what is the real difference between a 5th wheel and a travel trailer?

Question

I know one is hooked to bed and one to the bumper..but why should I care? I have a 2005 F150...can it handle both...or only travel trailer?

Answer 1

Having towed both a 27' and a 37' travel trailer with an F350, (Powerstroke,) I wouldn't really want to try anything much larger than a 20' with an F150. A friend of mine does it regularly with his F150, but his truck is also a company truck.

The fifth wheels that hook to a semi-style connection in the bed of the truck are going to be the massive, heavy travel trailers that are going to put more weight on the truck's suspension and rear axle than a half ton truck is really designed for. It's probably not a good idea to attempt a fifth wheel in anything under a three quarter ton rating.

It's not simply a matter of weight, as much as it is of inertia. You have to get the thing moving, which requires a LOT of torque, you need the horsepower to accelerate to handle the demands of traffic and then you're going to need to stop at some point. The fifth wheel and travel trailer do have their own brakes, which you can set as aggressively as you want, but you still need a truck with the mass, brakes and suspension that's going to support the shifting mass of the trailer when you need to stop, or worse, panic stop.

Even with the 27' travel trailer and F350, it was a handful to stop when we discovered previously unsuspected problems in the connection between the truck's wiring harness and the trailer's wiring harness.

Given what you have and what you want to do, I'd contact a reputable, (do some research,) RV dealership and ask them to recommend the models that would be suitable for your intended tow vehicle.

Best of Luck

Answer 2

You're asking the wrong question since many travel trailer do have a 5th wheel hitch. I think you mean what is the advantage of a 5th wheel over a standard trailer hitch.

It's a bit of a trade off. A 5th wheel will handle much better, but it does put more weight on the truck, about 17 to 20% of the total weight, where a standard hitch puts only the tongue weight, but doesn't handle as well.

Added: It also has to do with size, get over about 22 feet, and the 5th wheel is all you can find.

Answer 3

Well, follow the recommendations in your owner's manual. A travel trailer can also be a fifth wheel, as the term "fifth wheel" is referring to the type of hitch, not the type of trailer. Typically, a trailer using a fifth wheel style hitch weighs significantly more than a receiver hitch trailer or a bumper hitch trailer. This being the case, most trailers with a fifth wheel style hitch would be too heavy for a 1/2 ton truck (which is what a F-150 is). Your truck can handle many trailers without the fifth wheel, as long as it does not exceed your gross towing weight, or the limits of your bumper or hitch. These specifications should be available in your owner's manual, and may even be printed on a decal on one of the door frames.

Answer 4

It all depends on the length of the trailer, all types. The pop-up is easiest because it's the shortest and they are usually only as wide as the vehicle towing it. The 5th wheel is at the other extreme. Typically they are two or three times longer than the tow vehicle. They are usually wider than the track of the truck you are towing with and because of the pivot point being in the middle of the truck box instead of the tail of it turning is awkward at best until you get the hang of it. A good way to go may be gradually increase the size of your trailer until you are comfortable with the biggest trailer you want then step up to the 5th wheel.

Answer 5

A travel trailer hooks up behind the bumper and a 5th hooks up in the pickup bed. You can’t legally hookup to most 5ths with you F-150. You need to check the box size of your truck and the truck’s GVWR. If you are serious about getting a travel trailer or 5th-whell, spend some time on the RV forum at www.rv.net. You will learn more than you want to know about trailering in a very short time.

Answer 6

I pull a 27 foot lightweight with a half ton chevy with a 5.7 liter V8 and it is not fun. Half ton trucks just aren't designed for the weight and towing demands of a travel trailer. If you are thinking 5th wheel you need a 3/4 ton or better. I am fixing to upgrade myself cuz I get tired of being dragged down to 50mph on a grade or wind. Get the facts before you shop, I had some salesman "assuring" me my truck could easily pull the trailer I was looking at when in fact it was at the max capacity for my vehicle. If you go bumper pull, a load distribution hitch is the way to go, it puts the load on all 4 tires of your truck. A transmission cooler is also a good idea.

Answer 7

The 5th wheel would be more expensive for the retro-fit on your truck... but it's much easier to handle and safer. Make sure your truck has the right towing capacity for either before attempting. Furthermore, you might want to get a transmission cooler installed. Normally you can get a "towing package" installed that covers everything. But whether you have a travel trailer or 5th wheel... your truck needs will remain the same.

Answer 8

A fifth wheel is typically much larger than a travel trailer, and its mount is much like that of a tractor trailer and over the rear axel. A 5th wheel generally dakes more horsepower to pull because of the larger size and weight... People I know use Diesel trucks to pull them as its more effecient and cost effective.

Answer 9

If i was in your shoes,i would look into getting a small self-contained motorhome.You can find many used ones for sale.Like a small van type
or like a toyota dolphin.
The F-150 cannot handle a 5th wheel connection,and hauling a travel trailer
is no fun !

Answer 10

You can handle either one as long as you stay within your weight range.
Here's the difference...
Do you have a shell on the bed?
5th wheel - You loose the bedspace as a gear storage.
Trailer - Bed space can be used to haul a quad or motorcycles.