Community Forums

LeeB · 01-06-2008, 05:46 AM

I currently have a 34ft MH which we love. But I am in the need for a New (newer truck) we will be moving to Tennessee from California soon. So I am thinking about selling the MH and buying a Truck and 5th wheel. That way I will have the best of 2 worlds. A truck and a RV. I hope to get 60K for my MH and would like to take that money and use it to buy (slightly used is OK) a truck and 5th wheel but I don't have any idea on what to get. It will be myself and my wife along with our daughter (22) who is slightly handicapped.

I am thinking I should stay under 30ft for the 5th wheel. By the way how are 5th wheels measured?

Thanks for your time...

LeeB · 01-06-2008, 05:46 AM

I currently have a 34ft MH which we love. But I am in the need for a New (newer truck) we will be moving to Tennessee from California soon. So I am thinking about selling the MH and buying a Truck and 5th wheel. That way I will have the best of 2 worlds. A truck and a RV. I hope to get 60K for my MH and would like to take that money and use it to buy (slightly used is OK) a truck and 5th wheel but I don't have any idea on what to get. It will be myself and my wife along with our daughter (22) who is slightly handicapped.

I am thinking I should stay under 30ft for the 5th wheel. By the way how are 5th wheels measured?

Thanks for your time...

450Donn · 01-06-2008, 06:09 AM

As far as a truck is concerned, you probably will want a crew cab/Mega cab type truck to handle the three of you all the time. IF and that is a big IF you stick to under a 30 foot fifth wheel any of the current crop of 3/4 tons will work. Problem is that most under 30 foot fivers do not have ready made beds for more than two. Unless you are lucky to find a small bunk house model. But most of those are in the range of 38 feet or more. Performance wise, a diesel will get you more power to pull the load better. I would suggest that you find the trailer first, and then decide on how much truck you need to safely pull it. Just remember to use the trailers GVWR and 20% of that number for your calculations. 20% being the real world pin weight. No matter what you are told by the sales people you will come across, you really want to have a truck sized so that you are under the trucks GVWR when hooked up.

Roam America · 01-06-2008, 06:14 AM

I won't say this is true in all cases, but more and more often the model number indicates the length of the INTERIOR. In my case my 35LKSA is 35' interior length.

The weight has more to do with the truck you get than the length does. Find brands and floor plans you like then refine your search by comparison of the floorplans. The weight of the trailer (GVWR and Pin Weight) are the most common to be used in determining what truck you will need. In short Pin Weight + actual truck weight is to be less than the GVWR of the truck. Then the trailer GVWR plus actual truck weight is to be less than the GCWR of the truck.

LeeB · 01-06-2008, 06:38 AM

I see you are talking allot about pin weight.Can you tell me will the pin weight be listed somewhere in the trailer?

When you say INTERIOR length is that from the very front (the part in the truck bed) to the rear?

Thanks this is most helpful...

450Donn · 01-06-2008, 07:43 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by LeeB:
I see you are talking allot about pin weight.Can you tell me will the pin weight be listed somewhere in the trailer?

When you say INTERIOR length is that from the very front (the part in the truck bed) to the rear?

Thanks this is most helpful... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, pin weights will generally be in the brochure. However from personal experience I would not trust them any more that a salesman. To determine with fair certainty the pin weight of a fifth wheel, look at the trailers GVWR and use the 20% number.

As far as length is concerned, it is always measured from the front of the pin to the back of the rear end. And it generally has little to do with model numbers. Whereas my 34CKTS is actually 35-1/2 feet long. So take models numbers with a grain of salt.

TXiceman · 01-06-2008, 02:07 PM

The pin weight in the brochure is based on a dry trailer. So once you load the 5er, the pin weight will go up and it will generally be close to 20% of the trailers GVWR. So a 15,000# GVWR trailer wil have a pin weight close to 3000# which is well in to dually territory.

You will see lots of folks pulling big 5ers with 3/4 ton trucks, but they are over loaded on the trucks GVWR. Adding air springs and helper springs will just prop up the back of the truck, but you are still over rating.

Find the trailer you want first, then look for a truck large enough to properly handle the trailer. You never hear of anyone complaining about having too much truck, but you hear enough of them complaining about not enough truck.

Ken

Rick A · 01-07-2008, 08:06 AM

I tow a Wildcat 31QBH with a Ford F-250 V-10. The trailer is 33' total length (hitch to bumper). Just about every manufacturer has a floorplan in the 30' range with a seperate bunk room in the rear in addition to the queen master bedroom in the front. The lighter 5th wheels in that range will fine with a 3/4 ton, but a lot of them will be heavier and require a 1 ton truck. It will all depend on the make and model of trailer you decide on. Your best bet is pick out a trailer first and then match the tow vehicle or just go with the 1 ton and then you should be fine in the size range you are looking at.

Ray,IN · 01-09-2008, 06:15 PM

Fifth wheel measurement___. Some manufacturers use tricks with numbers. Some measure total length, some measure from the drop-down behind the truck to rear, some seem to have no logic.
I have noticed now on most manufacturer's websites, if you look at the specifications they list actual overall length. Often this has no correlation to model number, occasionally it is the same. That manufactuerer's listing is also a great place to find a fifth wheel RV with two bedrooms in a length you desire.
If you use this towing calculator, it will help considerably to safely match a tow vehicle and trailer.