Fifth Wheel Towing Guide

Fifth wheels are a type of towable RV that boasts a unique hitching system. This unique system makes fifth wheels far more stable than other towable RVs, allowing designers to produce bigger models without compromising on safety. However, those new to towing may find fifth wheels to be a challenge. That is why Boyer RV has created this guide to help teach safe towing techniques for fifth wheels.

Don’t Go Over Your Weight Limit

There are many things to keep in mind when it comes to weight limits. First, don’t forget to include the weight of the hitch when trying to determine if you are going to exceed your tow vehicle’s limit. You should also know that the hitch itself also has a tow weight limit, which may be less than that of the tow vehicle. 

It will be helpful to know how much your fifth wheel weighs both when it’s empty and when it’s full and hitched up to your truck. Luckily, you can find the empty weights for your truck and fifth wheel in their respective owner’s manuals. However, measuring the weight of your full fifth wheel and truck setup together will require that you find an appropriate scale. Facilities like a dump or quarry will usually have one, or you can choose to rent a scale. 

Prepare For Mountains

Mountain travel presents many unique challenges. For instance, while some tow vehicles utilize diesel engines, others are fueled by gasoline. This is important because gasoline-powered engines lose about 4% of their power for every 1000 of elevation. This can make the already difficult task of hauling around a huge fifth wheel even more difficult, so steps should be taken to make the vehicle as light as possible. You should also keep in mind that the additional weight of the camper increases your stopping distance, especially when going down an incline. Overall, don’t be afraid to slow down and take extra precautions when driving your fifth wheel through the mountains. 

Avoid Using Overdrive

Some pickup trucks have an overdrive setting that can help reduce noise and improve fuel consumption. However, you should not use this setting while you are towing, as the added weight of the trailer will strain your transmission and eventually lead to overheating. 

Check Your Tires

Tires bear the weight of the load as well as having to contend with any rough terrain. Before every trip, make sure both your truck’s tires and your fifth wheel’s tires are in peak condition. Regularly check the pressure with a tire pressure gauge. When you inspect your tires, make sure they have a proper tread depth and that there are no cracks in the sidewall or objects embedded in the tread. You may choose to install a tire pressure monitoring device to make keeping track of the tire pressure more easily. 

Get In Some Practice

Hauling around a fifth wheel can change a lot about how your vehicle stops, accelerates, and turns. Since these are so fundamental to safe driving, towing a fifth wheel for the first time is almost like relearning to drive, and you should treat it as such. Before your first major trip, find a parking lot or low-traffic neighborhood and hook up your trailer so that you can practice the fundamentals. 

We here at Boyer RV hope this guide helps make your future fifth wheel trips safer. For more information or to view our selection of fifth wheel models, visit our dealership in Erie, Pennsylvania. We are proud to serve the northwestern Pennsylvania area.