I recently sold my old 5th wheel and am in the market for its replacement. I like the floor plans of some of the Grand Design and other mfr models. Many lack a rear cap. Besides the fact that a rear cap is nicer looking (in my opinion), are there other reasons why having a rear cap is better or worse(more/less prone to leaks, easier/harder to repair, etc.)?

No bumper for small Oops...fiberglass repairs instead.

Njmurvin wrote:I recently sold my old 5th wheel and am in the market for its replacement. I like the floor plans of some of the Grand Design and other mfr models. Many lack a rear cap. Besides the fact that a rear cap is nicer looking (in my opinion), are there other reasons why having a rear cap is better or worse(more/less prone to leaks, easier/harder to repair, etc.)?IMO, the biggest reason, besides looks, for a rear cap is to increase efficiency by reducing turbulence behind the trailer. That is one of the largest components of drag on a vehicle. I have no experience with one, so can't comment on leaks, repairs, etc.Lyle

laknox wrote:Njmurvin wrote:I recently sold my old 5th wheel and am in the market for its replacement. I like the floor plans of some of the Grand Design and other mfr models. Many lack a rear cap. Besides the fact that a rear cap is nicer looking (in my opinion), are there other reasons why having a rear cap is better or worse(more/less prone to leaks, easier/harder to repair, etc.)?IMO, the biggest reason, besides looks, for a rear cap is to increase efficiency by reducing turbulence behind the trailer. That is one of the largest components of drag on a vehicle. I have no experience with one, so can't comment on leaks, repairs, etc.LyleNot saying right or wrong but I'd like to see some stats on that.Seems a bit of a stretch. If it was so,I would think the manufacturer would publish that as a selling feature.

spud1957 wrote:laknox wrote:Njmurvin wrote:I recently sold my old 5th wheel and am in the market for its replacement. I like the floor plans of some of the Grand Design and other mfr models. Many lack a rear cap. Besides the fact that a rear cap is nicer looking (in my opinion), are there other reasons why having a rear cap is better or worse(more/less prone to leaks, easier/harder to repair, etc.)?IMO, the biggest reason, besides looks, for a rear cap is to increase efficiency by reducing turbulence behind the trailer. That is one of the largest components of drag on a vehicle. I have no experience with one, so can't comment on leaks, repairs, etc.LyleNot saying right or wrong but I'd like to see some stats on that.Seems a bit of a stretch. If it was so,I would think the manufacturer would publish that as a selling feature.Yep, any hard square corner creates more air drag. Seen the semi's with the panels that fold out the the rear doors?Chris

spud1957 wrote:laknox wrote:Njmurvin wrote:I recently sold my old 5th wheel and am in the market for its replacement. I like the floor plans of some of the Grand Design and other mfr models. Many lack a rear cap. Besides the fact that a rear cap is nicer looking (in my opinion), are there other reasons why having a rear cap is better or worse(more/less prone to leaks, easier/harder to repair, etc.)?IMO, the biggest reason, besides looks, for a rear cap is to increase efficiency by reducing turbulence behind the trailer. That is one of the largest components of drag on a vehicle. I have no experience with one, so can't comment on leaks, repairs, etc.LyleNot saying right or wrong but I'd like to see some stats on that.Seems a bit of a stretch. If it was so,I would think the manufacturer would publish that as a selling feature.That's why target bullets have boattails, to help the airflow around them and reduce turbulence for accuracy. It's why fish are "bullet-shaped", too, and where we learned it from. :-) =Turbulence= is simply huge in producing drag. FWIW, the old SR-71 Blackbird spy plane produced > 50% of its total aerodynamic drag from the bypass air being blasted out of the front of the engine nacelles as the inlet spikes closed off the inlet. Pure turbulence... I read an analysis...somewhere...that said that if the bypass air could have been channeled better, they could, possibly, have flown several hundred MPH faster, due to less drag. Dunno, I'm not an aero-E, but it sure sounds feasible, provided the materials would have stood up the it.Lyle

Rear caps - pros and cons | Good Sam Community

csamayfield55x
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
This whole thread kinda made me chuckle!! Who cares what a trailer looks like from the back anyway!! I only care what she looks like sitting next to her with a nice drink in my hand!

Chris
Sport45
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2015
Me Again wrote:
Yep, LOL! OP asked about lack of rear caps on many higher end trailers and other posters get sidewise because they do not have one when some points out that they a sign of a higher end unit. Chris

I didn't even know what rear caps were when that thread started... :)

No big deal to me either way. It's kind of like a haircut. I never take their offer to look at the back of my head in the mirror because I can't see my backside and don't care how I look as I'm walking away anyhow... YMMV
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 28, 2015
I figure it's like full body paint, some like it some don't. I don't really care one way or the other as long as I don't have to pay extra for it. Because it's all just for looks.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jul 28, 2015
Yep, LOL! OP asked about lack of rear caps on many higher end trailers and other posters get sidewise because they do not have one when some points out that they a sign of a higher end unit. Chris
Racine96
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
I was glad mine didn't have a cap but a steel bumper when I was backing up and had an oops moment.
Sport45
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2015
Other than being a different look, I don't see caps doing much for ya in the rear.
spud1957
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
Me Again wrote:
I would get tired of always walking around the front of the trailer, as I can not stand the cut off, cheap, and unfinished look of the trailers without a rear cap. Chris

If we ever happen to be in the same park Chris, I'll make sure I don't park near you with my cheap unfinished looking 5th wheel. Don't want you to look at something you can't stand sir.

Not very nice to express your preference AND insult the vast majority of RVers.:(
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jul 27, 2015
I would get tired of always walking around the front of the trailer, as I can not stand the cut off, cheap, and unfinished look of the trailers without a rear cap. Chris
BB_TX
Nomad
Jul 27, 2015
Looks. Any reduction in drag, and increase in mpg, due to rounded edges would be negligible, IMHO.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2015
In my opinion it's mostly for looks.....and it's one more thing to fade and require painting. All things considered I think it finishes it off nicely and adds a classy look. I like em...

B.O.