Fifth wheel or Bumper pull?

txhunter58

txhunter58

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Looking at getting a travel trailer. The one that meets my needs (and my wife’s) run 36-38 ft and have a bedroom slide and 2 opposing slides in the living room/kitchen.

What say you? Fifth wheel or bumper pull? I have a 6.6 gas Chevy 2500 HD rated at 14,500 lbs bumper pull and 16,650 fifth wheel?

Currently looking at a 5th wheel Dutchman Astoria 3173RLP
 
I have a 35' travel trailer. I got the bumper pull because I wanted the space in my truck bed.

When I get a new one, I will go fifth wheel. Backing up the travel trailer is a pain in tight spaces, and I no longer feel the need for the bed space.
 
Some people have suggested using a “Goose Box” hitch. Then the only thing in your bed is a gooseneck ball and 2 safety chain hooks.
 
Fifth wheel puts the tongue weight directly over the axle instead of the bumper. Double slides add a lot of weight to a trailer and even hooked onto HD, it‘s night and day difference in handling. Less sway, better steering and braking and like HikeHunt said you’ll notice a huge difference when you go to back it in.
 
If I was going to be towing it all the time, I would say 5 er. If I was just towing short trips to park it, bumper pull.

Some will argue about which hitch system is better (safer). Plenty of places to see those arguments in great detail.
 
Can’t compare fairly because I’ve never hauled bumper pull more than 75-100 miles at a time. I hauled my 5th wheel to Alaska and back a few years ago.

My observations.
5th Wheel: Very comfortable to pull. No swaying, sharper turns, waaaaaay easier to back into parking places. Easier to hook up.

Didn’t care for the upstairs bedroom. Pretty much felt like NOT anyone else could pull it, if the need came along. Too many variables in the 5th wheel hitch options.

Bumper pull: No climbing up and down stairs to go in an out of the bedroom. These “seem/feel” roomer on the inside. I always felt like I was towing something, where as with 5th wheel you’d almost forget it was attached to you.

Don’t care to mess with either anymore. If I did, it would be a 16’-19’ bumper pull, strictly to keep from paying for these dang motels that want $150 to $400 a night.

Tex if you’re going to tow to a place and stay for 2 or 3 weeks at a time or longer, I don’t think it matters too much, like these snowbirds do that come 1500/2000 miles to spend the winter in Corpus Cristy or Yuma for 2 or 3 months. They haul a$$ from home to their destination and back, as fast as they can and then park for the winter. That’s much different than moving 20 times in 30 days. That’s when the 5th wheels really make a difference, in my opinion.

Hope that makes since.

I like the idea of a Goose Neck hitch because of the box space and it looks a little simpler to just drop onto a ball than slide a plate under the trailer but I’ve only used a Goose Neck on stock or construction stuff so my opinion on that isn’t with much.

Probably lots of other guys that have more experience with both that will chime in.
 
I'll echo everything 2L said, and in spades. I've done it all and wouldn't have another big trailer of either sort. My last was a 30 foot toy box, for my SxS. Now we have a 32" Class C motorhome on an E450 chassis. Like driving a big van or U-Haul, and even the wife will drive it. I can decide to leave and be ready in 5 minutes. Turns and backs up better than either of the others. Mileage is the same.
 
I have both a bumper pull and a 5th wheel. I prefer the 5th wheel. The 5th wheel is bigger and has 3 slides. I pulled it with your exact set up. It was fine but slower up hills and than the duramax I replaced it with. It's totally doable with your truck to pull a 5th wheel this size. One really nice thing about the Diesel is the exhaust braking descending hills.
 
Never pulled a 5th wheel, but pulled a living quarter 34’ horse trailer many miles with a goose neck hitch. I pull 40’ goose neck trailers hauling shipping containers for a part time gig. Sure beats a bumper pull on longer trailers.
 
IF you don't want to keep the bed free for hauling a quad or such then GO WITH a Gooseneck Hitch We sell alot of B&W GN alot more. Then regular 5th wheel hitches.

I have a GN in my truck and I'm using a bumper pull for my 33 ft bumper pull travel trailer. JUST in Case I get a deal on a quad.
I put a big tool type box 36"x 48" in the bed of my truck for all the storage things I can't put in the trailer.
 
I've owned both. I will never go back to a bumper pull.
I welded a hitch on the back of my 5th wheel and pull my 17' crestliner boat, or trailer with wheelers, with no sway.

I use an Anderson Aluminum hitch that is super lite to move around.
 
Don't forget the gooseneck. Can have a hide-away ball instead on that big hunk of metal and plates for the 5th wheel.

