;
Optima Batteries
|
Fatbob
el paso tx
Full Member
Joined: 12/24/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Although I agree with all the posts, one thing that I noticed was the "chucking". The 5er seems to push-pull the TV alot! Quite annoying.
|
|
|
Starchmill
Southern NH
Senior Member
Joined: 01/16/2004
View Profile
|
I believe that the 5er is much smoother to tow in most situations but I do think alot of the difference has to do with the truck your towing with too. I had a 2500 SRW pick up and towed an 8000# TT and was literally "white knuckled" going down the road. Wind, trucks, steep curves all made the driving unbearable and frightning at times. I upgraded to a 3500 DRW truck and all those problems went away. I have since upgraded the TT to one that weighs over 10,000# and still can't feel passing trucks or much sway with windy conditions. I do look forward to trying a fifth to see how much of a difference there really is pulling with the dually, but in the mean time, our trips are comfortable and the towing/backing is of little concern.
2005 Montana Mountianeer 335RLBS 
1999 Coleman Cheyenne
Honda EU2000i 
2002 Bayliner 2150 with 220 Mercruiser 
2 Camping Dogs (1 Rotties  ( ) and 1 Pomeranian  )
2004 Silverado 3500 DRW LT D/A (LLY)
My Photo Album
|
dadwolf2
Henderson,NV,USA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/24/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Sway is virtually gone with 5th wheel. I can easily hook/hitch up by myself. I prefer backing up a TT more than a 5th wheel, but I'm getting better at it.
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD,4X4,NV5600,Pullrite superglide
2005 Skyline Rampage 289
Suzuki z400 & z250
Honda XR250
|
Dayle1
Spicewood, Tx
Senior Member
Joined: 04/12/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Road Ruler wrote:It is a well known fact that 5ers have a great straightline feel on the highway. Where they fall short is in emergency avoidance maneuvers. The high pin point (high centre of gravity) is the negative and limits the maneuver especially on a rough road.
Yes, a fiver has a higher center of mass than a TT or the tow vehicle. But this vertical offset is dimensionally less than the horizontal offset between a tow vehicle and the hitch pivot point. For the same reason that a TT responds faster while backing up, it will also react with greater horizontal force to wind gusts, passing semis or in an emergency maneuver than a fiver will create vertically. In addition, horizontal forces will have a more serious impact on the drivers ability to maintain control of the rig. A fifth wheel setup will have less stress on the rig and less stress on the driver, better for RVs and long haul trucking.
* This post was
edited 03/31/08 06:50am by Dayle1 *
Larry Day
Texas Baptist Men-Retiree Builders since '01
'03 GMC 2500HD D/A EC SB, Jordan controller, custom RKI bed/hitch, Putco boards, TF 45gal tank, grey Speedliner
'04 CrossRoads Cruiser CF29RK, Mor/ryde IS, Carefree Eclipse 12V awning
Rig Photos
|
rizzman
Sherwood Park, AB
New Member
Joined: 09/20/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Pulling a 5'er is nicer than a TT for sure. However, with a well balanced and properly set up TT, it isn't "white knuckle" pulling or anything similar. The TT has a little sway and isn't as manoeverable as the fifth, BUT you also push alot more air with the fifth and you lose your box (if that's important to you). If I didn't need my box, I'd have a fifth wheel toy hauler so I'm not putting them down at all. I'm very happy with the way all my TT's have pulled and don't miss the fifth wheel at all.
My wife also hasn't found a fifth wheel floorplan she likes better than our TT. For us, the TT is our choice.
2005 Jayco Eagle 278 FBS
2006 Dodge Megacab 3500 CTD
|
widowsson68
Lee, Florida
Full Member
Joined: 03/01/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
My experience with both TTs and now a FW prove,to me, that for us a FW is an easier tow, for most of the reasons already given.
Good luck with your new unit...Jack and Rita
|
|
|
