Towing a Fiver

[kevenv]

Most recently my towing was done with a teardrop trailer behind my Wrangler. This past Feb we bought a 2024 29RLC and had it delivered in May to a seasonal spot. Since then we have decided to give going south in the winter a try this year. Gone is the Jeep replaced with a Chevy 2500HD. I have never towed a fifth wheel before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[JFlightRisk]

The first thing that comes to mind is they "cheat" more around corners than a trailer does because the pivot point is more forward.

When angling into a site, you'll find that you'll be looking at the side of the 5er. Electric mirrors are a plus on the truck.

If you can, first go to a big empty parking lot and practice turning and backing around and between cones or something similar. Fifth wheels aren't more difficult than trailers, just a little different. Kind of like maneuvering a small tractor trailer.

My first experience backing up my FILs 5er into his driveway was worth watching for a laugh!

[TaftCoach]

There's going to be a learning curve. It's been a while since I towed a 5er but what I remember the most is it feeling much more solid and connected especially at highway speeds.

[cariboocreek]

Without the usual long winded post of all the checklist items, let me boil it down to two things. Open your tailgate (both hitching and un-hitching. Tug test with your front jacks just a little off the ground...always. The first 2 minutes pulling away from a campsite are still my most stressful time. Too many horror videos of fifth wheels whose hitches weren't locked.

I am assuming a long box. If not, slider hitch.

[kevenv]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

The first thing that comes to mind is they "cheat" more around corners than a trailer does because the pivot point is more forward.

When angling into a site, you'll find that you'll be looking at the side of the 5er. Electric mirrors are a plus on the truck.

If you can, first go to a big empty parking lot and practice turning and backing around and between cones or something similar. Fifth wheels aren't more difficult than trailers, just a little different. Kind of like maneuvering a small tractor trailer.

My first experience backing up my FILs 5er into his driveway was worth watching for a laugh!

Thanks so much. I'll definitely need to practice in a big area.

[kevenv]

Originally Posted by TaftCoach

There's going to be a learning curve. It's been a while since I towed a 5er but what I remember the most is it feeling much more solid and connected especially at highway speeds.

I appreciate the reply. Thanks.

[kevenv]

Originally Posted by cariboocreek

Without the usual long winded post of all the checklist items, let me boil it down to two things. Open your tailgate (both hitching and un-hitching. Tug test with your front jacks just a little off the ground...always. The first 2 minutes pulling away from a campsite are still my most stressful time. Too many horror videos of fifth wheels whose hitches weren't locked.

I am assuming a long box. If not, slider hitch.

I hadn't thought of the tug test. Tanks so much.

[Sandraze]

Congrats on the new purchase! We also moved up from a travel trailer to a 2024 29RLC this past December and are loving it! It is our 1st 5th wheel and there is some learning curves on backing in and such. All the previous posts are spot on, and practice makes better (not perfect!). My first two attempts backing it in were not very good....I think it took me 7 or 8 tries! Back and forth, back and forth! Fast forward to today and I feel very confident backing into our spots! On the drives, just take your corners wide, especially on the passenger side, and you will do just fine. We also have a 3/4 ton truck with a gas engine and it pulls the 29RLC just fine! I am basically at my capacity on payload on the tow vehicle and am looking to upgrade to a 1 ton vehicle. The actual only regret on the 29RLC that I have is that I wish I would have purchased a model that had more cargo capacity. We are close to maxed out on it and we are basically weekend warriors. We do not travel with any water or waste in any tanks and never boondock. I could definitely foresee problems with capacity if I was ever to tow with fresh water in the tank. All that said, we are loving our new 5th wheel and happy we moved up! Enjoy and safe travels!!!

[Sandraze]

Originally Posted by cariboocreek

I am assuming a long box. If not, slider hitch.

Ah yes, forgot to mention. We have a short box, so got a Pullrite Superglide 16k hitch. Autoslide works like a champ!!

[kevenv]

Originally Posted by Sandraze

Congrats on the new purchase! We also moved up from a travel trailer to a 2024 29RLC this past December and are loving it! It is our 1st 5th wheel and there is some learning curves on backing in and such. All the previous posts are spot on, and practice makes better (not perfect!). My first two attempts backing it in were not very good....I think it took me 7 or 8 tries! Back and forth, back and forth! Fast forward to today and I feel very confident backing into our spots! On the drives, just take your corners wide, especially on the passenger side, and you will do just fine. We also have a 3/4 ton truck with a gas engine and it pulls the 29RLC just fine! I am basically at my capacity on payload on the tow vehicle and am looking to upgrade to a 1 ton vehicle. The actual only regret on the 29RLC that I have is that I wish I would have purchased a model that had more cargo capacity. We are close to maxed out on it and we are basically weekend warriors. We do not travel with any water or waste in any tanks and never boondock. I could definitely foresee problems with capacity if I was ever to tow with fresh water in the tank. All that said, we are loving our new 5th wheel and happy we moved up! Enjoy and safe travels!!!

Thanks so much. I bought a diesel that gives me plenty of room on towing and load capacity. We camp pretty light so cargo and storage space hasn't been an issue (yet!)