I personally don't like the way bumper pull pulls especially with a heavy load
 
I think your question is similar to asking which rifle one would recommend for a deer hunt! With that said, it is a great question and one that I cannot answer! I mainly use mine for hunting trips and therefore, my 21 or 23' (cannot remember the length) has served me well.

When I retire, I will likely go with a motor home, maybe a fifth wheel.

Great thread!
 
txhunter58 said:
Looking at getting a travel trailer. The one that meets my needs (and my wife’s) run 36-38 ft and have a bedroom slide and 2 opposing slides in the living room/kitchen.

What say you? Fifth wheel or bumper pull? I have a 6.6 gas Chevy 2500 HD rated at 14,500 lbs bumper pull and 16,650 fifth wheel?

Currently looking at a 5th wheel Dutchman Astoria 3173RLP
Click to expand...
5th wheel no contest and yes have had both
 
At the lengths you are talking about, 5th wheel is the only choice. Bumper pulls over 30' are white knuckle to pull.

Bumper pulls are great up to the 26-28 foot range, and are at their best in the 20-24' range IMHO.
 
Well, I will be the contrarian. I love my bumper pull trailer, and wouldn't consider another fifth wheel. The fifth wheel was much, much heavier, with a higher profile that limited it on certain forest service roads and rural underpasses. (It needed 13'4" clearance) It was important not to mentally not let the fifth wheel "get ahead" of you. Slowing down BEFORE starting down a steep grade was important, and on winding narrow roads the fifth wheel would "cut the corners" too much.

BTW, I had a 35' Keystone toy hauler. It was great to live in, but too much to haul around. About 14-15K pounds loaded.

I currently tow a 30" bumper pull Cougar. I can load two ATV's or even my side by side on the truck and still tow the camper. The 30' bumper pull has as much living space as the 35' fifth wheel. I am towing about half the weight of the fifth wheel, and can get the bumper pull into the mountains pretty deep.

I used a one ton Ford or Chevy to tow. I have towed trailers my entire life, from small tent trailers to construction equipment. I preferred the Anderson hitch for my fifth wheel trailer, but use an equalizer hitch on most of my bumper bull units. Never worried about backing up, and love the convenience of still having a functional truck, that I can load with whatever.

Bill
 
Bluehair said:
If I was going to be towing it all the time, I would say 5 er. If I was just towing short trips to park it, bumper pull.

Some will argue about which hitch system is better (safer). Plenty of places to see those arguments in great detail.
Click to expand...
Perfect answer ! Hit all the points ! Based on
my experiences.
Jerry Gold In Windsor, Colorado
 
llamapacker said:
Well, I will be the contrarian. I love my bumper pull trailer, and wouldn't consider another fifth wheel. The fifth wheel was much, much heavier, with a higher profile that limited it on certain forest service roads and rural underpasses. (It needed 13'4" clearance) It was important not to mentally not let the fifth wheel "get ahead" of you. Slowing down BEFORE starting down a steep grade was important, and on winding narrow roads the fifth wheel would "cut the corners" too much.

BTW, I had a 35' Keystone toy hauler. It was great to live in, but too much to haul around. About 14-15K pounds loaded.

I currently tow a 30" bumper pull Cougar. I can load two ATV's or even my side by side on the truck and still tow the camper. The 30' bumper pull has as much living space as the 35' fifth wheel. I am towing about half the weight of the fifth wheel, and can get the bumper pull into the mountains pretty deep.

I used a one ton Ford or Chevy to tow. I have towed trailers my entire life, from small tent trailers to construction equipment. I preferred the Anderson hitch for my fifth wheel trailer, but use an equalizer hitch on most of my bumper bull units. Never worried about backing up, and love the convenience of still having a functional truck, that I can load with whatever.

Bill
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Well done. Good points made.
 
I’ve had both. I am all over the place with this question. I don’t like the large trailers. 24' is as big as I desire but I’ve pulled longer many times and not just campers. The campers, I like light and simple, meaning no pop outs. I like bumper pull for those reasons although I would choose gooseneck over 5th wheel if I wanted something more fancy to play with.
 
I've owned both and won't go back to bumper pull. 5th, GN they each pull better and turn better. And, not as many folks wanna borrow them.
 
