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Old 01-17-2025, 11:45 AM   #1
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Join Date: Jul 2015
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Question Buying my first fifth wheel

Hi all,
My wife and I have decided to take the plunge. We are going to buy a fifth wheel. I've already bought the truck, RAM 3500 HO with 3.74 gears with tow package and tow technology, and the big 12" screen for a 360-degree camera view of the tow vehicle and trailer and the trailer tire monitor and airbags.
The reason why I got such a heavy-duty rig? Because of our must-haves on a fifth wheel, MH #1 is a front-living room because it puts the bedroom/bathroom in the back and gives me enough room to shower at 6' 5". We are currently looking at a used '21 Jaco Pinnacle 38FLWS and a '21 Forest River Saber 37FLH.
Both of these rigs are over 40' long. That intimidates me a little bit. I've pulled excavators, Bobcats, building materials, trusses, etc on my 24' Gooseneck and an older Ram 3500, but 24' ain't no 40+'. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew but those are the size rigs with a FL arrangement.
So my question is, how many folks jumped right into the deep end with 40'+ of fifth-wheel? I have towing experience and know how to back a rig, but dang, that is a long trailer. Am I just overthinking this? My wife will act as a spotter, and I'll have camera views, and I'll be patient and go slow, but I'm a little intimidated. I know it will become less intimidating once I do it a few times. Any suggestions to make the first couple of trips a little less white knuckle?

John
Olympic Peninsula, WA
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Old 01-17-2025, 01:16 PM   #2
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Hi! Welcome to the forum! So, I too have 5th wheel of that length and went from a 30' travel trailer to the 5th wheel. Its a little different for me because I used to have a commercial class A license for my job but downgraded it to a non-commercial class A for towing the weight and length of that 5th wheel. I tow with a Ford with a 6.5' bed.

The only thing I can tell you is that if you know how to pull a trailer with a gooseneck then this will not be much different with one exception, you need to be aware of the length behind the last axle as it will swing wider than the shorter trailers do.

When you get up into the larger RV's and trailers, I always add a few feet to my reservation information, otherwise they will try to squeeze you into a site that barely works. From the models you have picked, they both have slides on both sides so another consideration is the site width for putting the slides out.

I tend to only camp at RV resorts due to the better accommodations for larger RV's but that is just a personal preference. I do miss out on some beautiful state campgrounds but most of those don't accommodate RV lengths over 30 to 35' anyways.

As far as pulling goes, I don't really feel any difference. Your truck seems well equipped for what you want to do and should be a great combination.

Again, just my personal opinion from experience but my last trailer was a Jayco and if I had to pick between the two, I would go Jayco. I think they have a better build quality and factory service but in all honesty, I haven't seen what Forest River has to offer these days as I have owned my 5th wheel for 9 years now.

Anyways, enjoy your first adventure and as always,

Good Luck and Safe Travels!
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Old 01-17-2025, 01:59 PM   #3
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If you have pulled bobcats and excavators on a gooseneck then you will not have a problem with a 40 ft 5th wheel. Remember that 6 or 7 feet of the trailer is over your truck bed, so your actual footprint wont be much bigger the the gooseneck trailers you are used to pulling.


It is just a lot higher.


Good luck, enjoy the ride.
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Old 01-17-2025, 02:17 PM   #4
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You'll be fine. Yes you are overthinking it.
You have towing experience it won't be that different.
If in doubt get out and look. It will get easier in time.
Yes it is intimidating at first. But that just requires you to be more cautious at first. In time towing that longer rig will be second nature.
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Old 01-18-2025, 07:54 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JSheppard View Post
Hi all,
My wife and I have decided to take the plunge. We are going to buy a fifth wheel. I've already bought the truck, RAM 3500 HO with 3.74 gears with tow package and tow technology, and the big 12" screen for a 360-degree camera view of the tow vehicle and trailer and the trailer tire monitor and airbags.
The reason why I got such a heavy-duty rig? Because of our must-haves on a fifth wheel, MH #1 is a front-living room because it puts the bedroom/bathroom in the back and gives me enough room to shower at 6' 5". We are currently looking at a used '21 Jaco Pinnacle 38FLWS and a '21 Forest River Saber 37FLH.
Both of these rigs are over 40' long. That intimidates me a little bit. I've pulled excavators, Bobcats, building materials, trusses, etc on my 24' Gooseneck and an older Ram 3500, but 24' ain't no 40+'. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew but those are the size rigs with a FL arrangement.
So my question is, how many folks jumped right into the deep end with 40'+ of fifth-wheel? I have towing experience and know how to back a rig, but dang, that is a long trailer. Am I just overthinking this? My wife will act as a spotter, and I'll have camera views, and I'll be patient and go slow, but I'm a little intimidated. I know it will become less intimidating once I do it a few times. Any suggestions to make the first couple of trips a little less white knuckle?

John
Olympic Peninsula, WA
We had a 30-foot 5th wheel that we only towed on vacation trips. When we retired, we purchased a 45-foot triaxle toy hauler. Experience driving a 40+ foot prison bus, large farm trailers for the prison. The 45-foot toy hauler wasn't an issue.
Wife is my guide when I am backing, or when she backs it in, I do the guide job. We use hand signals, and very rarely the phones. I have a rear camera but seldom use it. I thought it would be helpful, but it is more of a pain than help. Never had a rear camera on the bus.
Any suggestions, since you are familiar with backing trailers, go to a large open area and practice. Have the wife practice guiding you and then have her back the rig in.

Wal-Mart has the small soccer cones in the sports department, I have 20 of these as I am an instructor for RV Driving School.
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