5th Wheel vs Travel Trailer: 20 things to consider before buying.
Currently, the fifth wheel and the travel trailers are the best and most popular vehicles on the road. You might be wondering and asking yourself some differences between the two vehicles so that you can purchase the most comfortable one. Well, there are many significant differences between fifth-wheel vehicles and travel trailers as highlighted below. By learning and understanding the trailer’s differences, it will be easier for you to make the right decision when purchasing the RV.
Hitch
The hitch is the main feature that distinguishes the fifth wheel and travel trailer. A fifth wheel attaches to the bed of the truck using a different jaw hitch. On the other hand, a travel trailer connects to the bumper of the towing van utilizing a coupler hitch and a standard ball. Therefore, it’s more relaxed and more comfortable to hitch a fifth-wheel trailer than a travel trailer.
Storage basement
When it comes to storage space, the fifth-wheel trailer is more convenient than a travel trailer. The 5th wheel vehicles have enough storage at the base because of the two-level design as compared to the travel trailer which consists of only one layer. Besides, the fifth wheel towing cars have extra-large tanks as compared to the travel trailers.
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Floor levels
The fifth-wheel trailers have large and spacious living space found at the top of the hitch because it is connected to the truck bed. In fact, you can use the area as the master bedroom. The 5th wheels possess some upstairs and downstairs due to the two-level design, the unique feature that is not seen in travel trailers.
In the following video, you can see the 5th wheel floor plan:
The total length of the trailers
The fifth wheels have a vast space that extends outside the truck bed hence providing a sizeable living area. The feature makes it efficient and easy to move into the smaller camping area and walk around the town while securing your existing site. This feature is not observed in travel trailers.
Backing up feature
Travel trailers respond faster to the steering input, especially when in reverse and many individuals find the travel vehicles much more comfortable to back up. The RV also tracks at the back of the tow truck very closing when moving in the forward direction. The hitch of the 5th wheel connects to the bed of the vehicle hence tricky while backing up.
Towing
The SUV mostly used to pull a travel RV provides a lot of space for travelers while a fifth wheel needs a pickup to act as a tow vehicle hence fewer people can travel using the wheels, but the truck bed has enough space compared to SUV. Also, the multiple levels of the fifth wheel allow it to place more weight at the center of the tow truck making it safe and stable.
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5th wheels are much more expensive than travel trailers.
Fuel
A travel trailer provides the best fuel economy than the 5th wheel because the RV possess a low profile and one can spend almost two to 3mpg fuel economy
Weight
When comparing the two trailers regarding weight, you will find that fifth wheels are more substantial than travel trailers. In fact, the towing vehicles are capable of supporting the two-weight of the wheeled trailer and the load of the bed before you purchase.
Ceiling height
Fifth wheels have taller ceilings as compared to the travel trailers but its height is higher in the living places but lower in the master bedrooms.
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Luxury
Fifth wheels have excellent and more comfortable features. They offer a large space. In fact, if the trailer possesses two bedrooms, they are always separated by another door. Also, the master bedroom sometimes is designed with a bathroom. Travel trailers are not designed with all these features.
In this video, you can see more 5th wheel features:
Dirt Bikes and ATVs
If you purchase the fifth wheels, you will be unable to fit an ATV but having a travel trailer allows you to fix dirt bikes under the truck bed. This can be done on the fifth wheel only if you have a toy hauler.
Dry camping and off-roading
The travel trailers are the best on your way to the camping areas. The fifth wheels are heavy hence makes your vehicle to slow down especially on an icy or dirty highway. Besides, the wheel vehicles are tall therefore you will force yourself into tree branches while on the camping sites.
Hookup
When it comes to hooking up, the fifth wheel trailers are the best than travel trailers.
Generators
Some fifth wheels trailers come with in-built generators that are always quiet and convenient to the user, unlike travel trailers.
Second Tow
The fifth wheel vehicles allow you to put either a boat or an ATV at its behind hence long tows. This is not the case with travel trailers.
Cooling and heating
Most fifth wheels experience unequal cooling and heat than the travel trailers because of vast space and divided areas.
Slideouts
Fifth wheels sometimes have up to five slide-outs. On the other side, travel trailers come with either one or two because each slide-out is always heavy hence increases the weight of the truck.
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Riding in the towed truck
In most states, it’s allowed to ride on the fifth wheel vehicle but not on the travel trailer, hence the 5th wheels are more convenient in such countries.
Fifth wheel tow receiver
The wheel’s tow receiver is a huge and heavy type of steel that takes up significant space unlike the hitch of the travel trailer vehicle which occupies no space at all cost.
