Travel trailer Vs. 5th wheel
[Les Adams] Cheryl,
There are "pro's and con's to either type...
Generally speaking, fifth wheels will be more stable while towing... However, you can match that stability in a standard trailer with a hitch like the Hensley Arrow or Pullrite...
Again, generally speaking, you will have more "living" room in a standard travel trailer because of the way it is constructed and the "lack" of the large fifth wheel hitch up forward... I am 6' tall and have yet to find a 5th wheel where I could comfortably stand in the bedroom...
Fifth wheels tend to be heavier than a standard travel trailer of the same size because of the way they have to be built with the hitch mechanism forward...
They also tend to have more hitch weight than a standard travel trailer of the same size too... Usually about 20-25% pin weight is the rule with a 5th wheel... A standard TT will usually have abour 10-13% of it's weight on the tongue...
You will also loose a susbtantial amount of truck bed space with 5th wheel hitch...
When all is said and done, about the only "claim to fame" of the 5th wheel is the suerior towing quality over the standard trailer... However, as mentioned above, superior towing ability for the standard TT can also be had with the purchase of the Hensley Arrow or Pullrite hitch... While these hitches are expensive ($2700 and $1300 respectively) they will make the standard trailer tow just as well as any 5th wheel...
My wife and I prefer the standard TT for all those reasons listed above and now tow with a Pullrite hitch...
With your 1/2 ton truck and relatively small 4.6L V8 motor, I would try to keep loaded TT weight to no more than about #4500... I have towed similar weights with a 1997 F-150 and 4.6L and I found that weight to be about the maximum I could safely handle while still having some towing performance left from the truck...
Best Regards,
Les