Fifth Wheel Towing Guide

Fifth wheels are luxurious and spacious recreational vehicles, and they are often the first choice of families with kids or those with bigger traveling parties on vacation. These well-appointed rigs come with a unique hitching style that offers them more stability and comfort. However, you’ll need to apply caution and some specialized techniques when hauling your model from one location to another. Don’t worry if you are unsure where to begin—our guide has you covered.

Clear Creek RVs is your local RV dealership, and our experts have created this guide to highlight a few tips to haul your fifth-wheel camper safely and efficiently. If you have more questions, visit our dealership in Abilene, TX, for a friendly chat with our team. We are happy to welcome our patrons from Lubbock and Midland, so reach out today.

Be Mindful of Your Weight Limit

The gooseneck-style hitch of fifth-wheel campers can handle thousands of pounds. However, you must be aware of your hitch’s specific weight limit and avoid exceeding it. Refer to your owner’s manual to determine the weight of your empty rig and visit a weigh station to find out the weight of your model when loaded with cargo.

Don’t Use Overdrive

The overdrive feature on your pickup truck helps achieve better fuel economy and a quieter operation on the road. However, fifth-wheel manufacturers don’t recommend this practice, as it can lead to your vehicle overheating and breaking down.

Inspect Your Tires

The overall condition of your tires goes a long way in keeping you safe during transit. Ensure that you carefully inspect your tires before each trip and adjust the air pressure to your manufacturer-recommended levels. You’ll also want to examine the tread pattern to see that it has the perfect depth to maintain traction on the road. If you find that the tires won’t bear the weight of your towing setup, passengers, and equipment, replace them before leaving home.

Beware of Mountains

Another safe hauling tip that we often recommend to our customers is traveling light, especially when traversing through a hilly region. As you may know, your pickup truck’s gas engine can lose about 4% of its power every 1000 feet of elevation it climbs. However, if your vehicle runs on diesel, you won’t have to worry that much.

Shift your gas-powered truck into a lower gear when ascending a steep hill and take things slowly. Be ready to brake when descending, and keep an eye out for any runaway truck lanes that you might need to use.

We hope this guide helps you haul your fifth-wheel RV safely and efficiently. If you need more ideas or are still in the market for a camper, visit Clear Creek RVs. We have an impressive collection of fifth wheels for sale, and our friendly staff can suggest models that suit your budget and lifestyle. To peruse our inventory, swing by our dealership in Abilene, TX. We proudly serve Lubbock and Midland, so reach out today.