Forum Discussion

DallasSteve's avatar
Sep 15, 2017

Has Anyone Used This Configuration?

I posted this image as a joke a few days ago, but it got me to thinking more seriously. If I wanted a fifth wheel layout, but I also wanted to keep my truck bed, this towing configuration could be a solution. What are the pros and cons? Besides freeing up your truck bed it would also significantly reduce the hitch weight because you have an extra set of tires supporting a lot of the hitch weight. You would have some extra cost in the hitch setup and tire usage; that's a con. Is there a stability pro/con or a cornering pro/con? This may not be as crazy as it first looks.

  • Surprisingly there is a lot of usable space in the pickup bed (longbed truck) even with a fifth wheel hitch sitting there. We stay in the San Diego area for 3 months during the summer; here's what I typically carry in the bed of my truck:
    4 white plastic/metal folding chairs
    1 white plastic 5ft table
    1 MasterBilt electric smoker
    1 Mobility scooter broken down into 6 pieces
    1 20ft collapse-able flag pole
    Various stuff like stabilizing jacks, tripod, 5ft ladder, cases of beer/soda, leveling blocks...etc.

    Plus I have a cross bed tool box

    Everything is level with or below the bed rails.

    Bicycles either go inside of the 5th wheel or on a bike rack at the rear.
  • darsben1 wrote:
    But why? You can get a fifth wheel layout in a regular TT and it does away with the stairs.

    I'm interested in full-time living and at the larger sizes the bumper-pull trailers seem to have a more limited selection of layouts. For example, I toured a fifth wheel at an RV show that had a second bedroom and above it was also a loft. It was an impressive (and large and expensive) layout. I haven't seen one of those in a bumper-pull, but maybe they are out there. Bumper-pull trailers also seem to be more limited in which ones have a W/D hookup, although I have seen a few with that feature. I think I've also seen a few fifth wheels with ceiling fans, but not bumper-pull trailers (except a few park models which is bigger than I want).
  • ScottG wrote:
    One problem I see with it may be that's it's a challenge to back up.
    It may be more difficult but certainly not a challenge. There is still only one pivot point. The connection between the truck and dolly is a solid 3 point connection.
  • But why? You can get a fifth wheel layout in a regular TT and it does away with the stairs.
  • One problem I see with it may be that's it's a challenge to back up.