Newby to towing Fifth Wheel

[sstephen]

We go pick up our new fifth wheel today and we are a bit nervous. Our RV days have always been with a travel trailer, and we are not sure how complicated living with a fifth wheel is going to be versus the trailer. But we sold the old one in the fall and decide to buy a brand new Wildcat Fifth.

Basic questions we have are around unhooking and leveling and what is best practice. Hope this doesn't sound like we are idiots... but don't want to make an expensive mistake either.

Anyone have a link in this forum that maybe walks through this, it would be most appreciated.

[sonny_mensies]

Hi something to think about is if the trailer is over 10,000 LBS you will need to upgrade your drivers license to have a heavy RV trailer endorsement on it to legally drive. I am not positive on regulations in Alberta but it is this way in B.C.

[sdetweil]

TrooperTaylor wrote:


Very good advice here!!!!! I went from a TT to a 5er and the first thing I did was tear the roof off on a low overpass on my way home from the dealer :S:o:M:(

$7,802.72 total for repairs

Ouch!.. I know your pain! I hit low trees 1/4 mile from home after driving 1400 miles without issue.. $6400 repair. took the county 95 days to trim the trees.

[TrooperTaylor]

CANAMKID wrote:
Don't forget to look up also, as you are going to be tall also. We are
at 13'3". The Federal limit is 13'6". low over hangs, short bridges etc.
:B

Very good advice here!!!!! I went from a TT to a 5er and the first thing I did was tear the roof off on a low overpass on my way home from the dealer :S:o:M:(

$7,802.72 total for repairs

[rhagfo]

To the OP how did it go??

[taybrynn]

I also am a new fifth wheel owner and trying to learn the skills of backing a 39' rig up. I did find this trucker video on backing up interesting, but was wondering how applicable it is to a fifth wheel. It looks like the same principles would apply. I liked the whole concept of setting things up, and the S turn is mentioned ... it got me thinking a lot more about how I "wasn't" doing any of these things. The process seemed similar to that described by valhalla360 previously

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1J0FH4CeaY

[ol_Bombero-JC]

sstephen wrote:
We go pick up our new fifth wheel today and we are a bit nervous. Our RV days have always been with a travel trailer, and we are not sure how complicated living with a fifth wheel is going to be versus the trailer. But we sold the old one in the fall and decide to buy a brand new Wildcat Fifth.

Basic questions we have are around unhooking and leveling and what is best practice. Hope this doesn't sound like we are idiots... but don't want to make an expensive mistake either.

Anyone have a link in this forum that maybe walks through this, it would be most appreciated.

Go to YouTube.

Guaranteed there's a video on there for just about everything and anything.

Be creative with some title names - and you're bound to find several.

~

[CANAMKID]

Don't forget to look up also, as you are going to be tall also. We are
at 13'3". The Federal limit is 13'6". low over hangs, short bridges etc.
:B

[cruz-in]

An auto-slider hitch seems to make backing a bit more interesting as the center of rotation moves aft as the angle between truck and trailer increases....

[sidney]

MichiganTraveler wrote:
Check out this blog post for backing your fifth wheel -
http://michigantraveler.org/2013/01/22/z-method-for-backing-a-5th-wheel/

Per the diagram in the link:

When I have tried to use the Z method... If there are trees or other obstructions on the right hand side of the road... I have found I do not have enough room to swing the front end of the TV around when backing in without hitting obstructions that line the right hand side of the road. I have had better luck starting and staying on the left side of the road when baking in our 5th.

[MichiganTravele]

Check out this blog post for backing your fifth wheel -
http://michigantraveler.org/2013/01/22/z-method-for-backing-a-5th-wheel/

[txdutt]

Whatever hitch you put in the bed of your truck makes a difference as well. On my Curt hitch, you know 100% for certain if you're locked on the pin or not when you're hooking up. Great advice from everyone else, I've had 2 TT's & Class A before the current rig over the years & the 5'er is my favorite....

[kellertx5er]

Best tip I ever read for backing up ANY trailer- Watch the wheels, the trailer won't go anywhere the wheels don't. You obviously need a spotter to watch the trailer itself to avoid structures, trees, etc.

[valhalla360]

The only real difference is when backing into a spot, it's slower to start turning but you can turn much sharper (kind of a wash in terms of manuverability).

The way to mitigate the slow to start is use an S-curve approach:
- I could care less which side I'm backing into, the geometry is no different and you guide is doing the directing.
- Approach the site, drive on the side of the road as close to the site as possible.
- As your rear truck tires pass the site (you may need to adjust the starting point depending on your rig dimensions), turn hard away from the site and continue forward.
- When you run out of room, turn hard back toward the site and continue forward until the rear of the trailer is just past the site.
- If you've done it right, the rear of the trailer is turned toward the site by 20-30 degrees and the truck is at a 20-30 degree angle to the trailer.
- Since there is already an angle between the truck and trailer, you have gotten past the worst of the slow to start turning issue.
- Back it up the same as a bumper pull.

[laknox]

proptwister wrote:

bobcouch wrote:
One other thing to consider.
The 5er will act different from your old trailer when cornering. Always pull a little further into the intersection and turn sharper than you did with your bumper pull - especially on right-hand turns. Otherwise you may find yourself jumping a curb.
You'll get used to this very quickly, but it is something you will have to learn.

That is one of the bigger thing you will notice right away. Your 5th wheel will track much shorter on the inside of the turns. Where a bumper pull will follow the track of your truck fairly close, the 5th wheel trailer will have you jumping curbs, or worse. Swing considerably further into the turn to keep this from happening.

Its sounds worse than it really is. You'll get the hang of it fairly quick.

Matt

Also, you're bigger than most of the rest of traffic, so don't be afraid to take a lane-and-a-half to make a turn, if you need to. Let the plebes go around =you=, or stop behind you. Just watch for the a-holes on bikes (both kinds), SMART cars, Fiat 500's and Minis, who might try to sneak by on the inside.

Lyle