horton333
Autora (Ontario)
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Joined: 11/08/2006
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DallasSteve wrote:Duchmen and Horton
Another poster wrote "A bumper pull can be made stable, but it takes thousands of dollars to achieve". I know I would need a stabilizing hitch, but I was thinking that's around $500. Do you think it takes thousands of dollars to make a bumper pull stable?
Well it easily costs 10 thousand more, or much more, to get a truck to handle a 35' fifth wheel vs travel trailer too ....Even 2 thousand for hitch plus, the significantly better mileage and lower capital cost of the travel trailer, makes the economic only comparison a slam dunk. Again, what do you want to do with it....
How much the hitch costs depends on how suitable the vehicle was to start with. The ballpark of $500 should give a good setup for almost all situations.
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Ford Explorer or Chrysler 300C to tow with.
Tracer Air 238 to be towed.
Triumph Thunderbird Sport - with the toy-hauler gone it's at home.
Retired very early and loving it.
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Nicholsfamily05
Brooklyn
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We started out with a 34' TT and a 2500 truck. Truck pulled it nicely but it was white knuckled most of the time as other big vehicles would pass or winds pushing it around. Even having the weight distribution hitch it was a pain. It would buck and bounce going down the highway. Had several shops and friends who have towing for years say it's done right. Never got rid of the movement. Backing it in was ok wasn't to bed. Wife didn't like the head room in amongst other things so it went away.
Then we bought a 40' bunk house fifth wheel and it was a world of improvement. From the big rigs passing us to other rigs no more being pushed around. Yes high winds still do here and there but much better. No more white knuckles. Was a lot more enjoyable ride. The chucking most people have we had to with our first trailer and hitch. We had a standard hitch and a standard pin.
When we ordered our second fifth wheel we ordered the upgraded pin and a better hitch. Since then we haven't had any issues. Not saying it's fine but it's 97% gone. Our new fifth wheel is 42'.
In our bed of the truck, a short box, we have a 50 gallon diesel gas tank. We honestly don't put stuff in our bed. Our basement isn't to big but just big enough to hold what we need. We don't bring a lot with us really. Just what we need. Most of the time the only thing in the bed is the hoses and power cord on the ride home if they are dirty and such.
2016 Ram 3500 4x4 Big Horn Crew Cab, SRW. Cummins Turbo Diesel Automatic 68RFE Trans
50 gallon diesel Transfer Flow tank with the Traxx 3 system.
2017 Sierra FLIK 5th Wheel
42' Front Livingroom, 15K
Hydraulic level up system
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Playtime II
Holiday FL
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Can only comment on 33" TT. I only have a stock F150 with the short wheelbase (5.5bed). It isnt just a WDH but WDH and sway contol. We had the reese dual cam and it made all the difference from our prior TT with just WDH.
Playtime IV
2006 HR Scepter 42DSQ
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gafidler
Texas/South Dakota
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I used to pull a 33ft TT with an equalizer hitch , Hitch cost about $500 had no problems towing. Long trailers back up easier than short trailers. Never pulled a fiver.
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dfm
B.C.
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I pull a 12000 pound, 37 foot trailer with a reese dual cam wd hitch. It is absolutely stable , even in emergency traffic situations. My trailer is a bumper pull but the trailer floor plan is more akin to a 5th wheel plan with the full pass through in the rear with the bedroom above the basement. Key is stability comes from the right hitch, the right hitch weight and the right tow vehicle. I have towed my sister's 38 foot 5'er and I would not trade her for my bumper pull.
2015 Open Range 340 FLR
2012 Ram3500 Laramie Longhorn/Cummins
1 DW 1 Furperson
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snowpeke
Nevada City California
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I prefer the 5th wheel, it easier to handle but it easier to back up a bumper pull. The worst thing about bumper pull it scrapes the bottom end going in to parking lots and gas stations.
2002 Chevy DuraMax
2014 jayco eagle
Two Pekingese dogs
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Walaby
Georgia
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My friend traded his TT in for 5er. He says gas mileage IMPROVED by almost 2MPG (Ford Diesel). Towing experience, he says is better with 5er and felt more stable in windy conditions.
A quality hitch for TT improves the experience. I have a Blue Ox, and it's not a 2 grand hitch, and it does quite nicely. BUT, having said that, I have no direct experience with the higher end hitches. I have heard they improve the experience even more. When I go NFT (near full time), I will likely upgrade the hitch to the high end.. or go to 5er.. all depends.
Mike
Im Mike Willoughby, and I approve this message.
2017 Ram 3500 CTD (aka FRAM)
2019 GrandDesign Reflection 367BHS
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drmopar
Discovery Bay
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We tow a 34' Bumper pull Toy Hauler. No issues if hitch and weight distribution are set correctly. I do like my trucks 8 foot bed available for stuff. Of course my triple axle Toy Hauler does track and brake very well. No issues with large trucks or wind. Once you go to 3 axles, you never go back. I think the lower center of gravity also helps, as well as low tree branches and some overpasses. You will get tired of climbing steps all the time in a 5th. Cost is always an issue as well.
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Goostoff
Wisconsin
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We used to have a 32 foot TT with a 3/4 ton Suburban. It towed OK unless there was any wind, Then it would sway all over the place. We now have a 35 foot 5th wheel and a 1 ton truck. I have been in 30 to 40 mph gusts and hardly know it is windy out with the AC cranked. The only wind I notice now is a good head wind. I will never have anything but a 5th wheel again
1993 Chevy C3500
2005 Cedar Creek 34RLTS
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horton333
Autora (Ontario)
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Walaby wrote:My friend traded his TT in for 5er. He says gas mileage IMPROVED by almost 2MPG (Ford Diesel). Towing experience, he says is better with 5er and felt more stable in windy conditions.
Mike
That extra height increases wind drag and at a 4 times rate, and drag is the main determinate of fuel efficiency at constant speed. The second is weight on hills or accelerating, and being taller the fifth wheel also tends to weigh more per unit length for most of its length. Perhaps he changed to the diesel at the same time as he bought the fifth wheel.... about the only science that could explain that huge fuel use improvement observation. I guess he could also have converted to one of those 200 mph carburetors, but those are scarse now and also difficult to retrofit on a diesel. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/awink.gif "awink")
Perhaps also he had a terrible setup on his earlier trailer, there are some out there, but for equal length trailers, as under discussion, the wind on the extra height will have even more than 4 times the sideways pushing effect (not only does the wind's force go up 4 times that extra force is applied farther above the axle and so has much greater effect on stability). The higher trailer was aleady less stable sideways to begin with given the higher center of gravity, so less resistant to the push. The fifth wheels often have more robust axles which helps a bit and the length is measured differently which adds a bit of complexity to these generalizations and the "equal length" assumption, but neither is going to compensate for the huge math disadvantage to a side wind in any typical case of 35' trailers.
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