Whats harder to back up , 5th wheel or regular bumper pull trailers ?

[911boost]

I agree with the smaller utility trailer comments, and to make it worse I would double pull one behind my travel trailer for years. That was basically impossible to back up and in the rare occasion I needed to back up a bunch I would just unhook the second trailer.

I have only ever towed a bumper pull, now I can back one of those into anything. I pull a 14 foot trailer behind my Super C and its not difficult.

[A930Rocket]

Years ago, I had a trailer with the same dimensions as a U-Haul trailer. I could back that one up all day long.

I bought a Trailex about 1.5 years ago and I’m having a heck of a time trying to back it up still. I just haven’t found the sweet spot to not keep making the turn. I’m going to VIR this weekend, so I’ll get some more practice.

[herr_oberst]

"pitiful'

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

"pitiful'

Thats funny!!!
Over the winter, my bud asked me to tow his harley to a shop in Pittsburgh for paintwork . He had it in a big enclosed trailer and asked if we could use my dually , because his ram didnt like tugging this behemouth trailer much .
We get up early Saturday morning and haul it down to this biker shop . These dudes are the real deal . I grew up the same hood . These guys were the cool guys in my neighborhood when I was just a little runt, peddling around on my bmx bike .
So, Im trying to back this big trailer into a really tight spot in a city neighborhood . The combo of this dually and the trailer are loooong, and it was taking me a few minutes to get lined up correctly . The one biker dude is standing by my door and helping guide me in .
A small line of trafic has backed up waiting for me to get my schtuff together .
Once I finally get into my space, and traffic can go by , some schlub in the line of traffic, in a wrekced Kia , yells at me " learn how to back that fking thing on your own time aresehole" only he used the real words . I think he thought he was going to yell at me then drive away , but he got stopped again in traffic, and he had to sit there looking dumb while a small group of biker dudes and me all gave him the stink eye.
They guy that was helping me back in, ( big scruffy tatted up long hair biker guy ) pulls up his shirt , shows me his 357, and jokingly ask me " want me to shoot him Fredddy?"
Im pretty sure he was kidding ? i dont mess with bikers a whole lot

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I was at a local gas station and as I was filling up I watched a F450 pulling a 2 horse trailer with two hoses inside pull in for diesel fuel. A chick that had to be no taller than 5'5" hopped out, pumped her fuel. She was in full "cowboy up" clothes. I went inside to buy beer, and watched as she masterfully backed that rig up, and then pulled out like a total pro. I was in awe.

I don't pull a trailer but a few times per decade. The last time I did I was very happy no one was around to watch. It was embarrassing to me at my lack of ability.

My wife's parents had a nice cement driveway, put it in before their street was paved, couple hundred feet, 12 feet wide, trees on both sides. Before she could drive the truck at all, she had to back the 5th wheel out the driveway and into the street. I saw her do stuff with her brother's F-250 and his horse trailer with a little apartment in the front that you would not believe. 5'3" and about a buck twenty, wants a duelie, but WTF do we need a duelie for.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

T" want me to shoot him Fredddy?"

Now THAT's funny!

[ryans65]

My brother lost his glasses at VIR after a long weekend of racing but didn't think much of it so he packed up his 48 foot living quarters trailer and hit the road. There was extremely dense fog on Afton mountain that night and he took a wrong turn getting off 64 and ended up on the blue ridge parkway. He had to back down the parkway, at night, in the fog, with no glasses and no spotter all the way back to the exit he took to get back on 64. I think we wrecked his car that weekend at the track too. Its funny now but I imagine there was some sweating and cursing that day!!

[unclebilly]

I tow a lot.

I have 2 gooseneck trailers, a couple bumper pulls and recently bought another 5th wheel travel trailer.

Unquestionably a gooseneck is the easiest to manipulate, backup, and tow.

For heavy loads, the gooseneck and 5th wheel are the best but you loose the use of most of your box.

The bumper pull is the most convenient.

[rfuerst911sc]

Our 5th wheel camper is converted to gooseneck . My truck has a flip over hitch ball . Full access to the bed when needed . Win win in my opinion .

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Tobra

…. 5'3" and about a buck twenty, wants a duelie, but WTF do we need a duelie for.

To tow the new RV and horse trailer, she’s buying!

[cabmandone]

This is what I think of every time I back a trailer.

[ted]

Originally Posted by john70t

Push the bottom of the steering wheel in the direction the trailer is supposed to go. Feel the critical point where it wants to snap into rapid jack-knife and stay in the safe range. Pull forward a few and straighten out a bit whenever it gets out of control.

That advise has helped me for years, push the bottom of the wheel.

I'd like to see the overhead turning arcs of a bumper pull compared to a 5th wheel.

Do you have to swing out a little wider to avoid curbing the 5th wheel trailer tires?

Currently have a 3 foot hitch extension and WD hitch on my bumper pull/tag along still easy enough to drive.

[Bill Douglas]

In a past life I had a heavy truck drivers licence and a 5th wheel (articulated truck) licence. I actually found it easier to reverse the 5th wheel truck. If you don't think of it as a trailer but rather as a long truck it works better.

Disclaimer: I was a pretty useless truck driver, ya know, taking the sides off loading bays etc. But the money was good.

[VINMAN]

I've towed with a lot of different different trailers in my time, both traditional and fifth wheel. Always found the 5th wheel to be easier.

My 32ft race boat tri axle trailer, I could back the thing across the US blindfolded.

My little PWC trailer on the other hand, makes for good YouTube boat ramp fail video..

.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

To tow the new RV and horse trailer, she’s buying!

It would be a boat, not horses, thankfully. Equestrian life makes a boat look like a cheap date.

We rented a log splitter overnight and she backed it into the garage. Guy across the street literally applauded. He found that, and the fact that she converted Dan, the mean old guy that hated everyone on the street, including dogs who lived next door when we moved in, to a friendly old gentleman.

Took about 6 months. He never had a chance