Travel Trailer or 5th Wheel?

[whnim64]

We just sold our 26 ft. travel trailer and went to a pop-up. We found the tt very difficult to tow; lots of sway. We had the hitch with the stablizer bars, but that didn't do that much good. Pop-up will just not work for us after being in a tt. Is a 5th wheel easier to tow than the tt, or will a tt tow better with the right hitch? We drive an F250. Should we just start looking at Class C motor home? Any opinions are welcome.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I'm thinking that if you had a sway controler, you would have been much happier with the TT. The F250 should have been able to tow a 26 ft TT without a problem provided you had properly adjusted weight distribution hitch and a sway control. The weight distribution system is not sufficient to control sway. The sway controller is a friction or piston type arrangement between the hitch and the trailer tongue. That point is moot now, however since you have gotten rid of the TT. In general, a 5th wheel of the proper size for your truck is easier to tow than a TT, and much easier to back up. I can believe you aren't happy with a pop up. You went the reverse route most of us go with camper. Good luck.

 

[JPG]

I have towed them all. TT, Pop-Up, and 5th wheel. We currently own a 30 foot 5th wheel, and nothing tows as comfortably as a 5er. No sway at all. You have basically the same truck I have, except I own a 2500HD Chevy. I would definately recommend you take a look at some 5ers. Let me know if I can help with any other questions.

 

[Gillian]

26 ft to a popup! I'd be unhappy too! We haven't even used our popup and I'm already (mentally) upgrading to a hybrid. Of course, we are going from tent to popup so it should be fine for us.

I have been researching TTs and towing in general, and have heard what ftwildernessguy said over and over again. It's not just the truck but the hitch etc. that matters.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[whnim64]

Thanks for all of the advice. We looked at some 5th wheels yesterday, but don't want to commit just yet; something about drilling holes in the truck bed . No, really it has enough miles on it and is old enough now that putting in the 5th wheel hitch is no big deal. It was the nice thick mattresses in the 5th wheels that really impressed me after sleeping in the pop-up in our 'private' campground (3-acre backyard in the country) last night.

 

[Mrs. Squirrel]

I'm thinking that if you had a sway controler, you would have been much happier with the TT. The F250 should have been able to tow a 26 ft TT without a problem provided you had properly adjusted weight distribution hitch and a sway control. The weight distribution system is not sufficient to control sway.

I would have to agree 100%. We have a 29 ft TT. We love it! We had sway control from our first trip out, but still had some white nuckle trips until a fellow camper (that's why we love camping folks!) pointed out that we did not have the sway bar tightened down as tight as it would go. Bingo. . .no more sway problem except once during extremely poor weather on I-65 with a wicked crosswind when we should have pulled over anyhow! As a matter of fact, on a trip this June, we had not one, but two tire blowouts on our tow vehicle and we credit the sway control with helping us out of a potentially deadly situation!

Also important. . .equally distributing the weight when loading your rig, adequate tire pressure, and not getting advice on appropriate tow vehicles from either an RV or a car salesman !

 

[JPG]

Also important. . .equally distributing the weight when loading your rig, adequate tire pressure, and not getting advice on appropriate tow vehicles from either an RV or a car salesman !

Excellent advice Mrs. Squirrel !!