We are buying a 2006 fifth wheel and would like to know if theres any way to figure out how much it has been used. Anyone know?

Look it over closely, it'll be like most anything else, a car, a boat or even a house. How does it look around the edges? Are things worn pretty bad? There are so many things to look at on an RV but look closely at it in general to see tell tail signs of abuse or "hard" usage. That first look see should give you some kind of insight as to how the unit was treated in the past.Dan

I keep a log with ours. But unless I pass it on to the next owner, it's just my records. I would pass it on though.

Just look at wear and tear and check over all the systems to make sure they all work. Definitely try to get as much history from the owner as you can. I'm of the opinion that most people are going to be honest. I wouldn't necessarily say the same thing about most dealers. I bought a used fifth wheel recently and it needed a few projects done on it, and we're replacing all the mattresses and the sofa, plus new batteries and tires. Stuff we knew we needed to do going in so nothing unexpected. It isn't quite as splashy as a new one, but we'll mostly be camping in it and we paid cash for it, and there's something to be said for that.

Doesn't matter if anyone ever stepped foot inside the camper or not. A 2006 model will be 10 years old. That's 10 years exposure on the roof. 10 years of constant heat and cooling and cold and hot inside, causing the floor, carpets, walls, wood, plastics, to all expand and contract at different rates over a 10 year span, causing staples, nails, and screws to give and wiggle and even work their way out (if no one EVER set foot inside). Linoleum floor may turn at the edges, glued trim may begin to come off. Lots can happen, even if never used. If never used, the tires will probably be dry rotted, who knows what else, rubber and plastic water lines, anything.But a camper that's used is usually maintained as well. Parts are replaced, items are fixed when things happen, rubber is flexed. In other words, usage is a good thing. An RV is NOT like an automobile when you think in terms of "how much was it used?" You can look at the odometer and get a good feel for how long the engine ran, and how many miles it has on it. A camper can also be "used" in a number of ways. It an be towed a million miles and it can sit on the same spot for 10 years and never move. The best you can do when it comes to a "used" 10 year camper is to assume EVERYTHING is broken, bad, kaput! And then item by item check it off when it's proven it works, its functional, it's good. Assume NOTHING is good and prove it is.Usage? we keep our refrigerator on 24x7x365 (except on rare occasions and in the coldest months of the winter). It sits in our drive way and we "use" it much more at home (traveling nowhere) than on the road. So, in a sense, there are 2 types of "usages"... on the road and sitting? So it's almost impossible to tell how much a camper has been "used?" You can only determine what works.

is there any way to determine usage of a fifth wheel?

Goostoff
Explorer
Mar 02, 2016
About the only thing you can really do is look things over and determine in your own mind if it is in god enough shape for your needs. If an elderly couple had it and kept everything spotless and used it every day you would probably be better off with it over one that some baby momma and her crack head boyfreind had and only used 3 times a year spilling beer all over and the dogs crapping in the corner and not getting cleaned up.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Mar 02, 2016
In the boating industry it is not uncommon to get a survey prior to purchase.

Of course these surveys are not cheap & are not often done on small boats selling for under say $50,000. I would think that an RV surveyors time is going to cost in the region of what a marine surveyor time would be. Maybe abit less but still, the time adds up, what with the report that is drawn up as well.

For boats having a used value of $100,000, $200,000 & up the survey is a small part of the cost & well worth it in boats with complex systems to check, not just the engine.

RVs, tow behinds especially, are relatively simple things. Even somebody with little knowledge, & armed with a checklist, should be able to do a decent survey on their own or with a knowledgeable friend.
EA_Williams
Explorer
Mar 02, 2016
Just ask the Camping World sales rep, I'm sure he will tell you it was only driven to picnics on Sundays.
dedmiston
Moderator
Mar 02, 2016
Check the hours on the generator.
Cdash
Explorer
Mar 01, 2016
Here are some things I'd look at that could help, may sound strange, but I can see a correlation:

Look at the pivot points on the steps, any wear or rust?

Check the toilet - any movement? Does it wiggle?

Suspension - if you can, look at the shackles. Although the wear would be hidden behind the washer nuts, compare how much of the shackle is visible from the nut to the end of shackle. Compare top to bottom. Any difference is the shackle hole ovaling out. I had to replace mine at about 15,000 miles.

Pin box - how does the pin look? Wear marks from the jaws that go beyond just paint scratches?

Check the cabinet doors that would seem to get most use (pantry, where dishes would go, medicine cabinet) are the looser than others?

Couch cushions and mattresses - don't forget to flip them over.

Just some thoughts.
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Mar 01, 2016
hitdrd wrote:
We are buying a 2006 fifth wheel and would like to know if theres any way to figure out how much it has been used. Anyone know?

Enter "PDI" in search. (current 12 months & archives).

Several excellent check lists have been posted over the years which would apply to a new or old rig.

If you don't feel confident in your ability - hire an inspector when you have narrowed your choice/s.

~
hitdrd
Explorer
Feb 29, 2016
bob krogstie where's the hub odometer located? does dvery 5 th have one?
Veebyes
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2016
BobKrogstie wrote:
Check the hub odometer :B

For awhile I was looking for one of those for the trailer. Gave up.

I have all of my routes saved on MS Streets & Trips. Those are mostly just the trailer miles so getting a fairly close total is not hard to do.
Mile_High
Explorer
Feb 28, 2016
I have found there are also those that buy them and use them full time but don't even own a tow vehicle, so very little road time, or those that tow them all over the country but only a few months a year, and the rest of the time is sits in storage, or even in a garage.

Many variables. I would have to agree that the one that is used, is probably maintained better.

My truck has an odometer that counts miles on each trailer I plug into it, and can even tell which trailer is being plugged in. Kind of cool.
ACZL
Explorer
Feb 28, 2016
Fabric still in good shape?, Wear/rubs marks on walls, floors, furniture from slides? Interior walls damaged? Is interior filthy? Walls dingy looking. Carpet look like it's seen it's better days? Any urine smell? Outside walls full of scratches/dings? Rust on frame? Basement/front compartment relatively clean? Just my thoughts.