To clarify, the trailer we get WILL have 3 slides and a king size bed. Those are absolute mandates from my wife. It will be used for hunting some, but also for retirement travel. A 28-32’ trailer won’t have everything the wife says is non-negotiable. ? 36 ft is the smallest we have found that she is ok with and it is right at 10,000 lbs unloaded weight. Shooting for a max of 12,500 loaded if 5th wheel
 
txhunter58 said:
To clarify, the trailer we get WILL have 3 slides and a king size bed. Those are absolute mandates from my wife. It will be used for hunting some, but also for retirement travel. A 28-32’ trailer won’t have everything the wife says is non-negotiable. ? 36 ft is the smallest we have found that she is ok with and it is right at 10,000 lbs unloaded weight. Shooting for a max of 12,500 loaded if 5th wheel
Click to expand...
Your wife and mine are a lot alike.
 
I have owned both. I currently have a 29' bumper pull toy hauler When we had our fifth wheel we struggled getting into some camp spots. The bed of the truck would hit the trailer in off camber spots. If you are going to use it hunting, a 5th wheel will limit some of the places you can camp.
 
I currently have a 28' bumper pull jayco. I like it, and it's good for the family, plus I only have a F-150 which pulls it fine, but wouldn't pull anything bigger. I'd love to eventually move to a 5th wheel with our next trailer, as I like the floor plans and options in those a little more.
 
I have a 28' bumper pull. I dragged a Goose Neck Living Quarters 3Horse Trailer all over the country for many years. When I sold it the wife had here requirements for a camper, almost the same as yours. But I needed a place for a Generator, 4 Wheeler, gas cans and coolers, and every once in a while some antlers.
Good Luck, I would look at renting a couple at first.
 
Hands down 5th wheel is easier but you loose bed space but if you ever wanted to toe doubles like trailer and a boat or trailer and a atv trailer 5th wheel is definitely better!!

Ride and control is hands down better with 5th wheel.

5th wheel can really only be pulled by a truck but trailers can be pulled by a truck or sport utility even automobile if small enough.
 
Funny with today's diesel trucks it's amazing what someone can pull nowadays compared to 20 years ago..

I remember selling 460 ford's 454 chevrolets and a few 440 and v10 dodges that people would tow 28 foot trailers with now you see guys and gals pulling 40+ footers and boats behind them!!!

Unless you're my buddy going to Alaska!! With a 40 foot gooseneck with 4 dump trailers full of lumber 47000 pounds and he took his eye of the road in a snow storm..

If this was a tongue pull it would have been much much worse!!

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A year and a half ago I bought my buddy's 32' bumper pull trailer. It was rated as "1/2 ton towable." Had a '14 F150 with the 5.0. Plenty of power to pull the trailer, but the sway was terrible at anything over 50mph. Not that I was trying to go 80. Upgraded the truck to a '22 F250 with the 7.3 Godzilla. Pulled much better, but still too much sway than I cared for.

Sold the trailer and went to a 32' 5th wheel. B&W turnover gooseneck ball and a GEN Y goosebox for the trailer. Wanted to keep my bed free. Best setup I've ever had. Easy to pull and as mentioned above, have almost forgot it's back there a time or two. Will never go back to bumper pull or regular 5th wheel hitch system.
 
Ya, never have had a sway problem on large bumper pull with the simple anti-sway bars.

But, I will say that modern trucks have anti-sway braking systems to also aid that- so not sure how much is the truck vs the bars.
 
I like a 5th wheel but if you are going to be going all over the country with it I would get a 1 ton diesel pickup. Pulling up long grades, driving into a big wind the diesel is the right tool for the job ! I’ve got a 1 ton F350 6.7 Powerstroke and you don’t even know you’re pulling the 5th wheel.
 
lol at the guys saying to just add an anti sway bar for the long bumper pulls. If you've never towed a 30'+ bumper (box length, not overall length), it just doesn't matter, they sway like a SOB.

And the newer trucks with anti sway braking systems, that system only kicks on when it detects dangerous amounts of sway, it quite alarming when it does its thing.
 
Bluehair said:
Huh? You must not be talking about the same thing. There are very good anti-sway hitches.
Click to expand...


I know exactly what you're talking about but someone towing a 32' trailer with a half ton truck might expect too much from them.

I've been in the RV business for years and I am always surprised at what people will tow there trailers with and in many cases the sway bars can only do so much.

I will say they are much better to have them v.s not having them!
 
The setup I had was with a sway bar system on it. Yes it was used correctly. The sway existed with both trucks due to the overall size and length of the trailer.
 
txhunter58 said:
Looking at getting a travel trailer. The one that meets my needs (and my wife’s) run 36-38 ft and have a bedroom slide and 2 opposing slides in the living room/kitchen.

What say you? Fifth wheel or bumper pull? I have a 6.6 gas Chevy 2500 HD rated at 14,500 lbs bumper pull and 16,650 fifth wheel?

