I've owned a pull behind travel trailer for the last 10 years and I'm thinking of moving to a 5th wheel. Having never pulled a 5th wheel I'm curious if they pull better than the travel trailer or not. I know wind can sometimes be a bear when pulling the pull behind. Just looking for opinions.

If properly set up I don't think there is much difference. Properly set up weight distribution makes a huge difference when using a bumper pull, especially if your truck is on the lighter side.

I backed trailers since a while before I could drive and it took a little getting use to with a GN/5th wheel but not bad. I wouldn't move to a 5th wheel just to move to one, but I wouldn't shy away from it if you have the truck to pull it and it fits your wants/needs.

I think a bumper pull would leave more room in the truck bed for gear.

Keep in mind that resale on bumper pulls is way better. 1500’s can’t pull a 5W and when you go to sell it you have 1/4 of the people that can actually pull it vs. a bumper pull. We’ve been looking at stepping up to a 5W as well but looking at prices I don’t want to get killed when we have to sell it

Have a fifth wheel for some time now. I think they pull better and definitely easier to back in tough situation, Most fifth wheel trailers seem to have heavier furniture. Larger interior in most cases. Most have steps which you use getting in then many have extra steps up to the bedroom. Value is like anything else, clean well maintained trailers sell faster and for more money

Had both the 5 th wheel is the best at pulling without a doubt !!!!!!

What this ^ guy said.

What's your tow vehicle?

Also depends on bed length. For proper weight distribution a 5W hitch should be over or slightly forward of the rear axle. A short bed usually requires a hitch extension placing the weight behind the axle which doesn't ride as good. My tundra has a "long" 6.5 foot short bed and the camper barely clears the cab without an extension. I think the 5W trailers pull much better, can be jackknifed into tight places and have more useable space since one bed is over the bed/hitch. Tow rating is usually higher for a 5W vs. a bumper pull also

Im currently driving a Tundra with a 10K towing capacity. Never do believe vehicle manufacturers on tow ratings. With the new pull behinds these days and multiple slideouts those trailers are starting to get 8K lbs plus. Some 10K. Might have to go to a 3/4 ton just for the added towing capacity.

Another consideration is how often do you pull your RV and short / more local trips or just about anywhere regardless of distance.

A fifth wheel set up distributes the weight over the rear axle and the steering axle giving you a far more stable towing experience. Easier to set up correctly and hook & unhook trailer.
Any difference in how they drive & manuver you'll become accustom to rapidly.
Many newer 5th wheels come with an air ride / air dampened pin plate and a few different air dampened hitch parts are available aftermarket which substantially improve tow vehicle ride quality.
I much prefer fifth wheel or gooseneck to tongue pull type trailers.

For TT tongue pull, a weight distribution hitch with sway control helps considerably.
The very best of the weight distr / sway control hitches is a Hensley Arrow with a price tag to match.
They are a big step up from a typical / low cost wd/sway hitch, if you want to go anywhere coast to coast border to border or tow mid to long distances frequently they are well worth the price.

They key to either is to get the tow vehicle and trailer set up correctly.

Pull behind, for resale ease.

That’s wrong. The hitch extension still places the weight on the ball, which as you stated is on top of or slightly in front of the rear axle. Extension or not, the weight is still on the ball

If you go above the manufacturers weight rating, trust me the Hwy Patrol will love you

Not to mention if you ever get into a wreck and someone figures out you are over the weight rating, you are going to pay for it in court.

You got that right! I've got a new 35' bumper pull that I recently towed from Rockport to Houston, just hooked to the ball of my F-350. This camper will not get moved again without a weight distribution hitch with sway bars, about pinched a hole in my seat!

Weight distribution hitch makes a huge difference in control and stopping of a bumper pull TT. Towed our 30-footer with my 1/2 ton, took a couple attempts to get the setup correct, but it is absolutely night and day difference.


The big thing with towing TT's is the wind not the weight. Your not going to notice a 6000 lb TT is much easier to tow or get much better fuel mileage with it than an 8000 TT.

If your truck is rated at 10,000 lbs and well maintained I wouldn't be concerned towing an 8000 lb TT with it. Set it up correctly, maintain it well, and drive respectably and you will be fine. If I was going be anywhere near that 8000 lb number I would definitely not want the P tires that come stock on 1/2 ton pickups and I would want to take it to a CAT scale or similar to properly set up the weight distribution, do it right once and it makes a huge difference in handling! There are probably a bunch of video's on how to do it on youtube.

We also went from a bumper to 5er. More room and tows better, especially when looking at 30+ feet with a toyhauler

How much time do you actually spend in your trailer and how much time does it sit not being used?

That is a fact. They are really getting after anything that even looks like a hot shot these days too. DOT cracking down on hot shot drivers out of regs.

Spends a lot more time not being used, but sure is nice to have at the lease and to go explore Texas state parks and such instead of sitting in a hotel room