Going From Fifth Wheel to Travel Trailer?

[johndeerefarmer]

I have had one travel trailer and three fivers. Travel trailer sways more in the wind. Harder to hook up- EQ type hitch..
Cramped and I don't like the low ceiling height. Fivers feel roomy and more like home

[MarkRizRV]

Thanks everyone for setting me straight, I do love how great it tows

Mark

[Shomemule]

Having had both, I would not go back. Permanent or long-term, say on a seasonal site, would be a different story. Then the one-level floorplan would be nice. But for travel, not so much.

Rob

Edit/PS: then there's the difference in how easy it is to hitch up a fifth wheel vs. a heavy weight distribution hitch with bars, etc.

I agree. I went from a 5ver to a travel trailer and wished I hadn't . The 5ver was much more stable in the wind but what I really miss is the ample storage and living space. I can't justify the expense of going back to the 5ver as I'm not fulltiming anymore but I do wish that I still had it.

[hartcentr]

I switched from 5th wheel to travel trailer because I got sick of not being able to use the truck bed. Truck bed storage means a lot to me. And I actually find backing it into a spot easier than the fifth wheel. You just need to have an equalizer hitch (which I disconnect before backing into a tight camp spot). My wife has bad knees and the two level stuff was tough on her too.

A guy at the dealer showed me the trick to getting the equalizer bars on and off too. Forget about using the pry bar lever that comes with the hitch. With the trailer on the ball and locked, raise it with the power tongue until it takes the pressure off and there is enough room to easily take the bars off (or put them on) by hand. Since he showed me that , I've never had to use that pry bar lever.

[sande005]

We had to switch down after my old 5er delaminated, and truck wouldn't handle the weight gain that all then new models had experienced. The current trailer is VERY similar in floor space, storage, etc. But to get that, we have several more feet back from the truck, so camp sites we could squeeze into before, aren't possible anymore. There is more involved to get a good towing experience (weight distribution, the correct hitch, etc.) Surprising to me was the big drop in same truck mpg. 10.5 average over 15,000 miles with the 5th, 8-8.5 over 10,000 with the travel trailer, even though weights are pretty close to the same. I blame the aerodynamics of the air dropping down to the bed, before hitting the front of the trailer, vs a tendency to go up and over on the 5th. Backing, towing was just better - maybe not a huge amount now that I've got the TT dialed in, but still better with the 5th.

[krsmitty]

There will be much more tail wagging the dog. Biggest difference is storage.

I disagree! With a good WDH you should feel no difference...IMHO. I went from a 5er to a TT and feel no difference while towing.

I agree with the storage though.

[jkwilson]

Quoted post deleted.

GD customer service has nothing to do with dealers.

Physically impossible for the truck alone to run the jacks with a dead battery in the trailers.

It’s laughable that you complain about a 3 or 4 week wait at a dealer. Typically more like 3 or 4 months, but again, that has nothing to do with GD and is the norm at all RV dealers.


Your problems seem to largely stem from not understanding how things work, the difference between dealers and manufacturers or even how forums work. RV ownership is likely not for you.