trying to get a Fifth-Wheeler made.
12-19-2017, 10:16 AM
#1
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trying to get a Fifth-Wheeler made.
Hardly a week goes by on this forum where someone makes a remark about caravan stability, balance or hitch weight problems. Probably 12 months ago when we sold the camper van, I (we) decided to go straight for the 5 wheeler. One of the problems with 5 wheelers apart from lack of storage, is the height of the bedroom over the goose neck and accessibility especially for the older set.
By going for a ball & socket type hitch on a tray top ute this problem can be over come. But the number of manufacturers using this type came down to two. Now I have been all this time working with them on layouts and inclusions, length etc. The effort one company has put into this is near nil, and the other has been slow.
I can remember many years ago I wanted to buy a car, and a salesman drove a car I was interested in 300km for me to look at. At my work I do many purchases and get responses pretty well straight away or at least with in a week or else they get ditched.
Now we are talking about a $100,000 deal here, what am I doing wrong?
By going for a ball & socket type hitch on a tray top ute this problem can be over come. But the number of manufacturers using this type came down to two. Now I have been all this time working with them on layouts and inclusions, length etc. The effort one company has put into this is near nil, and the other has been slow.
I can remember many years ago I wanted to buy a car, and a salesman drove a car I was interested in 300km for me to look at. At my work I do many purchases and get responses pretty well straight away or at least with in a week or else they get ditched.
Now we are talking about a $100,000 deal here, what am I doing wrong?
Last edited by alexramsey; 12-20-2017 at 12:12 PM.
12-19-2017, 01:15 PM
#2
I have had a fifth-wheel travel trailer (Caravan to you, probable Brit) that I towed with a pickup (Dodge Ram). In terms of towing dynamics I think they are excellent. Little to no effect from crosswinds and they tow like part of the truck. The major difference I found was in backing. Since the tow axis is in front of the rear axle as opposed to a tow-behind where it is behind the axle, the backing law is a little different and took me a short time to get used to. The hitch arrangement you describe is in this country called a "gooseneck" hitch and is used mainly for horse trailers. The advantage of the common fifth wheel is that you can back into it and hitch without leaving the driver seat.
Bed storage was not much of a problem. You can place many low footlockers in the bed around the hitch. Access to the main bunk was only two low steps, probably less height than entering the doorway of the trailer. It should be easy for elderly users unless one is fully disabled.
One lookout; The first time I backed into a tight spot, the corner of the trailer hit my rear window and shattered it. Scared Hell out of me, sounded like a gunshot. The Dodge had a short bed which allowed the corner to contact the window in a sharp backing turn. Once I became aware of it, never happened again. Would never have happened if I was towing with a long-bed pickup.
Bed storage was not much of a problem. You can place many low footlockers in the bed around the hitch. Access to the main bunk was only two low steps, probably less height than entering the doorway of the trailer. It should be easy for elderly users unless one is fully disabled.
One lookout; The first time I backed into a tight spot, the corner of the trailer hit my rear window and shattered it. Scared Hell out of me, sounded like a gunshot. The Dodge had a short bed which allowed the corner to contact the window in a sharp backing turn. Once I became aware of it, never happened again. Would never have happened if I was towing with a long-bed pickup.