Fifth Wheel Hauling Tips
Fifth wheels are some of the most spacious recreational vehicles, with plenty of storage space and sleeping areas for everyone on board! These are towable vehicles that have a unique hitching system that extends over the back of your truck. They also often come with top-of-the-line amenities and features!
As your leading fifth wheel dealer in Chesapeake, VA, we want you to have safe and fun trips in your camper. That’s why we’ve created this guide on safe towing tips. If you’re looking for fifth wheels for sale near Virginia Beach or Suffolk, get in touch with the sales team at Chesapeake RV Solutions to check out our wide selection of models!
Stay in Your Weight Limit
Usually, a fifth wheel hitch is said to be able to handle a weight limit of around 24,000 pounds but it’s best to be sure about the weight capacity of your hitch than go with this general number. You should know how much your fifth wheel weighs when empty and how much it weighs when full and hitched to your truck. Your owner’s manual can provide the empty weights for your truck and fifth wheel, but you’ll need to locate a dump or quarry scale or rent a CAT scale to measure your fifth wheel and truck setup.
Prepare For Mountains
In several states in the US, you’re going to have to travel across areas that are more mountainous and steep than normal. This is different from driving on flat, wide roads that stay straight and level for the most part. You have to alter your driving style a bit for higher altitudes. A gas engine will lose about 4% of its power for every 1000 feet in elevation you scale, and if you have a diesel truck, this won’t be the case. For gas trucks, it’s important to try to make your fifth wheel as light as possible by doing away with supplies that you can pick up at your destination. You should also lower your truck’s gears when you climb steep inclines and go slowly.
Avoid Using Overdrive
Sometimes when you’re hauling a fifth wheel behind you, you might be tempted to use the overdrive feature in your truck to limit the amount of wear and tear that occurs. This can help you reduce noise and get more fuel efficiency, but many fifth wheel manufacturers recommend that you don’t rely on this function, as the added weight of the trailer will strain your transmission, which can lead to overheating over time.
Check Your Tires
As with any other vehicle, the tires on your fifth wheel need to be in good condition before you hit the road. Use a tire-pressure gauge to check all your tires before departure, ensuring that they are aired up to the recommended psi levels in your owner’s manuals. Examine each tire to make sure it has sufficient tread depth and that there are no cracks in the sidewall or embedded objects in the tread. One way you can simplify tire maintenance is to install a tire-pressure measuring device that can keep tabs on your tires for you.
Get In Some Practice
If you’re new to towing fifth wheels, you should ideally put in some practice with your entire rig hitched together. You can practice in an empty parking lot how to turn, reverse, brake and even park the camper. You want to get comfortable with the extra weight and your ability to handle it in a number of different situations before you actually start your camping trip.
Hopefully, these tips will help you have many fun adventures in your RV! For further assistance or to check out fifth wheels for sale in Chesapeake, VA, contact us and one of our friendly staff will gladly help you! We’re proud to be the preferred fifth wheel dealer for Virginia Beach and Suffolk.