[Learjet]

Originally Posted by kevenv

Thanks so much. I bought a diesel that gives me plenty of room on towing and load capacity. We camp pretty light so cargo and storage space hasn't been an issue (yet!)

IF you bough a F250 or 2500 you will have very low payload because of the weight of the diesel engine. What truck did you buy? Long bed, short bed...etc.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by kevenv

Most recently my towing was done with a teardrop trailer behind my Wrangler. This past Feb we bought a 2024 29RLC and had it delivered in May to a seasonal spot. Since then we have decided to give going south in the winter a try this year. Gone is the Jeep replaced with a Chevy 2500HD. I have never towed a fifth wheel before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Boy that is a loaded question. There are so many differences here. What tow vehicle, what payload, what hookup. You are going to get about 5 pages of suggestions with very little background so those comments will be suspect at the beginning. Is the 2500 diesel? That makes a big difference. What is the gross weight of the 5th wheel?



Sorry, there is just too much guessing with this one.

[Markb5900]

Tow it in an area you know just to get used to how it corners before you head out into the unknown.
Make sure you understand exactly how your hitch works and how much you can turn before you hit the cab.
If you have the means, get an “air gate” and it takes at least something off your plate.
An old friend told me there are fiver drivers who have hit the tailgate and those that will.

[Route 66 Traveler]

One of the most important thing to know and memorize is the height of your roof at the top of the air conditioner. Two weeks ago I saw a brand new 5th wheel pull into a gas station with a low overhang that relocated the AC to the pavement below. Took him and another guy to pick it up and put it into the bed of the truck. Don’t think that’s covered under the warranty…

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

...

If you can, first go to a big empty parking lot and practice turning and backing around and between cones or something similar. Fifth wheels aren't more difficult than trailers, just a little different. Kind of like maneuvering a small tractor trailer.

...

This is very solid advice. While fifth wheels aren't "more" difficult than regular trailers, they are different, and that often times throws people for a loop. Driving in a wide open space is a good idea as well.

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

...

My first experience backing up my FILs 5er into his driveway was worth watching for a laugh!

When we got our first fifth wheel, I had to have my dad back it in the first couple of times. I could not get it backed into a spot to save my life. Had backed a regular trailer some.

You HAVE to learn to back with your mirrors! You can't see anything behind you, so it's different than backing a flat bed trailer that you can turn around and watch. For me, this was probably the ah-ha moment. Once I learned to back with mirrors, it became much simpler. I don't back anything now, no matter what it is by turning my head around. All backing done with mirrors.

Good luck, and safe travels!!

[kevenv]

Originally Posted by CAG

Boy that is a loaded question. There are so many differences here. What tow vehicle, what payload, what hookup. You are going to get about 5 pages of suggestions with very little background so those comments will be suspect at the beginning. Is the 2500 diesel? That makes a big difference. What is the gross weight of the 5th wheel?



Sorry, there is just too much guessing with this one.

I appreciate the input. It's a 2500 diesel, pulls 18500 lbs with a payload of just under 3800 lbs. Full tank of fuel is 227 lbs. Trailer GVWR is 10700 lbs. Pin weight is 1690 lbs plus the propane tanks etc. We don't travel with fresh water on board. I've run the numbers and am comfortable with what I get. I'm more interested in anything generally that makes pulling a 5th wheel different from a normal trailer.

[kevenv]

Originally Posted by cadman_ks

You HAVE to learn to back with your mirrors! You can't see anything behind you, so it's different than backing a flat bed trailer that you can turn around and watch. For me, this was probably the ah-ha moment. Once I learned to back with mirrors, it became much simpler. I don't back anything now, no matter what it is by turning my head around. All backing done with mirrors.

Good luck, and safe travels!!

Thanks so much. Using the mirrors is the only way I know how to back up so thankfully I won't have to learn that part.

[kevenv]

Originally Posted by Markb5900

Tow it in an area you know just to get used to how it corners before you head out into the unknown.
Make sure you understand exactly how your hitch works and how much you can turn before you hit the cab.
If you have the means, get an “air gate” and it takes at least something off your plate.
An old friend told me there are fiver drivers who have hit the tailgate and those that will.

Thanks for the advice. The air gate is new to me! I'll have to look into that.

[Rodney27405]

Back up camera- If you can add one they are fantastic. It is a long way to the back of the trailer and you have a huge blindspot directly behind the trailer.

Spotter- If you have one it helps a bunch. Between cameras, mirrors, watching the trailer it is a lot and it is easy to miss something. The crazy little lady jumping up and down screaming "STOP!" always gets my attention...

Don't forget about the front of the truck, you can get wrapped up in what is going on behind you and forget that the front end of the truck is swinging too

[kevenv]

Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler

One of the most important thing to know and memorize is the height of your roof at the top of the air conditioner. Two weeks ago I saw a brand new 5th wheel pull into a gas station with a low overhang that relocated the AC to the pavement below. Took him and another guy to pick it up and put it into the bed of the truck. Don’t think that’s covered under the warranty…

The height is something I contacted Jayco about before the dealer delivered my trailer. There is a bridge on the shortest route that is height restricted to 4 meters (13 feet 1.5 inches). According to Jayco my trailer with the optional bedroom a/c is 13 feet 2 inches high. We took the long way around the lake.