Padlin
W. Ma.
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Joined: 06/15/2006
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Keep in mind you asked this in the Travel Trailer forum, the trend may differ over in the 5th forum.
Happy Motoring
Bob & Deb
W Ma.
12 F150 HD SCAB EcoBoost LB 4x4
06 Starcraft 18SB
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TomG2
Central Illinois
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Joined: 03/07/2004
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Had both. By the time I got rid of the "Chucking" that is common with fifth wheels, I was ready to move to a TT. Less steps, flat floor, and more "Bang for the buck" with the travel trailer. Granted that the fifth wheel manufacturers put together some very fancy units, just not for me.
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Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
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Joined: 08/23/2005
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Camper93 wrote:fla-gypsy wrote:nevadanick wrote:A properly connected and loaded TT is perfectly stable.
+ 1,000,000, the myth that a TT is inherently unstable is exactly that. My set up is rock solid. It takes some research, planning, and brain power to acheive proper set up that some are just not willing to do. The pay off is a stable, confident, and enjoyable experience at lower cost. x2; what they said plus your truck bed is free and clear
I agree I will also add comments below that I made on a similiar post that also apply to this one:
I just upgraded to a 5th wheel this season. My fiver tows great but so did my TT.
I towed my TT with a Hensley Arrow and with the HA my TT towed as well as my fiver.
I had always heard that fiver's towed better, now that I have one I agree they tow great but a properly set up TT can tow just as well.
I have come to believe that a fiver gets all the towing accolades because they tow well right out of the box. A TT takes a lot more tinkering and adjustment to get it right. Sometimes they may require a premium Hitch like a Hensley or Pro pride to get it dialed in to perfection. Many are not willing to do what it takes or become frustrated and never get there TT set up quite right. In the end they settle for less than perfect and live with towabilty issues unnecessarily.
Fiver's are great, more storage and amenities. However I would not upgrade to a fiver solely for towabilty reasons. A TT can tow just as well especially if you are willing to get a premium hitch.
07'Duramax dually,12'Open Range 399BHS
Hawkshead TPMS,Hensley BD3,Killerbee exhaust brake
Blue Ox Bedsaver,air bags w/compressor
Arvika pin box bike rack,Bak Flip tonneau cover
5500 Onan LP,EMS-HW-50
14'Porta Bote w/8.0 Nissan
Vu Cube 2000,Splendide 2000S
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schrederman
Texas
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Joined: 04/12/2012
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schrederman wrote:marcus6701 wrote:I travel Interstate 81 in PA every day for work. I see about 95% 5th wheels and very little travel trailers. Some of the 5ers are as high as a big rig. I have an Aerolite TT 30'. An ultra lite that weighs around 5000 lb, 6000 lb gross. Its only 9'-8" to the top of the AC. One step to get in. It has torsion suspension. Pulls just fine behind my 3/4 ton '03 Suburban. I have a Reese Straightline hitch which I really like. I have very little wind drag due to the low stance of the TT compared to most TT with leaf spring suspension. I choose the lower TT for my children to climb in and out. Good luck finding one. Lots to look at.
I am picking up my Surveyor Select SV-264 tomorrow. The Surveyor SV models have torsion suspension and are lower as you describe. I was doubtful about this suspension at first, but the more I read, the better it sounds. I'll be towing it back in the windy Texas Panhandle tomorrow with a leveling hitch and a friction-type anti-sway bar on my '11 F-150. Winds are predicted to be at 20 to 35 from the WSW. I'll let you all know how that goes.
J & D in windy Amarillo
Picked 'er up and came home (about 100 miles) with a quartering tail wind about 30 mph. By quartering I mean it was hitting us from behind and from the right at about equal force. No towing problems at all, even during the times it was fully blowing across... and I got 12.2 mpg... We're gonna like it!!!
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marcus6701
Central PA
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Joined: 08/07/2011
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Great to here. I do like the torsion type suspension more than the leaf spring. I have followed a few TT with leaf spring and they realy bounce when on rough roads or even on I81. Only problen found with low TT is ground clearance at certain places, mostly camp grounds. Have fun camping
2008 30ft Aerolite, white interior, 2003 Suburban 6.0L 3.73 gears
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jmtandem
western nevada
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Joined: 01/18/2006
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Schrederman,
You are kidding, right? Torsion axles are FAR better than conventional steel springs on hangers. Most high end trailers like Airstream come from the factory with torsion axles. I have already had to change out the dry bolts and put on a torsion equalizer on my trailer becuase it came with conventional springs and ridiculous and short lived plastic bushings.
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed.
'09 299bhs Tango.
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curveballer98
Hancock, MI
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Joined: 09/07/2008
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i have a 1/2 ton dodge ram and tow a 7200 pound trailer with a est. 780 pound tongue weight that is about 28 feet long.. have a proper wdh and have made many long hauls with it. when we go visit my inlaws it's a 1200 mile trek and a large portion of it is interstate driving. i have yet to encounter any issues with winds, big trucks or anything of the like... pulls like a champ. in fact... we just purchased a smaller fish and ski boat...and i like the way my trailer pulls better than that does.. LOL especially when braking.
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tmprkswyo
Southwest Wyoming
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Joined: 12/06/2007
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I have had both and pulled a gooseneck horsetrailer for many years. They all pull fine. I just prefer to have the bed of my truck available so I chose a travel trailer over a 5th wheel.
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schrederman
Texas
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No... I'm not kidding... I have never owned something with torsion spring axles, and I had some doubts. Being relatively new to TTs I had not heard that they were better. But as I said... we're gonna like it!
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Lowsuv
Oregon
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Joined: 12/06/2011
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From a pure physics standpoint you would say that a fifth wheel is safer.
From a usage standpoint here is my observation:
A fifth wheel Requires a heavier payload HD 2500 or HD 3500 depending upon the tongue weight of the fifth wheel.
If you take that same very heavy duty HD 2500 and hook up a travel trailer to it , it will handle VERY well.
The trick with a TT is to load the pickup bed with some heaviest items such as firewood, 5 gallon gas can, propane tank for the bbq, or Steel 10x10 QuikShade.
Then load the trailer tongue to 12% of the trailer weight.
My HD 2500 towing my 21T Komfort handles as well as any fifth wheel.
How ?
9200 GVW Duramax. When towing my Front Axle is 3700# actual. Rear Axle is 4300# actual when towing.
My Duramax is 3050# actual on the rear axle without the trailer hooked up.
21T axles are 4800# actual. All weighed on Oregon State scales.
As you can see I added 1250# load to the GMC with my tongue weight and incidentals.
I can swerve the trailer at highway speed and the trailer wants to follow the GMC. Simple. 8000# tow vehicle pulling 4800# towed trailer.
Isn't pyhsics wonderful ?
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