FIFTH WHEEL TOWING TIPS

A fifth wheel camper is a versatile style of trailer with many amenities and advantages. They’re stable when towed, fast to hitch up to trucks and easier to maneuver with on the road than bumper pull trailers. However, that hitching and towing process can be somewhat daunting to the uninitiated. At Campers RV Center of Shreveport, we’ve got all the details you need on fifth wheel towing to make the process easier and safer for you. Read on to become a master of towing fifth wheels.

Use The Correct Towing Vehicle

The purpose of fifth wheel couplings is to make towing more stable and safe. They also increase the amount of weight that can be towed, meaning that fifth wheel trailers can be larger and more luxurious than their bumper pulled counterparts. However, this increased weight capacity and larger size means that your standard passenger car won’t work as a towing vehicle for fifth wheels. You’ll need to have at least a half-ton or larger pickup truck to have the power to tow a fifth wheel. The coupling is installed into the bed of your truck, and it’s best that your truck have a full-length bed, but there are workarounds if you have a short-bed pickup. Some flatbed trucks can support a fifth wheel coupling, but you’ll want to make sure of this before you purchase one specifically for towing fifth wheels.

Hitching & Unhitching

Once you’ve chosen your towing vehicle, you’ll have to get a fifth wheel coupling for it. Most truck manufacturers make these couplings specifically to fit their truck beds, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one to fit your model. You can also have the hitch professionally installed so that you don’t have to worry about whether it’s secure.

Since the hitch is in your truck’s bed, this makes the process of coupling your fifth wheel to your truck fairly straightforward. To do this, you’ll want both vehicles on flat ground, with your trailer raised up to the height of your truck bed using jacks. Reverse your truck towards the tongue of your fifth wheel until it meets the coupling in your truck bed, then secure these with the cotter or king pin. This can take a few tries to get right, but you should hear a click and be able to see when the two pieces fit securely.

Keep Your Weight Down

Your GCWR or gross combined weight rating will become very important when you attach a fifth wheel to your truck. This rating represents how much weight your truck can support, including the cargo and passengers within it. This means you’ll want to pack lightly where you can, because overloading your trailer will make your driving more unpredictable and can even increase your chances of a tire blowout. Hit up the first weigh station you see on the highway to make sure you’re within the specified guidelines and you’ll also be able to avoid any heavy fines caused by towing too much weight.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Your trailer and your truck both rely on their tires to support them on the road, so if your tires are in bad shape, this bodes ill for your towing situation. Uneven or low pressure in your tires makes your driving more erratic and decreases your fuel efficiency, so use a tire pressure gauge to check your tire pressure before and after you load up your trailer and truck. Look at your treads as well to make sure they’re not worn excessively or wearing unevenly, which can mean your trailer’s weight is unbalanced. Lessen your chances of a blowout on the highway by keeping your tires in good shape.

Practice Til You Get It Right

The best thing you can do when learning to tow a fifth wheel is to practice. Since a fifth wheel changes your driving style, you’ll have to teach yourself how to turn, reverse, brake and park with it. You’ll need to adjust your speed on the highway, hit the brakes sooner than you would in a car, take corners at a wider radius and pay more attention when backing up. You can take your fifth wheel set-up to an empty parking lot to get in some practice until you feel comfortable taking it out on the highway. Drive carefully and allow other drivers to pass you on the road when you’re towing, because you shouldn’t go any faster than 65 mph and passing generally requires that you speed up.

Ready to tour some great fifth wheel trailers? Come down to Shreveport dealership to see our wide array of fifth wheels and other campers. We can also answer any further questions you have about towing. Campers RV Center is easily accessible from the cities of Bossier City, Ruston and Monroe, Louisiana. We’re also conveniently situated for our Texas customers in the cities of Marshall, Longview and Tyler.