difference between 5th wheel and TT

[colleen & rich]

We are looking to trade in our 26' Explorer TT (not real happy with quality of workmanship) Flagstaff 5th wheel-8528 CKSS OR TT 831 RLSS. Both have same floor plan and as far as I cam tell, same dimensions. What would be benefit of one over the other. Is it just where and how it would be towed on vehicle. Both are fine as far as weight etc. on our F150. thanks

[colleen & rich]

We are looking to trade in our 26' Explorer TT (not real happy with quality of workmanship) Flagstaff 5th wheel-8528 CKSS OR TT 831 RLSS. Both have same floor plan and as far as I cam tell, same dimensions. What would be benefit of one over the other. Is it just where and how it would be towed on vehicle. Both are fine as far as weight etc. on our F150. thanks

[TXiceman]

Colleen and Rich, welcome to IRV2. Hope you are back here often.

You need to carefully look at the pin weight on the trailer and the GVWR and rear axle GAWR for you 1/2 ton truck. A 5er will typically have close to 20% of the trailer GVWR on the pin. A 1/2 ton truck is very limited on pin weight carrying capacity. You will be able to pull a larger TT than a 5er.

Get a copy of the Ford Towing Guide and carefully read the 5er towing section and ALL of the footnotes.

Before you make the purchase, get your truck weighed with all passengers, all normal travel cargo and add 150# for the 5er hitch. This is your laden vehicle weight (LVW). Now get the GVWR from the door stiker on the truck. Also, look in the owners manual for the GCWR of the truck with your specific engine, axle and cab.

GVWR - LVW = Max loaded trailer pin weight.
GCWR - LVW = max loaded trailer weight.

Once you get over about a 24' 5er, you are moving into 3/4 ton truck territory.

Have fun shopping.

Ken

[450Donn]

Length of a TT is calculated from the tip of the tongue to the end of the bumper. Consequently you loose around 4 feet of actual length in a TT. A fiver is calculated from end to end. This can include the pin box if it is an extended one. But and this for me was the big difference. A fiver has around 6 to 10 feet in the overhand not on the ground like a TT. Therefore is is actually shorter behind the truck for a given length. As a bonus fivers tow and track better. But, you will be limited to a trailer of about 20 feet long in a fiver due to the pin weight unsing your 1/2 ton truck. Any thing bigger and you should consider trading up to a larger truck first.

[Superbee24]

YOUR ford is rated much better than some of the other trucks. There are plenty of us out here towing 5ers with your set up.

I personally have pulled our 2006 28' Jayco bunkhouse 5er over 3000 miles around Texas since we bought the trailer early this year.
I have no problem pulling and limit myself to 70mph.

Yes a diesel will pull better, yes it will out pull me up big mountains. Yes I saved about $20,000 by not upgrading to a diesel....That will buy a whole lotta gas.

Having said that the Jayco models are specifically designed for 1/2ton trucks.

Pablo
2004 F150 5.4 4x4 LaRiat
2006 Jayco 5er

[Frankenstien]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by colleen & rich:
We are looking to trade in our 26' Explorer TT (not real happy with quality of workmanship) Flagstaff 5th wheel-8528 CKSS OR TT 831 RLSS. Both have same floor plan and as far as I cam tell, same dimensions. What would be benefit of one over the other. Is it just where and how it would be towed on vehicle. Both are fine as far as weight etc. on our F150. thanks </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Welcome to IRV

I think you will find the 5er much more comfortable for extended stays, it will feel a bit more roomier. I also think you will find towing it, much less stressfull than the standard hitch pull trailer, less sway when a big rig passes, less jerking around, and conciderably easier to back in to tight places.

[Ray,IN]

Most all TT's have less storage room than a 5er. However, with a 5er you loose the bed of the truck for covered storage. A 5er pulls better because the hitch point is never behind the axle. Some TT hitches are made to correct this problem though. We've owned both, and like our 5er much better. I never did like to mess with safety chains, thats why I took my gooseneck farm trailer and had it converted to a fifth wheel pin.