How To Choose A Fifth Wheel
For families who need more space when they’re traveling, a fifth wheel is the ideal answer. These big rigs are some of the largest recreational vehicles you can get, and they’re much easier to tow than you may think from looking at them. Curious about what they have to offer? Camper Liquidators of Schererville has all the information you need to determine what to look for in a fifth wheel. Bring us any further questions you might have!
Consider Size
The most obvious feature of fifth wheels is their massive size. These rigs are not compact by any means — some can feel like a small residential home in terms of spaciousness and amenities! This gives you lots of storage space for everyone’s equipment and belongings, extra bunks for guests, bigger kitchens with full-size appliances and sometimes even additional private bedrooms or a secondary bathroom. Ceiling heights are also sufficient to make taller campers feel at ease while walking around the interior.
Towing Vehicle Needs
Because of their massive size and their unique coupling, you need a specific type of towing vehicle in order to tow a fifth wheel. Usually, this requires a half-ton or larger pickup truck with a sufficient gross combined weight rating (GCWR) to tow the trailer and everything within it. The coupling is often made by your truck manufacturer to fit perfectly into your truck bed. Then the fifth wheel hitch extends over the gate and rear axle of your towing vehicle to lock into place.
While this is a little more complex than a bumper-pull hitch, it’s much more stable and allows you more control while turning, so a fifth wheel can actually be easier to tow than a standard trailer despite its size. Take some time to master the coupling system so you can have easy access to your truck while camping, and also practice driving in an empty parking lot so you feel confident about turning, parking and reversing your rig.
Ready to take home a fifth wheel of your own? Check out the Camper Liquidators selection of fifth wheels at our Schererville showroom, whether you’re coming to us from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne or anywhere else in the Hoosier State!