What's better for a camper. 5th wheel or...

[WCB]

gooseneck... Is one better than the other? Both would be better than bumper pull wouldn't it??? Do they even make gooseneck campers???
And I'm talking about pulling with a 1/2 ton truck.
I'm getting close to buying a newer camper so inquiring minds need to know...

[HandiKap Bowhunter]

I prefer a 5th wheel but pulling with a half ton if its a swb will be tight. We jacknifed a sb 2 times into our horse trailers. Thank god for headache racks. I'm getting a bumper pull travel trailer next week myself but I have a camper cover on my truck now to tote the kids things and my hunting tows to the ranch.

[quackerback]

you can put an adapter on any 5th wheel for gooseneck. as long as your trailer is not too heavy then the adapter is fine. i would not want to use it on some of the heavier toy haulers. i would probably use a 5th wheel on a half ton because you probably are not gonna use a gooseneck for anything else in that size truck.

[12ring]

To me, it depends on how big of a camper your talking about (lenghtwise/weight wise). As long as it's under 27' and 5k lbs, a bumper pull is fine for a 1/2 ton.

I bought a 33' 11K lb camper a couple of years ago. Luckily it was already converted to a gooseneck (easy to swap from a 5th wheel).

I'd think that if a camper was big enough to be a gooseneck, it'd probably be too much for a 1/2 ton. I know they make some small 5th wheels too, so you might could go that route. But............. I don't like the hassel of having to deal w/the 5th wheel contraption in the bed of the truck. A B&W turnover ball works great in my 3/4 ton Duramax. Course, I just bought a NEW 3/4 ton Duramax yesterday, so as soon as I get back from LA, I'm having one put in it, as well.

Good luck w/it, however you go................................................ ................ D.

[WCB]

To me, it depends on how big of a camper your talking about (lenghtwise/weight wise). As long as it's under 27' and 5k lbs, a bumper pull is fine for a 1/2 ton.

I bought a 33' 11K lb camper a couple of years ago. Luckily it was already converted to a gooseneck (easy to swap from a 5th wheel).

I'd think that if a camper was big enough to be a gooseneck, it'd probably be too much for a 1/2 ton. I know they make some small 5th wheels too, so you might could go that route. But............. I don't like the hassel of having to deal w/the 5th wheel contraption in the bed of the truck. A B&W turnover ball works great in my 3/4 ton Duramax. Course, I just bought a NEW 3/4 ton Duramax yesterday, so as soon as I get back from LA, I'm having one put in it, as well.

Good luck w/it, however you go................................................ ................ D.

Thanks for the info Derek. I'm not talking about a monster camper and I'm not interested in hauling tons of farm equipment (gooseneck). I've always heard a 5th wheel pulls easier/better than a bumper pull. Is that true?

[HandiKap Bowhunter]

WCB most all the time a trailer mounted over the axel will pull much better. I've pulled everything from 36 foot floats and 30 ft 5t wheels to 10 ft flatbeds with 4 wheeler. Its just gonna be what ur comfortable with and how much ur gonna be hauling. Like I said above be careful if its a swb cause u will catch back corner of truck if u get under it LWB will allow ut to get 90 degrees under it swb most likely not. A good receiver and a set of swaybars makes a lot of difference on the bumper pulls if ur looking at only moving it a few times a year.

[WCB]

WCB most all the time a trailer mounted over the axel will pull much better. I've pulled everything from 36 foot floats and 30 ft 5t wheels to 10 ft flatbeds with 4 wheeler. Its just gonna be what ur comfortable with and how much ur gonna be hauling. Like I said above be careful if its a swb cause u will catch back corner of truck if u get under it LWB will allow ut to get 90 degrees under it swb most likely not. A good receiver and a set of swaybars makes a lot of difference on the bumper pulls if ur looking at only moving it a few times a year.

Thanks Cullen
That's the kind of info I need. Mostly will only be pulled a couple of times a year but my wife is now thinking of doing some "trailering" to places. I have a longer WB 1/2 ton so with what your talking about I should be good. Don't need to haul a mansion but something comfortable and safely/easier... If you know what I mean.

[Roscoe]

A good receiver and a set of swaybars makes a lot of difference on the bumper pulls if ur looking at only moving it a few times a year.

Yep...a good weight distributing hitch and sway bars make all the difference in the world.

[12ring]

Yup.

Thanks for the info Derek. I'm not talking about a monster camper and I'm not interested in hauling tons of farm equipment (gooseneck). I've always heard a 5th wheel pulls easier/better than a bumper pull. Is that true?

Obviously it puts the weight farther forward. Takes alot of the snap/bounce out of hauling, compared to a bumper pull. Course, the sway bars/load leveling bars do help, on a bumper pull. If I bought a bumper pull, I'd make sure I had them.

Course............. if your just looking for something to stay in while hunting Hagerman........... I've already told you, your more than welcome to use mine!

Be sure and post up pics of the new temp "crib"....................... D.

[WCB]

Obviously it puts the weight farther forward. Takes alot of the snap/bounce out of hauling, compared to a bumper pull. Course, the sway bars/load leveling bars do help, on a bumper pull. If I bought a bumper pull, I'd make sure I had them.

Course............. if your just looking for something to stay in while hunting Hagerman........... I've already told you, your more than welcome to use mine!

Be sure and post up pics of the new temp "crib"....................... D.

Thanks bro!! If me and Oscar (and sometimes others like arrowsmith) didn't stay at the 5 star I'd take you up on that. We still need to get together when I get drawn this year again...

[Snakelover]

If you end up getting a bumper pull, I have a weight distribution hitch with the equalizer bars and sway bar that I could trade for a case of Bud Light. You would just need to buy the parts that stay on the trailer.

[bentstk]

If you end up getting a bumper pull, I have a weight distribution hitch with the equalizer bars and sway bar that I could trade for a case of Bud Light. You would just need to buy the parts that stay on the trailer.

If you price all this stuff, you'll know how good a deal this is

[HandiKap Bowhunter]

That's a steal David. One case is way to cheap. I'm getting all that with the trailer I'm buying thank god that's 500+ I don't have to spend.

[a3dhunter]

I had a 24 foot bumper pull for 5 years, towed it all over. Up through Wyoming and out to California several times. I had a weight distributing hitch only.
I got rid of it 2 years ago and then last year bought a 25 foot Dutchman fifth wheel.
After pulling it from Colorado back to Texas, and then back to Colorado I can say I have no preference. I have a Chevy ext cab 1/2 ton shortbed with 5.3. I can tell you it is underpowered for the trailer, which is 4200lbs dry weight. With the wind we encountered on our last trip to Colorado, 20-30 mph head wind or quartering, it had me down to 50 mph for several long stretches.
That makes for a long trip.

The fifth wheel is easier to turn around, but other than that I don't see a benefit. I lost most of my bed space and this fifth wheel hitch is always in the way. Unless needing a bigger trailer, for convenience I would definitely look towards getting a bumper pull if staying under 27'.

[boh347]

I would go with a gooseneck, that way you don't have all the hard wear that comes with a fifth wheel mounted in he back of your truck. Have a hide away ball in that sucker and be done with it.