I have a very good neighbor that wants to buy his first rv. He has a Chevy diesel pickup that will handle a medium size 5th wheel toy hauler. If he was buying a motorhome I could show him what to look for when shopping. I went on line and printed out Calif. license requirements, and I was going to tell him to look at weight ratings and to find out about tires and axle ratings. I do not know much about trailers, so if you could tell me what he should look for I will print it out,and it will help him to make the right choice the first time instead of learning the hard expensive way.

Pin weight. I suspect you're correct about a "medium sized 5th wheel", but he's got to know what his payload is and what the pin weight of the fiver is, and how much other weight he'll be packing. Especially important with a 3/4 ton.

That's a little like asking what is your favorite food; everyone has their own opinion. Without knowing the specific details it sounds like they probably have enough truck to handle up to the mid 30 foot length of trailer. Our approach was to vistit a two or three dealers and find something that appeals to us, and then do a lot of reading on that brand and style on the web. The number one deal breaker for me would be any new or used rig with "China Bomb" tires on it. The good news is that can be easliy fixed. You didn't mention anything about how much they wanted to put into this RV; new, almost new or a fixer upper, and that would of course make a world of difference. Just shop, shop, shop and read, read, read. JMHO

Also warn him to forget terms like shipping or dry when it comes to weights. No one has or will ever tow a dry trailer.

Since he already has a PU measure height of PU bed and also hitch. Is there enough adjustment to tow level? how about height of bed rails on PU? Enough clearance. Roughly 6". See so many posts about that after they buy.

Just my thots and experience...If there is a wife or homemaker involved that's most likely where the decision will hinge.Read many times on here if the DW ain't happy no one will be.I'd just start walking thru a number of choices.The aha moment will come when the right coach is found.

What to tell first time 5th wheel buyer to look for?

12 Replies

BigT
Explorer
Jun 22, 2013
That's a little like asking what is your favorite food; everyone has their own opinion. Without knowing the specific details it sounds like they probably have enough truck to handle up to the mid 30 foot length of trailer. Our approach was to vistit a two or three dealers and find something that appeals to us, and then do a lot of reading on that brand and style on the web. The number one deal breaker for me would be any new or used rig with "China Bomb" tires on it. The good news is that can be easliy fixed. You didn't mention anything about how much they wanted to put into this RV; new, almost new or a fixer upper, and that would of course make a world of difference. Just shop, shop, shop and read, read, read. JMHO
brirene
Explorer
Jun 22, 2013
Pin weight. I suspect you're correct about a "medium sized 5th wheel", but he's got to know what his payload is and what the pin weight of the fiver is, and how much other weight he'll be packing. Especially important with a 3/4 ton.

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What to tell first time 5th wheel buyer to look for?

12 Replies

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