Currently looking at a 5th wheel Dutchman Astoria 3173RLP
Click to expand...
Fifth wheels pull way better
 
Stay away from the Anderson hitch. Way too high failure rate. It’s made from aluminum. A hard break and it is know to collapse on itself and wreck your truck and trailer. The GEN Y and B&W setup are worth the money.
 
If you plan on pulling a doublewide house around the country, then 5th wheel it is. Just remember. Get yourself a half ton eco boost. It will pull it regardless of suspension and axle size. Just ask the majority of morons on the roads these days?
 
Shadow said:
The B&W turnover gooseneck ball I’d the only way to go.
Click to expand...
I've owned a 28' (24' box) bumper pull that I pulled w/a 3/4 ton duramax. It had an equalizer hitch and towed great. I pull trailers about every day for work. A few years ago I bought a 45' toyhauler. That is one LOOONG humdinger! I'm now in a 1 ton duramax (SRW) w/bags, and I am just amazed at how well the truck tugs that thing down the road. Fully loaded I am pushing the limits of that single rear wheel truck (around 21K pounds). I really need to have it weighed just so I know how heavy I am. My next truck will be a dually.

With that said, I love my five-er. You have to be 100% concentrated on driving though. Taking wider turns, anticipating lane changes much earlier, braking much earlier, keeping your speed under control on descent, etc. And driving it in heavy traffic sucks! It can be mentally exhausting. But once I'm at my destination everything about it is better than my other travel trailer.

My biggest gripe is with a rig that long & tall is I'm limited on the mountain "dry-dock" camping I can do & places/roads I can go on. I've done it a few times and it has been a white knuckler every time. Between destroying the trailer with low hanging branches, tight turns, steep grades/downhills, soft sandy ground, gullies (that can taco your bed rails), finding a decent camp spot that will fit the trailer, being able to turn around, etc. Just make sure you know the road you're going down. Don't go in blind! For that scenario I liked my bumper pull better.
 
Yup. 5th wheels aren't great mountain trailers. I've been bumper pull my rv career because my trailers have never stayed in an RV park, always on the mtn, and 5th wheels are too tall
 
Take your Damn Stilts Off When You're Not Working hossy!

hossblur said:
Yup. 5th wheels aren't great mountain trailers. I've been bumper pull my rv career because my trailers have never stayed in an RV park, always on the mtn, and 5th wheels are too tall
Click to expand...
 
Love all the answers and experiences here. Lots to learn.

I had a 5th wheel, tows great. I went back to a bumper pull as I prefer boondocking and that 5th wheel was too tall. If you go super heavy, gaser is not nearly as nice as a diesel truck.

Looks like you decided 5th wheel. I have factory ball in my bed and used an Anderson hitch (can sell you hitch if you want it as I sold trailer) worked great. Enjoy it, I find a trailer has more maintenance than a boat. :(
 
Next question:

Which kind of generator?

Then:

Do I add solar?

TV:

Satellite dish?

What about external gear?

Chairs, tables, grills, Bar-b-ques, water hoses, carpets………………

?????????????
 
2lumpy said:
Next question:

Which kind of generator?

Then:

Do I add solar?

TV:

Satellite dish?

What about external gear?

Chairs, tables, grills, Bar-b-ques, water hoses, carpets………………

?????????????
Click to expand...
I've loved reading this thread.

I just switched to a 5th wheel after several bumper pulls.

Generator, yes, I just bought the Onan 4500, very small footprint and fairly light.

Solar is a must, I'll probably add a second panel and a better inverter.

As for TV, skip everything you heard and go directly with Starlink. Then you've got all your streaming services from home.

My next investment for camping, a small smoker.

Kevin
 
Bought a Green Mountain Pellet Grill and mounted it on a swing arm on the back bumper. Works great and it's 12 volt.

greenmountaingrills.com

TREK

The TREK model is the ultimate portable grill. It comes with a digital WiFi controller and a thermal sensor that constantly monitors grill temperature.
greenmountaingrills.com greenmountaingrills.com
 
txhunter58 said:
Looking at getting a travel trailer. The one that meets my needs (and my wife’s) run 36-38 ft and have a bedroom slide and 2 opposing slides in the living room/kitchen.

What say you? Fifth wheel or bumper pull? I have a 6.6 gas Chevy 2500 HD rated at 14,500 lbs bumper pull and 16,650 fifth wheel?

Currently looking at a 5th wheel Dutchman Astoria 3173RLP
Click to expand...
5th wheel for sure. I never ever seen anyone pulling a top notch luxury camper with a bumper hitch. I think it would be a tough pull
 

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