A Quick and Easy Fifth Wheel Towing Guide

When it comes to towable RVs, there are several big advantages to pulling a fifth wheel vs. a conventional travel trailer. They offer better handling on the roads and a better turning radius when cornering and backing up. They also enable you to enjoy a trailer with a larger cabin without adding a bunch of extra length. The “fifth wheel” isn’t actually a wheel, but a U-shaped coupling mounted onto the cargo bed of the tow truck. It’s the same kind of hitch found on semi-trailers, and works slightly differently than a ball hitch. Here’s what you need to know in order to properly tow a fifth wheel camper. To learn more, visit us at Carolina Coach & Camper in Claremont, North Carolina. We serve RV enthusiasts in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Choose the Right Hitch

You need to make sure that any hitch that you purchase is sized to fit your tow vehicle and rated to handle the towing capacity for your trailer. Many new trucks feature a fifth wheel towing package that includes a factory-installed “puck” mounting system which will save you a lot of time if you  hitch and unhitch your trailer frequently.

Choose the Right Tow Vehicle

Smaller travel trailers can be hitched to SUVs and other properly equipped vehicles,  but you’ll need a half-ton pickup truck or larger. When it comes to tow vehicles, you can’t buy a truck that’s too big. If you plan on towing your fifth wheel regularly, you can never go wrong with a dually! If you already have your tow vehicle, be sure that it’s rated to tow any fifth wheel you purchase.

Hitching Your Trailer

Proper weight distribution is key to a safe ride, and your hitch supports between 15% and 25% of the total weight to minimize sway. Hitching up takes a little practice, but the important thing is to take your time.  Use the front trailer jacks to raise or lower the trailer to the same height as the hitch, or slightly below. Once you’ve lined everything up, back the truck up slowly until the kingpin engages into the coupling and that the hitch jaws fasten around the hitch pin. The last step is to lock the hitch handle with a pin or padlock and attach the emergency breakaway cable to your truck bed. Raise the jacks before you get on the road, and drive slowly to minimize sway.

For more information, and to see our current inventory of new and pre-owned fifth wheels and RVs for sale, visit Carolina Coach & Camper in Claremont, North Carolina, your RV headquarters in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.