Hey guys. I am officially the new owner of a 5th wheel! It was a completely spur of the moment thing. Walked onto the lot, the extremely fast talking salesman showed us a 5er that was very well priced, the dealership worked with us excellently, and we bought it!Now on to the question: The short version is I don't have a truck to bring it home with. If you wish to know the long version, read on. If not, skip the next paragraph. As part of the negotiations, the dealership offered me a package deal of installing a 5th wheel hitch and brake controller onto my F-350. This is all fine and dandy but my trucks in the shop being worked on at the moment. So they offered to store the camper, free of charge, til the end of the year. This is also fine and dandy but me and the honey have a big camping trip planned in a few weeks and we would love to take the new camper! Now that your caught up:My uncle is a truck driver and owns his own company. Im sure for the price of fuel, he could go get it for me. I read online the kingpins are the same size BUT at different heights (i.e. a 5th wheel camper is taller than a semi trailer). So how much of this is true? Can someone give me a measurement of how tall their campers kingpin is maybe?Thanks guys!

Anywhere from 48" to about 55". Mine's adjustable.The only problem with this that comes to mind is that semi hitch/ride may be awfully rough on the coach. Class 8 tractors modified to pull 5ers almost always have air hitches.

Back when my in laws had to give up camping due to health reasons and they couldn't afford the 5th wheel anymore and they had already sold the dually. The bank sent a driver to come and get it and the guy showed up in a semi. I never thought a truck that big would be able too but they hooked up and pulled away into the sunset with the 5th wheel not sure if they had done anything different but from what I could see it just looked like all other semi's I ever had seen. so I would say it's possible.

I watched Extreme RVs on the Travel Channel the other night and they built one HUGE 5th wheel, something like 45 feet and triple axles. Absolutely gorgeous inside and out! They had a matching semi to haul it with. This is where I got my idea, but I just figured that camper was built for the semi

Should be ok for one short trip/delivery.How smooth are the roads it will be traveling on? The truck hitch is not articulated side to side and could damage your trailers pin box.2oldman has got the range down pat ,now you have to decide if being a little off level for a short time is ok with you.(wouldn't worry about it)and remember your lights will not work properly on the trailer.

Towing a 5er With A Semi? | Good Sam Community

greende
Explorer II
Oct 09, 2013
Glad it worked out. Happy Camping.
El_Camino_Man
Explorer
Oct 09, 2013
Time for the resolution!

I asked around and out of 3 guys that know everybody (you know the type of guy I mean!) no one knew anyone with a 5th wheel truck. So I figured Id ask my mom and she rattled a name off the top of her head. A friend of the family for years. So I stopped by, asked if he could do me a favor and bring home a camper for me. He asked when I wanted to go get it lol. SCORE! I feel MUCH better doing it this way, and not to mention fuel mileage should be a hair better lol.

Thanks for all the responses guys!
El_Camino_Man
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
The truck needs an engine. It would be an easy fix if I had a spare to throw in it

Iv asked around looking for a 5th wheel equipped truck to borrow but haven't had any luck. Then this idea came to me lol
Gemstone
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
Here is your wiring adapter for HDT to RV trailer conversion: Jackalopee

Regards
Gemstone
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
Dennis M M wrote:
Comercial hitch will work fine for a short tow. Over the long run it will beat up the fiver because the pin weight is not enough to activate the HDT suspension. Also the commercial hitch does not articulate side to side so on uneven ground it will twist the frame on the fiver.

Add an air hitch and it is the best tow vehicle you ever tried!

Take a look here HDT Forum

Good advice above!

Towing with the com'l hitch on an HDT is *NOT* worth the potential negative results to the 5th wheel..:(

If the tow is really short - find (or pay) someone with a "standard" 5th wheel hitch to move it for you..;)

~
rattleNsmoke
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
You have several weeks. Get your truck done, get the hitch installed and go bring the trailer home.
El_Camino_Man
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
I could prolly afroengineer a plug to make the lights work for the short trip home. That's the easy part lol.

The dealer is about an hour and a half from me, so it wouldn't be a long haul whatsoever. Although I have heard several times itll be a rough ride for the 5er...

Ill talk it over with my uncle and see what he says. As long as he is not on the road at the time, I doubt he would have much of a problem with it.

Thanks for the info guys!
noteven
Explorer III
Oct 06, 2013
To the OP - one of the Uncle's class 8's will tow your trailer home ok.

In the trucking world a "fifth wheel" or "5th wheel" is the flat wheel looking thing (hence the name from the old days) on a tractor that couples it to a "semi trailer"... it's not the trailer, that's called a trailer or semi trailer... anyway...if you phone Uncle and say "I bought a fifth wheel and need a way to tow it home.." he may have the confused moment then suggest you should just haul a 5th wheel home in the back of your pickup...then maybe ask what on earth you want that greasy thing for ...

If the roads between point A and B are rough, ask him to deflate the drive tires to 50 or 60 psi. and go really slow over the harsh stuff like bad railway crossings. The fifth wheel on his tractor will couple to the king pin on your trailer if he can slide his 5th wheel back enough to get swing room.

Also ask Uncle about ambitious DOT in the area with respect to needing the brakes functioning on the trailer.

Also - Don't ride along! You will be forever miffed at how the class 8 truck plays with the weight and size of a "big fiver".
Ivylog
Explorer III
Oct 06, 2013
Without a load, how much pressure does it take to maintain that height?:S
If you have that much slop in your hitch you need to replace it.
hone_eagle
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
Ivylog wrote:
What a bunch of bad info. Many 5ers are pulled by class 8 trucks. Many PU 5er hitch do not pivot side to side. The air ride on the semi will adjust for the light weight and give a soft ride. Go for it.

Incorrect
semi air ride is for height maintaince NOT ride.
I also had a non pivot hitch on my F250 and it dint matter,slop in the jaws and frame flex
gave enough 'give'.
Holland hitch clamps the entire pin and there is no slack ,the pin box could be twisted before you get out of the campground if the roads are poor.