Therefore, having understood the differences between the fifth wheel trailers and the travel trailers, you can now make the right decision when purchasing for your RV. Ensure you weigh the vehicles and determine what is essential for you.
Rv vs Trailer vs 5th wheel
There’s a lot of differences between the three types, the Rv vs Trailer vs 5th wheel. Your decision will differ according to each type of activity and your wallet-friendly price, so whether you’re going to summer vacation or even trying to have some fun in the hiking spots in the late at night and not come back in the morning or you need some vacation with the family on a side of a river, you’re going to get exposed to picking between the RV and trailer and the 5th wheel.
Comparison Views
- Price
- Maintenance
- Fuel for traveling
- Locations
- resale
The Price :
looking at the RV they’re like most of the created motorhomes they’re expensive and high valued and will keep its cost increasing through time, not like the travel trailer in the cost, but when compared to the fifth wheel they’re the very high price to a high level.
Whether you’re making it for trips or any other place it depends on the reliability of your pocket. Knowing that the best thing is the fifth wheel but it costs tons of money, and in the other direction the RV is lower but could be used for many purposes and finally the trailer which is the cheapest.
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Maintenance:
The RV needs a lot of regular maintenance of extra costs or making better out of your RV, just like any other motorhome it’ll need regular maintenance with higher costs too, but for the trailer, it doesn’t need regular maintenance, it’ll need eventually but not in a regular basis, but looking at the 5th wheel it’s varying depending on the size of the 5th wheel and the type of it, so the 5th wheel isn’t reliable in some cases looking at the maintenance and it’s reliable looking into another places and timings, but what’s sure that the 5th wheel usually needs regular check for the maintenance because it would need sudden maintenance so far.
Fuel for traveling:
The fuel for traveling would be different from one type to another where the RV takes the advantage of consumption, you can consume a lot less fuel with the RV than the trailer so far, but looking at the 5th wheel types differ but there are types that need low quality gas which will be cost-efficient among them all as the RV and the trailer use diesel.
Locations:
Locations differ from type to type too, if you’re going to a high place with a small area to move in it’s going to be the Trailer surely, with wider areas or just like a river place or any other close to a place that will need a long time staying and have larger place will be able to accept the RV, where the RV is kind of larger than the trailer, but when it comes to the 5th wheel, if you’re going to a place with the family or having a trip somewhere with friends then you can consider 5th wheel a suitable job but it’s really enormous in size which will need a very large place so it could move.
Resale:
About the resale value of RVs and trailers, the RVs actually saves the amount of resale value, it holds the main value of the RV even after maintenances and uses for a long time, but for the trailers, they save almost the whole value, just with zero usage value breaking so far and it doesn’t get affected by maintenance and longtime use.
Looking at the 5th wheels it’s not clearly known about in the resale value because most people who get the 5th wheel get to have it forever and no resale it, sometimes it’s sold as spare parts but it’s not the main value of the 5th wheel and when it’s sold it doesn’t hold the actual value, so when people get it they make sure that it’ll stay with them forever so far.
Fifth wheel versus travel trailer pros and cons
Both 5th wheel and travel trailers are often a cheaper alternative to the nomadic and leisure lifestyle. Here are some 5th wheel vs Travel trailer pros and cons.
Video Overview: Haylett RV.com – Travel Trailer vs Fifth Wheel Comparison with Josh the RV Nerd
5th Wheel Trailers
Fifth-wheel trailers are among the most popular trailers. They range in size from the smaller more spartan models, all the way up to large models. They are the easiest to maneuver and pull of the towable trailer group, offering a stable platform by virtue of the hitch mounting arrangement. Most models offer huge storage bays underneath, large living spaces with multiple slideouts, and the characteristic raised ceilings, sloping towards the upstairs level.
Pros:
- Maneuvering and stable tow-ability are superior to travel trailers, especially in the larger lengths by virtue of the hitch being mounted in the pickup bed.
- Unhitching a fifth wheel can be very easy to do when at camp, allowing one to use the truck to run errands or to go sightseeing. Some models come with automatic leveling jacks making it even easier, and less strenuous to set up.
- The bed of the pickup can be equipped with covers or additional storage boxes for carrying tools and other creative uses. Some truck boxes even come built to house a generator, important for those doing a lot of boondocking.
Cons:
- They cannot accommodate many passengers.
- Bedrooms with full stand-up height can be non-existent in the mid-length or very small models making it difficult for taller people.
