Hello! We are looking to buy our first RV and are very excited! We have decided that a fifth wheel would give our family the most space. We have been looking around and see a few that we like.So, since we have never done this before, we are sort of clueless as to how to start the buying process.What is the procedure? Thanks! We can use all the help that we can get!

Hi,Good thing that you wrote in and asked the question. Some will say go to a truck dealer and get a 3/4 ton truck, the dealership will say "It can tow anything" and you go to the RV dealership with the newly purchased truck and they will tell you look over there at the tiny fifth wheels, your 3/4 ton truck can not carry the 2,800 pound pin weight of these longer fifth wheels. So now you are with a huge group of people who say "Why did the truck dealer say I could to 'Anything'"? At least you don't own the truck before determining what trailer you want to tow.First thing I would recommend is going to the local Ford dealer and pick up a towing guide. Does not matter if you can afford a new truck or not, still pick up the towing guide. It will give important things for you to consider. How much cargo rating will the truck need? That really depends on the trailer you are considering. Say you are looking at a 30' fifth wheel with a 14,000 GVWR and 2,200 pound hitch weight. If you also have 500 pounds of passengers, plan on bringing along some firewood, couple of bikes in the pickup, and some other camping stuff in the pickup, you can see you will need about 3,600 pounds of cargo rating to get it all done.So a F-350 SRW (Single Rear Wheel) will do the job if it is 2005 and later with a 11,500 pound GVWR. Before 2005, the SRW F-350 is only rated at 9,900 pounds. The dually can carry about 3,500 pounds in 2004 and earlier, but increased to nearly 5,500 pounds in 2005 and later models. Now the Dually F-350 can tow just about anything. Under 18,000 Gross Vehicle Weight of the trailer that is.Good luck with your search, I have to get some rest, I am sure that many others will offer suggestions. Once you decide and say pick a Keystone 33' fifth wheel, post it here. Someone will say "I had one of those and would recommend it or not, and tell you why.". THey might complain about dealer service, or poor warranty problems with a certain brand. There will be someone who will say "Be sure to check out the ____ Brand, mine is great!"Fred.PS: Remember the secret to backing up a trailer.

Welcome to RV.Net.Fred said it well. Some people will tell you to look at 5th Wheel first. Than get the Truck. You will know the Weights of the Fifth wheel and get the correct truck to pull your trailer. At 12,000, to 14,000 GVWR your looking at F350/3500 CC 4X4 DRW, that's what i am looking at, for towing Stability. Depending which brand of Truck you would purchase. I am searching myself. Best of luck in your search,Scott

Excellent suggestions from Fred......but does it have to be a ford? LOL!

Do a lot of research, looking and learning.Plan to attend a RV show, see lots of options.Once you get close to deciding on a model/manufacture, come back here for opinions. Keep in mind, if you dig far enough, there are nightmare stories, with almost all brands, as well as satisfied customers.Make sure you have enough tow vehicle.Get to know your local dealers, many times a RV will need warranty work, and a good dealer may make or break your satisfaction of first RV ownership.Research, how you plan on storing your RV. (where, costs, covered, etc....)If by chance, you know someone with an RV, go camping with them, learn the systems, how they work, etc...Also at campgrounds, many RV's will share knowledge.Get out and make adventures!Markiemark:C

One way to check out buying 5ver. Drive through a Walmart parking lot and see the comedy of errors on what dealers have sold other people. Very good previous posts. Plus I would check my bed height Vs 5ver hitch height Vs sides of the bed height for clearance. Some newer PUs have made sides of bed higher. You want your 5ver to ride level. Not mounted so it looks like it is on a rocket launcher. Just look around and observe before you buy. Chuckle at the rocket launchers but learn from from what a dealer will push off on you if given the opportunity.

What is the procedure for buying a fifth wheel?

34 Replies

calamus
Explorer
Nov 19, 2013
kaydeejay wrote:
calamus wrote:
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2002/11/03/149912.html

We have a 2003 Duramax diesel 3/4 ton and a 36' 5th wheel @13,000lbs. Dry I was reading all this and thinking Wow I dont have enough truck to pull my 5th wheel, that I have been towing for 5 years! I pulled up the link and chevy 3/4 looks to be rated at 16,000lbs for a 5th wheel. The motors are all the same in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks That being said we are looking to get a 1-ton diesel dually. Mostly because we Tow livestock and tractors also.
Just because you have done it OK so far does not make it right!
You are WAY over payload rating for that truck and (more importantly) probably over RAWR as well.
I recommend the OP does NOT go down this road!

