5h Wheel Camper VS Regular Camping Trailer

self | 06/15/05 | daybreakcoming

[daybreakcoming]

We plan to buy a camping trailer toward the end of summer. Can you get more trailer for your $ buying a regular trailer? What is the advantage of a 5th wheeler? Does anyone have any pros or cons? Thanks for any thoughts.

[COEXERJ145]

5th wheel trailers are less likely to fish tail or sway unless you're driving into a very strong wind. They are also (usually) easier to attach than a regular trailer. Just be sure you have enough truck to tow a 5th wheel. A 1/2 ton with a good V-8 can do it as long as the trailer isn't too heavy otherwise you'd need a 3/4 ton.

When I was a kid we had a 5th wheel trailer and it was always a lot of fun to use. It wasn't large (either 22 or 24 feet, I can't remember) but more than enough space for 4 people.

[JRochelle]

Personally I think Jayco makes the best one on the market.

[Crim]

Depends on what you plan to do with it...

Tow it once and a while close to home...

Park it on a lot...

Tow it cross country...

How many will you need to put up in comfort?

What kind of tow vehicle you have or will buy...

I currently have a 92 cobra sierra 35 ft travel trailer...

Sleeps 9 in comfort...11 in a pinch...

I have it on a lot within an hour of home, so I dont have to tow it...

I may be trailer trash...but only on the weekends....heh heh

Besides...my lot is lake front on an all sports lake chain...a lot cheaper then a million dollar cottage...

I have quite a few friends who tow actively....get back with some specifics and I'll pass along any suggestions..

Crimmy

[ZOOKER]

5th wheel trailer are generally more stable, easier to tow, and easier to back up.

Since the tongue weight rests directly on top of its drive wheels, rather than on the back bumper, there is less stress on the towing vehicle's frame. You should have better front-wheel traction with a 5th wheel because the weight of a bumper-mounted trailer can cause the front of your vehicle to raise up.

Drawback---you lose most of the cargo capacity in the bed of your truck. Even when you're not towing, there's this big hitch in the middle of your truck bed.

[B4Ranch]

How many days a year will you use it in this year? The year after? The year after?

Are you sure leasing may not be a better idea? Insurance, preventative maintenence, minor repairs?

Or if you buy one, can you rent it to friends to help pay the bills?

Will the truck pull it without any problems where you want to take it? Again .... Insurance, preventative maintenence, minor repairs?

Know all the costs before you take on a bill. Then figure out is it cheaper to fly and rent a room, or drive and rent.

If you are only going to use it 20 days a year averaged outy over five years, think carefully.

[daybreakcoming]

Depends on what you plan to do with it... Tow it once and a while close to home... Park it on a lot... Tow it cross country... About three times/year both close to home and cross country including mountains. How many will you need to put up in comfort? Six What kind of tow vehicle you have or will buy... A 3/4 ton diesel already have. Will a 7-ft bed work?

[daybreakcoming]

Thank you - that makes sense. Can you make tighter turns with 5th wheel?

[daybreakcoming]

Leasing? You can lease camping trailers? Didn't know that. The limited use time - 3-4 trips/year has been a concern to me about even buying one. Getting it mainly to take kids camping while they are still young and around.

[B4Ranch]

You can lease anything today. Do all the numbers first. That will tell you if leasing makes sense.


Can you somehow use it for business and pleasure? That cuts the costs because of deductibles. There's no way to know what to do until you do the numbers.

[jimtorr]

A guy I work with has a 5th-wheel trailer. He loves it. He's had a 30-foot full trailer, a 34-foot motor home and now the 5th-wheel, and he much prefers the 5th-wheel.

He bought one of those large tool boxes that install in the pickup bed against the cab for extra storage, and he removes the 5th-wheel hitch from the truck when he isn't towing, so that he has the full use of the truck bed.

He says that towing stability and ease of backing are definite advantages. Of course, he doesn't drive the truck when he doesn't have to. The 454 cu engine is just to expensive to drive the 90 mile round trip to work.

[GRRRRR]

THE best place on the net to ask about and discuss RV's... http://www.rv.net/community/ Mash Here See the topic listing on the left hand side... I'm looking to do the same thing in a few years...Jayco and NuWa Fifth wheels seem to be the tip-top in quality and reseal. Pilgrim has also caught my eye...see http://www.rvdirect.com/ G

[GRRRRR]

reseal = reSALE

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Don't know about trailers, but go here -> http://www.cruiseamerica.com/ for leasing RVs.
This is just one of many RV rental companys available.

Have fun with the kids.

[Professional Engineer]

If I were in the market, I go for a bumper hitch type. I spent lots of years with my grandparent rockhounding. It wasn't unusual to need to tote a 1000 lbs of cargo home. A fifth wheel makes that difficult or impossible.

As for the balance, the trailer axles can always be shifted fore or aft slightly, 1 or 2 inches, to adjust the tounge weight, keeping the fronts wheels firmly planted.