Is bigger always better?

[John From Detroit]

Carl, I know you don't know me from Adam, names Larry, but I sort of have to take a small exception with your statement about big 5ers, trucks, and side winds.

Well Larry.... I don't know about 5-ers but I've pulled a couple of different trailers and driven both a big Dodge Maix van with Hi-Top (I mean I could stand on TIPTOE inside this ride and I'm over six feet tall (6'2") standing flat)

I've also driven my Motor Home (A true big rig) and a semi (Flat bed with sides)

Not a one of them had what I'd call serious cross wind problems

I've also driven a Chevy LUMINA APV and a Mercury Tracer (Same as the Ford Escort)

Now in the Lumina I have felt the wind a few times... In the tracer it was an issue on occasion

Seems SMALLER vehicles are more wind prone than the big ones, at least in my expierence

 

[2006F350]

The only real tip I have about backing a 5W is 'don't be afraid to crank the wheel'. I was used to backing a TT, where small amounts of correcting made hugh differences in the trailer position. I've found that with my 5W, I have to make hugh adjustments of the truck to get small (relatively speaking) differences in the trailer position. Course, what probably helped the most is that my nephew drives big rigs, and I had him prompt me thru the first couple 'backing sessions'. My next mod for the trailer will be a camera mounted on the rear ladder so help. My wife does a pretty good job, but her feeling is that if she can see the back of the trailer, I can see her. Works OK as long as I'm going straight back, but I've found that the 5W makes a better door than window. I like to tease, but I would be 100% lost without my wife of 36 years.

John, you are probably right. My motorhome was a 22', and even a VW bug passing effected it. It was an 84 model, and back then, they were build like breadboxes, so everything effected it. I well imaging that changes in design of the RV's, being larger than anything that I've driven / towed, and I'm certain the dually's on the truck all have a role in the non-issue of side winds and big trucks.

Thanx for all the comments.

Larry

 

[Carl L]

Carl, I know you don't know me from Adam, names Larry, but I sort of have to take a small exception with your statement about big 5ers, trucks, and side winds. We just purchased an Everest 37' 5er, pulled by an F350 Dually with the 6.0L Diesel. Made a nice trip (actually the maiden voyage) from Memphis TN to Austin TX over Thanksgiving. We were never bothered by cross winds or big trucks (or actually any vehicles) at any time on the trip.

Don't doubt you in the least.? ?However, what I said was....

Big trailers are heavier and have more wind resistance to eat up your miles per gallon fuel usage.? ?Big 5th wheels have a large frontal area to aggravate the wind resistance problem.? ? Big trailers of all sorts have a lot of side area to present to big bus and truck shock waves and cross winds.

I will clue you that the frontal area is going to cost you mileage. Period.? ?Lateral cross section does present area to side winds and truck shockwaves.? ?A dual wheeled 5W rig is going to minimize those effects, just as the use of a Dual Cam weight distributing hitch system does on my TT.? ?Nevertheless, the effects are there to be minimized.? ?Not every rig is well set up.?

Sorry if I have offended anyone.

No problemos.? ?My infallibility ticket ran out years ago.? ?;D