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Old 11-08-2024, 05:58 AM   #1
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5th Wheel v Puller

As previously stated plan to RV 3-4 months straight after retirement. Purchased GMC 3/4 ton for puller. Now will be looking for trailer. My RVing will be a mix of short and long stops. Should I be looking at 5th wheel or travel trailer? Don’t think truck has factory 5th wheel prep package so leaning towards TT. Will be looking at TTs in the 8000 to. 9000 lbs range 28 to 30 ft. Not opposed to Pro Pride or similar hitch set up. However 5th wheel sounds like an easier pull if it is not difficult to hitch/unhitch. Thanks for your thoughts
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Old 11-08-2024, 06:10 AM   #2
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5th wheel is advantages for number of reasons. Getting more of the trailers wieght to the center of the truck and shortening the overall length behind you.
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Old 11-08-2024, 06:29 AM   #3
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If you already have the 3/4 ton truck stick with the bumper pull.
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Old 11-08-2024, 06:36 AM   #4
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The ease of hitching, is a big advantage of having a FW. However, some FW hitches are more user friendly than others. If you decide on a FW, I'd recommend a B&W hitch, that works for your truck.

Your GM 3/4 T will work fine for a FW with a GVWR of 12K or less. Depending on your exact truck ratings, maybe a bit more? A 30-32' FW will add a lot of living, and storage space, compared to a TT.
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Old 11-08-2024, 06:42 AM   #5
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You can tow just about anything with just about any pickup. The question is can you tow it well and arrive safely. A good rule of thumb is 1/2 ton for 20' class bumper pulls, a 3/4 ton for 8000# GVW fifth wheels or larger bumper pulls and a one ton for larger fifth wheels and bumper pulls. DRW for over 38' or so. Fifth wheels tow better and offer a shorter OAL when towing. Very carefully check your rear axle weight capacity. Plan on 20% of the GVW of a fifth wheel trailer as you pin weight. Lots of posts on here on axle carrying capacity of 3/4 tons, read them. IMO a 3/4 ton is best suited for TT. With a good WDH, they tow very well.
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Old 11-08-2024, 09:51 AM   #6
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There's a long list of pros and cons for 5ers vs. TT's but given the likely limited payload/GVWR of your truck (5ers carry 20 - 22% of their weight on the pin vs. 12 - 15% for a TT) and the relatively modest size of what you are proposing, I'd probably stick with a bumper pull. More info on your truck and usage would help narrow it down.

My TT is 31'2" OAL and has a GVWR of 9,995 lbs......my tongue weight is 1,275 lbs and if I was to go any larger, I'd go with a 5th wheel.


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Old 11-08-2024, 10:05 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lantley View Post
If you already have the 3/4 ton truck stick with the bumper pull.
Why?? Because the internet told you so!!!

I have pulled three different 5ers since 2007 with 3/4-ton pick-up trucks. My first was a 2006, Ameri Camp 270RFK with a gas V8 Chevy truck. The gas truck was sold and traded in for a 2008, Dodge 3/4-tom 6.7L Cummins diesel engine truck with 3:73 gears. The only difference between a 1-ton and a 3/4-ton truck for my model year (2008) was a 1/2 of a leaf spring on each side over the rear axle, and badging. Everything else was the same frame, engine, transmission, axles, brakes, suspension and rims with tires.

Just my experiences when choosing a truck, research what the truck is capable of.
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Old 11-08-2024, 10:06 AM   #8
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.....However 5th wheel sounds like an easier pull if it is not difficult to hitch/unhitch......
A fifth wheel trailer is easier and more stable to tow and easier and faster to hitch/unhitch. Your 3/4-ton tow vehicle will be fine if you tow a safe margin under the vehicle's tow rating. I towed my first 2 fifth wheel trailers with a F250 diesel short bed without a 5th wheel prep for 15 years before I purchased a 1-ton long bed diesel dually with a 5th wheel prep.
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Old 11-09-2024, 07:46 AM   #9
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go with the 5th wheel they are much easier and nicer to tow. If i were to do it over again that is the route i would have went. Even found a unit around the corner that was 1/2 ton towable and much nicer than my bumper pull. You can get the same size trailer in a 5th and its 10 feet shorter give or take compared to the same length bumper pull.
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Old 11-09-2024, 09:02 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by stevenffc View Post
As previously stated plan to RV 3-4 months straight after retirement. Purchased GMC 3/4 ton for puller. Now will be looking for trailer. My RVing will be a mix of short and long stops. Should I be looking at 5th wheel or travel trailer? Don’t think truck has factory 5th wheel prep package so leaning towards TT. Will be looking at TTs in the 8000 to. 9000 lbs range 28 to 30 ft. Not opposed to Pro Pride or similar hitch set up. However 5th wheel sounds like an easier pull if it is not difficult to hitch/unhitch. Thanks for your thoughts

