OK. At the risk of being called a stupid limey, can anyone answer this.I have owned an American built fiver for over 3 years, covered about 16000 miles, driven on and off ferry ramps, in and out more gas stations that I care to know about, and accessed camp grounds galore. In all this time I have never even come close to grounding the trailer. So why is it built so high off the ground. What is the significant difference between the USA and Europe that makes this necessaryMany thanks

Ashbourne wrote:OK. At the risk of being called a stupid limey, can anyone answer this.I have owned an American built fiver for over 3 years, covered about 16000 miles, driven on and off ferry ramps, in and out more gas stations that I care to know about, and accessed camp grounds galore. In all this time I have never even come close to grounding the trailer. So why is it built so high off the ground. What is the significant difference between the USA and Europe that makes this necessaryMany thanksMight have to do with having larger trucks here. Europe doesn't have 3/4-1 ton trucks hailing 5'ers. At least not that I know of. Rear bed hgt is around 58-60". Having a lower 5'er would result in it being out of level when attaining the bed to 5'er clearance. JMO.

I appreciate the low point sewer outlet having good ground clearance for positive slope to a distant sewer service connection. And I still scrape my rear bumper on my driveway - if I don't use short ramps.

A very good question, and one that will evoke many opinions. I have no idea why they make these things so tall. I would gladly trade a few feet off mine. How many people take a 40' fifth wheel on bad enough roads that they need 2 feet of ground clearance? OTOH the new trucks are so tall that they wouldn't fit under a normal height 5th wheel.

235/80-16 tires and flat floors in the 5er!!

I think it has to do somewhat with the target buyers, and what they use it for. The higher content trailers seem to be much lower in clearence. A lot of people are hunters that might go places most people don't. Trailers without heated or inclosed underbellies tend to be higher.Mark

Height | Good Sam Community

rhagfo
Explorer III
Jul 09, 2014
235/80-16 tires and flat floors in the 5er!!
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 09, 2014
A very good question, and one that will evoke many opinions.

I have no idea why they make these things so tall. I would gladly trade a few feet off mine. How many people take a 40' fifth wheel on bad enough roads that they need 2 feet of ground clearance?

OTOH the new trucks are so tall that they wouldn't fit under a normal height 5th wheel.
korbe
Explorer
Jul 09, 2014
I appreciate the low point sewer outlet having good ground clearance for positive slope to a distant sewer service connection. And I still scrape my rear bumper on my driveway - if I don't use short ramps.
goducks10
Explorer
Jul 09, 2014
Ashbourne wrote:
OK. At the risk of being called a stupid limey, can anyone answer this.
I have owned an American built fiver for over 3 years, covered about 16000 miles, driven on and off ferry ramps, in and out more gas stations that I care to know about, and accessed camp grounds galore. In all this time I have never even come close to grounding the trailer. So why is it built so high off the ground. What is the significant difference between the USA and Europe that makes this necessary
Many thanks

Might have to do with having larger trucks here. Europe doesn't have 3/4-1 ton trucks hailing 5'ers. At least not that I know of. Rear bed hgt is around 58-60". Having a lower 5'er would result in it being out of level when attaining the bed to 5'er clearance. JMO.

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