Thats funny because it looks like you have about the same set up? It looks like pay load max is 3,360lbs. and the hitch weight is about 1700lbs. on a 13,000lbs 5th wheel. Somewhere Im confused because this is 99% of the set ups I see at the lake every weekend? I do know I have pulled it all over the state and South Dakota also and never been stopped or had problems. Will it pull it up hills with out slowing down no but a bigger truck with the same motor is not going to go up hills any faster?
jdog
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Go find what you want and like and then buy it.
journeyernow
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Hey, everybody! Thanks a lot for all the ideas!

How do I get em to hook up the trailer so that I can see how it works?

Also, what good will it be to go see new trailers at the RV shows if we want to buy used?

No, we do not have a truck yet! Looks like we did one thing right so far!
journeyernow
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Mountain Mama wrote:
On the Beginning RVing section of these forums is a section called Frequently Asked Questions where we found links to a list of things to check ourselves on used units. We took it with us and did everyone of them on the list. Lots of good reading in that section.

Thanks! I'll check out! 'Preciate that!

Do the dealers have a problem with us doing a really thorough check?
Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
On the Beginning RVing section of these forums is a section called Frequently Asked Questions where we found links to a list of things to check ourselves on used units. We took it with us and did everyone of them on the list. Lots of good reading in that section.
Paul_Clancy
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
If it has rear recliners have the slides pulled in to see if you will have to move/haul/pile them up to get clearence for the slides to come in. Many do.
JoshInReno
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Do you already have a truck you plan to tow this trailer with? If so, you need to match the trailer to the truck.

If you are buying a new truck, you also need to match the trailer to the truck, but you will have much more flexibility.
john_bet
Explorer II
Nov 06, 2013
bobcouch wrote:
Actually, it is an easy 3-step process:
Pick a truck you like
Pick a 5th wheel your wife likes
Hook 'em up and learn from your mistakes like all the rest of us have

:B:B:B
This is exactly what we did except for number 3. When we pack for a 2 or 3 week trip we are not over weight, squatting on the suspension nor having trouble with hills, mountains or anything else you can think of. In the years since Feb.'05 we have put untold miles on the rig, never had a tire blow out,flat,drop it on truck,etc. Tires were still oems when changed this passed Sept. It sits plugged in 24/7 at the house and still has the original battery. I have a long bed so no fancy slider hitch, just your basic Reese 16k double pivot. To say the least we are happy with our rig. JME.
retispcsi
Explorer
Nov 06, 2013
I second the visit to the Tampa RV show which is the week of Jan 13, 2014 at the fairgrounds. You can google the Tampa RV Super Show and you will get more info including days of the show and semeinars etc. I have been to other shows including Hershey, Pa. and the Tampa show is by far the biggest and best. Your ticket is good for two days so take your time. Look over the rigs on display but don't fall for all the sales promo, my advice is do not impulse buy.Take in the seminars and the vendors also. Good deals are available after the show. Look over the rigs you like and then check them out really well. A lot of rigs look nice inside but the construction you don't see may not be that great. After you decide what fiver you want then you will know what size truck you will need. Take your time do the research and don't be swayed by cosmetics alone. Also do not trust a sales person, most of them do not rv and they only sell rv's because last week they got fired from selling washing machines. I have towed the same fiver with both a 3/4ton SRW shortbed Ram and a 1ton long bed DRW Ram. The 3/4 ton did the job but the 1ton goes way beyond just doing the job. Again your needs, your budget your choice. Good luck and enjoy the hunt.
GoPackGo
Explorer
Nov 06, 2013
Since you're already in Florida, I suggest that you take the time to attend the big RV show that's held every year in January at the Florida State Fairgrounds just outside Tampa. Make motel reservations now and plan to attend for at least 2 full non-stop days. Manufacturer reps are also available to answer questions. This is just about the biggest show in the country (some say it IS the biggest). The show is just huge. This show was a big help to me when I was narrowing down my choices. It was great being able to go from one rig to another and also to be able to ask questions of the factory reps.

This year it starts on 15 Jan (Public days).

http://www.frvta.org/rv-shows/florida-rv-supershow/