I'm thinking of going 5th wheel molded, any experience?

[TucsonAZ]

I noticed there isn't a separate forum for them and I know Scamp makes one I've seen come up a few times locally. I'm wondering if any of you have any experience with them and what the community thoughts are. Also, who else makes them, are there any 4 season types? I think Bigfoot makes one but that's out of my price range. I know it isn't a true "fifth wheel" but it would work well for my Tacoma.


Pros:


Better handling
More space without compromising overall length
They seem to actually cost less


Cons:


Harder to find
give up secure storage in truck bed
Need a special hitch


I'd love to hear the community thoughts and experiences on them.

[Glenn Baglo]

Go here:
https://escapetrailer.com/


And then there is a sister forum to FGRV:
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/

[FRED SMAILES]

We have a sticky 5th wheel besides our boler.
Small at 19 feet but full bath and queen bed.
Only con I have is loss of truck bed.
Fred

[thrifty bill]

+1 Everything is positive about a fifth wheel except loss of part of the truck bed storage. Otherwise, I would own an Escape fifth wheel right now.

The Escape is not cheaper than a pull behind.

I towed a fifth wheel for many years. I really like how they tow, and the shorter overall length. I also like the natural separation of space in a fifth wheel, with the bedroom up front and the dinette in the rear. Really feels like two separate rooms.

I am wrestling with the truck bed space (currently have a camper top on it), otherwise, I'd own one now. I keep thinking about it.

[Donna D.]

I'll run out of payload before I run out of space inside the bed of my truck when towing my Escape 5.0TA.

The first trip out, I carried:
an 4'x8' folding table (in front of the hitch)
a 12'x12' EZ-up (on the left side of the bed/hitch
a 9'x12' rolled patio rug ((on the right side of the bed/hitch)
a washing machine tub filled with pieces of lumber (next to the tailgate.. left side)
two aluminum folding chairs (next to the tailgate... right side)
one small portable grill (in the middle, next to the tailgate)

When packing the bed of the truck, everything must stay below the bed rails and in the rear low enough so the hitch can 'swing.'

The only thing I can't carry in the bed of the truck is my bicycle. Although I probably could if it was a 'foldable.'

The downside of items in the bed, with a 5th wheel, is weather and possible theft of items. When it rains everything gets wet and there's no way to secure items when the trailer is hooked up. Although getting stuff out of the bed is not easy... like a snatch and grab. I have a locking, foldable tonneau cover when unhitched.

A number of Escape 5er owners have converted the hitch to a gooseneck and installed the Anderson Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection. The hitch is lightweight, no rail installation and easily removable when using the truck for hauling... or not towing.
https://andersenhitches.com/Catalog/...onnection.aspx

[Paul O.]

You do not lose all truck bed storage. We usually have a few things in the bed while traveling, such as the stabilizer tripod, scraps of wood for leveling and chocking, a cooler and sometimes two (5-gallon) water bladders. On one of our early trips, I threw in the entry door mat, but it was gone when we arrived at destination. Everything in that bed must be heavy, or tied down. The channeled wind in there is hurricane force. Just two of us normally, so we fill the back seat of the Tacoma with stuff, especially whatever needs to be locked up.

[Jack L]

If your Tacoma has a 6500# tow package, it will handle the Scamp nicely. The Bigfoot , Escape 5.0 and 5.0TA have too much tongue weight for a Tacoma. I considered a fifth wheel with my 07 Tacoma and really like all three brands, but the Scamp is the only one that will work with this truck. The loss of truck bed storage is a consideration too. Bigfoot fifth wheel units are very scarce and the years they were made, the insulation was not rated 4 seasons.

[ZachO]

Like Jack mentioned, Bigfoot 5th wheels will all be used, so if you're ok with used, you can find one well within your budget if you're considering buying new from some other company.

A 5th wheel will probably never work for me, but it would be really, really nice. No larger footprint than my current camper, but with a dedicated bed completely out of my way and that much more feeling of space inside.

[GOB]

I have a Scamp 5th wheel and pull it with a 96 Ford Ranger 3.0 . The only Con I have is the bed can be a little hard for my wife to get in and out of. If you go with the Scamp get the Deluxe as I believe it has steps to get to the bed.

[Cliff Hotchkiss]

Love our Escape 5.0TA. Towing behind my 6.5' bed F150 is a pleasure. I use the Andersen Ultimate rail mount hitch and wouldn't go any other way. Have a hard folding tonneau with toolbox option so have some locking storage even with trailer hooked up.

[Cliff Hotchkiss]

Perfect match 😎

[thrifty bill]

Storage versus my truck with a camper top on it. My wife and I are amateur pickers, so we typically have a lot of stuff that needs covered storage.


fullsizeoutput_8a0 by wrk101, on Flickr

[TucsonAZ]

Originally Posted by Jack L

If your Tacoma has a 6500# tow package, it will handle the Scamp nicely. The Bigfoot , Escape 5.0 and 5.0TA have too much tongue weight for a Tacoma. I considered a fifth wheel with my 07 Tacoma and really like all three brands, but the Scamp is the only one that will work with this truck. The loss of truck bed storage is a consideration too. Bigfoot fifth wheel units are very scarce and the years they were made, the insulation was not rated 4 seasons.