- Fifth-wheel trailers have a disadvantage in that people will have to exit the tow rig to enter, an inconvenience in inclement weather.
Travel trailers
Travel trailers are among the lightest and easiest to operate. Travel trailers are designed to be towed by other vehicles by means of a bumper or trailer hitch. Because of their lightweight and small size, they can be easily maneuvered into tight spots at primitive campgrounds. There are different lengths and sizes available with the larger models generally having higher-end features.
Pros:
- They are the easiest and most economical to tow and maneuver of all the towable RV’s available. Their low profile cuts down on wind resistance and thus improves gas mileage.
- They are spontaneous to hitch up and hit the road at a moment’s notice. They also can travel almost anywhere one can drive the tow vehicle.
- They are economical units as they can hold many items found in larger, more expensive RVs such as 3-way refrigerators, heating, and air conditioning, toilet facilities, and so on. By adding a roof rack to the top you can even carry boats, bikes, and other recreational equipment in a compact footprint.
Cons:
- Have to be hand-cranked or automatically assisted open, to access the refrigerator and interior storage, making them somewhat inconvenient before leaving on a trip.
- They have the limitation when on the road if one has to use the toilet or wants to grab some food, as the unit has to be unfolded to access these items.
- The canvas models can spoil if they get wet in rainy weather and will need to be dried out at some point to prevent further damage. The canvas models have the same disadvantages as tents do in wet weather.
- Some smaller or cheaper models do not have toilet facilities other than a portable toilet, and often no shower. If this is important to the campers, they will need to seek out campgrounds that provide these missing features.
How to Pick one, My conclusion:
If you plan to live in your trailer you should buy the 5th wheel but I don’t think this is an option. The most important for me is to have flexibility.
But still, I can see that the 5th wheels have some amazing features that many people will like. So if you want flexibility and want to save a ton of money you should go for a travel trailer. If you have a big budget and you want a luxury apartment and the right truck for it, then you should go for the 5th wheel.
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5th Wheel vs Travel Trailer: Related Questions:
Do I need a long bed truck to tow a fifth wheel?
If you plan on having plenty of stuff inside your truck, then chances are that you will need to get a long-bed truck. However, if you are a contractor who spends most of their time inside their truck and on the road, getting a long bed may be more money than it is worth.
Video Overview: Towing 5th wheel with short bed truck
What trucks can tow 40000 lbs?
Many trucks can tow 40000 lbs. Trucks that can tow over 40000 lbs are classified into three classes, class 6, class 7, and class 8.
Can you ride in a 5th wheel trailer while driving?
Driving a 5th wheel trailer directly behind your vehicle is not easy. The trailer wheels and the tow vehicle wheels have to be aligned well, which means that both vehicles have to drive straight ahead.
Video Overview: Can I Ride in the Back of a Travel Trailer, 5th Wheel or Truck Camper?
Which is easier to pull travel trailer or fifth wheel?
It depends on your rig. The biggest problem with pulling the fifth wheel is backing up. Travel trailers typically only have one hitch on the back, so you don’t get as many issues backing up. Travel trailers are easier to pull travel and park because they typically have a smaller hitch.
What is the advantage of a 5th wheel over a trailer?
With a 5th wheel, your truck will be able to carry more stuff as you are pulling it in the back rather than behind you on the hitch. Also, there is no need to unhook the trailer even when you want to stop for lunch or shopping. Your truck will be able to travel over rougher terrain easier with a 5th wheel than a trailer.
What is better a 5th wheel or travel trailer?
It would be a better choice to go with a 5th wheel because in many cases it is used for traveling purposes and it is easy to be pulled or driven.
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What are the worst fifth wheels?
The fifth-wheel trailer hitch, also known as a truck bed or kingpin mounted hitch. It does not tow well when towing at low speeds and is also very difficult to back up. It’s also very awkward to hook up by yourself, and it has a large turning radius.
What truck is best for towing a fifth-wheel?
Several factors determine the best truck for towing a fifth wheel, but the most important one is power. So you must choose a truck with plenty of horsepowers under the hood to haul another 3,000 pounds up a steep hill.
Video Overview: Best Truck to Tow a 5th Wheel? Fulltime RVers Compare Ford, Dodge, Chevy & GMC
How big of a truck do I need to pull a fifth wheel?
Your fifth wheel is only going to be as big as your truck can pull and vice versa. You want something big enough to tow the weight of your fifth wheel, but small enough in terms of size to have good maneuverability so that you are not worried about getting stuck or being able to easily park the vehicle when you get where you are going.
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