Forum Discussion

campn4walleye's avatar
campn4walleye
Explorer
May 13, 2023

Considering a fifth wheel

Hello all, we're considering moving from a truck camper to a fifth wheel. Our TC is nice but as we're getting a smidge older and would love to bounce out of bed and easily make it up without a struggle.

We're considering the Cougar 2100RK. It's not a top of the line unit for sure but it's short enough to keep us within WI length laws as we will tandem tow our Lund boat. We purchased the TC because at the time length max was 60 ft.

This is a very new unit, anyone have any thoughts or info that would be helpful?

Our biggest hurdle is to fit this 12' high unit through our 12' shed door. It seems the AC and one of the solar panels are both at 12'.
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    May 14, 2023
    campn4walleye wrote:
    Someday, the manufacturers may make a better shorter 5er, in the meantime, we'll love our TC.
    Again, thanks much.


    Someday was years ago. The market has long since moved towards larger and taller 5ers with very few small short 5ers. While there are still a few small options kicking around, most want big with standup headroom in the bedroom.

    Honestly, you are near the breakpoint where a bumper pull starts to make more sense than a 5er.

    As far as your issue with the pole barn, what does the floor of the barn look like? My BIL hadn't paved his yet when he realized the door was too short, so he dug out the floor thru the opening before paving to give a bit more clearance. (do watch for drainage issues if you go this route).
  • bucky's avatar
    bucky
    Explorer II
    May 14, 2023
    There are some awful nice TTs out there. That could be your answer.
  • campn4walleye's avatar
    campn4walleye
    Explorer
    May 14, 2023
    Thanks much for the replies. The door indeed is 12'. Without being able to put it on our truck, not sure about the assurance of getting through without lowering tire pressure.
    We have other issues as well. The shed is large but we must fit the 5er, a 22' boat, a largish tractor and its components and a car (the truck would move to the house garage). It's all very dicey.

    Our lives would turn into a revolving rubix (sp) cube. It's not worth it.

    Someday, the manufacturers may make a better shorter 5er, in the meantime, we'll love our TC.
    Again, thanks much.
  • RCMAN46's avatar
    RCMAN46
    Explorer
    May 13, 2023
    If this is a new trailer being purchased from a dealer you can do what I did.

    But in your case may not work as I suspect you do not have a 5th wheel trailer hitch yet.

    Before I signed the papers on my trailer the dealer let me hitch the trailer then go into his shop and stop in the doorway at the highest point on the trailer. Crawled up top and measured the distance from trailer to the doorway. Then measured the distance from doorway to the floor.
  • samsontdog's avatar
    samsontdog
    Explorer
    May 13, 2023
    What my renters used to do on one of my rentals was lower the tires enough
    to clear the bar across the covered RV cover. Then after getting under the bar , pump the tires back up to normal. My renters did that for 6 yrs
  • ford_truck_guy's avatar
    ford_truck_guy
    Nomad
    May 13, 2023
    agree with both above posters..

    MOST of the RV heights will change AS SOON as you hook it up to YOUR TRUCK..... You need to hook up, see how level it is and get an accurate measurement at that point.... NO OTHER WAY ...
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    May 13, 2023
    When you say 12' shed door, is that an actual opening measurement? Most 12' doors that raise upward, have a header beam that reduces clearance to about 11' 8"s.

    Jerry
  • TXiceman's avatar
    TXiceman
    Explorer II
    May 13, 2023
    The only way to know your true height is to get the trailer hooked to YOUR truck on level ground and measure the high point on the trailer. You cannot believe the brochures. If you are a little nose high or nose low, the unit may tip enough to change the actual A/C unit height.

    Ken

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