Well, you're certainly not wrong, while technically I think the Tacoma could handle the Escape the tongue weight is at 630 so there's no margin there. The Scamp being only 400 certainly leaves a lot of room.



The Tacoma is a frustrating truck, not only is it not the best at anything (other than not breaking down) but the 5 foot bed is worthless and it's the most expensive truck out there used. I LOVE my Tacoma but that took some time coming from Land Cruisers. Anyway, I wouldn't even come close to trying to pull over about 4,500 with the Tacoma and even then not regularly. I want a really big safety margin with the truck and I have a large trans filter (mostly for the added capacity) and I added a leave to the rear pack as well as the Equil-i-zer hitch which is about as good as it gets.





Thank you all for the comments, leaves a lot to think about. I've really really struggled to find something that fits my needs and travel style. I really don't want to give up my Tacoma or buy something else just to tow an Escape 5er and I really need some dedicated storage space for my power system, e-scooters, tools, and a long list of things. Decisions, decisions, maybe in reality I won't get this right the first time so I'll just go with a 17 footer bumper pull and see how it feels to me and adjust accordingly. Something slightly bigger like a 21' Bigfoot and a Nissan NV would be really, really ideal for me but I can currently only afford one or the other so I guess that's how life works.

[TucsonAZ]

Last thing, I have some health issues that also HEAVILY impact my decision making. I'm SUPER sensitive (think of it like allergic to) chemicals and scented products. As such even laundry is a struggle as I can't wash my stuff at a laundry mat and either need space for a small machine and spin dryer with me or I need enough clothing to not have to do it while I'm on the road.



It is very hard to find something chemical free (or sufficiently off-gassed) as well as an owner that hasn't used scented products inside for cleaning and so on.



I need to be very self reliant while out on the road as I can't really go to a hotel or fly home if I have an issue. I have always traveled with something that has a motor in the unit (motorhome styles) which leaves me less options if I have an issue since there's no redundancy.



Anyway, point being, I need a little more space to accommodate clothing and food storage (I typically bring a 5cuft freezer with me) as well as a solar set up to power things (last system was 1,400 watts with a 6,000 watt battery bank) so I need to work out the logistics on this all for sure.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by TucsonAZ

Well, you're certainly not wrong, while technically I think the Tacoma could handle the Escape the tongue weight is at 630 so there's no margin there. The Scamp being only 400 certainly leaves a lot of room.

Be very careful you're not stuck in believing manufacturers weights. No one tows an empty trailer. Some manufactures have been known to publish dry weights that mean no battery(ies) no propane tanks, no water and no options. I guess you missed the Scamp 5er that was weighed with a 700lb tongue weight:

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...rld-43010.html

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Some manufactures have been known to publish dry weights that mean no battery(ies) no propane tanks, no water and no options.

Which is the definition of "dry weight".

[TucsonAZ]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Be very careful you're not stuck in believing manufacturers weights. No one tows an empty trailer. Some manufactures have been known to publish dry weights that mean no battery(ies) no propane tanks, no water and no options. I guess you missed the Scamp 5er that was weighed with a 700lb tongue weight:

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...rld-43010.html

I think it's fair to assume a tongue weight of roughly 10-15% of the axle weight. When I start seeing figured in the 30% range I start assuming there was a loading issue. Having built travel trailers I know the value in properly placing not only the axle and water tanks, batteries, solar and so on but also the cargo areas relating to what will be stored in them so you have a properly weighted trailer.



Why that thing has a 700 pound tongue weight is well beyond me but it's fair to say I wouldn't be hauling my lead mattress with me.



You do of course bring up a great point for most people who don't think these types of things through or have experience and knowledge in those areas.

[thrifty bill]

Originally Posted by TucsonAZ

I think it's fair to assume a tongue weight of roughly 10-15% of the axle weight. When I start seeing figured in the 30% range I start assuming there was a loading issue. Having built travel trailers I know the value in properly placing not only the axle and water tanks, batteries, solar and so on but also the cargo areas relating to what will be stored in them so you have a properly weighted trailer.

10 to 15% tongue weight is OK on a pull behind. A fifth wheel is going to have a higher percentage, and I think it is called pin weight. The ranges I have read have been 20 to 25% and of course, its the loaded weight of the trailer, not dry weight.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

Which is the definition of "dry weight".

Might be, but people forget they will most likely have a battery(ies) and at least one propane tank and who know what options. They're often thinking 'dry weight' is what a trailer weighs without just water. Just an educational process.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Might be, but people forget they will most likely have a battery(ies) and at least one propane tank and who know what options. They're often thinking 'dry weight' is what a trailer weighs without just water. Just an educational process.

True.
Which is why I harp on the definition. Definition, which is a noun, not a verb.