in that weight range you should be fine with a 3/4 tone and a 5th wheel. I have a 40 foot 5th that, weighed 12000lbs. I towed once with a 3/4 ton then went and got a 1 ton, not because it didn't tow good, but rather I was 300lbs over my rear axel and was worried if I ever got in an accident that it would bight me in the butt.

just count on about 20% of the 5th wheel weight being "payload" plus the weight of the hitch. I didn't have the factory puck mounts in my 3/4 ton either, so it was a rail system slider hitch, for a short box installed by the rv dealer as part of the deal.

I went from a 30 foot tow behind to a 40 foot 5th, the 5th is faster to hookup and unhook, tows way better and has more storage, so for me, if the truck can handle the 5th you like go with the 5th.
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Old 11-09-2024, 09:10 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by jimcumminsw View Post
Why?? Because the internet told you so!!!

I have pulled three different 5ers since 2007 with 3/4-ton pick-up trucks. My first was a 2006, Ameri Camp 270RFK with a gas V8 Chevy truck. The gas truck was sold and traded in for a 2008, Dodge 3/4-tom 6.7L Cummins diesel engine truck with 3:73 gears. The only difference between a 1-ton and a 3/4-ton truck for my model year (2008) was a 1/2 of a leaf spring on each side over the rear axle, and badging. Everything else was the same frame, engine, transmission, axles, brakes, suspension and rims with tires.

Just my experiences when choosing a truck, research what the truck is capable of.
Its not the internet that told me so.
It was the engineers and those that published the ratings for the truck that determine what the truck is designed to do.
I don't need to do my own analysis. The towing parameters have already been determined and published. The buyer just needs to understand and follow the ratings.
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Old 11-09-2024, 09:28 AM   #12
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I am starting to think about upgrading my 22’ camper and tow vehicle to something larger to accommodate longer time on the road. I was convinced I was looking at another TT, until I spent several days camping with another couple who had a 5th wheel. Due to weather, we spent much time in the 5th wheel, cooking, eating, and just hanging out, and it was the difference between “camping”, with its compromises, and “living” as comfortably as we would have had we been in a small apartment.

I left that experience feeling like a 5th wheel would be overkill for a weekend warrior, but a very comfortable living situation if spending months actually “living” on the road.

Planning on going to the Tampa RV show to do some serious looking at 5th wheels.
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Old 11-09-2024, 09:55 AM   #13
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I am starting to think about upgrading my 22’ camper and tow vehicle to something larger to accommodate longer time on the road. I was convinced I was looking at another TT, until I spent several days camping with another couple who had a 5th wheel. Due to weather, we spent much time in the 5th wheel, cooking, eating, and just hanging out, and it was the difference between “camping”, with its compromises, and “living” as comfortably as we would have had we been in a small apartment.

I left that experience feeling like a 5th wheel would be overkill for a weekend warrior, but a very comfortable living situation if spending months actually “living” on the road.

Planning on going to the Tampa RV show to do some serious looking at 5th wheels.
It's definitely different from a TT. When we went from a 26' TT (29.5' overall length) to a 29' 5th wheel (32' overall length), we were blown away. Obviously, going from NO slides to 3 slides, makes a huge difference. Hookups are so much easier, no hauling a filthy, unwieldy weight distribution hitch every time.

Storage is just huge now. I mean, we could live in this rig full time if need be. Yes, there are 3 steps to the bedroom and bathroom, but, it does afford some more private space should one wish to sleep while the other chills in the living room.

we've spent up to 6 weeks at a time in the 5er, and we haven't felt cramped nor been hit by cabin fever. 4 weeks in the TT and we were pretty done.
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Old 11-09-2024, 10:06 AM   #14
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RAWR........critical weight rating
5th wheel WET Pin weight is carried by the trucks rear axle
*guesstimate is 22% of 5vr GVWR

Do NOT Exceed RAWR and/or tire MAX Load rating
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