A fifth wheel RV is a major investment. As with any other investment, it's not one you want to make blindly. Careful thought and consideration should go into this purchase if you want to get the most use out of it. Before making your fifth wheel purchase, here are just two of the factors you want to consider.
Size
The size of the fifth wheel is a very important consideration. Some people make the mistake of simply choosing the biggest option equipped with all the space and features they could ever dream of. Sounds great on the surface, but can you safely maneuver the fifth wheel? Keep in mind, the longer the fifth wheel, the harder it will be to operate. If this is your first fifth wheel and you don't have experience with hauling loads, you might be setting yourself up for trouble by purchasing a very large unit.
For example, for someone just starting out, it might not be a safe idea to purchase a large 40-feet model, something smaller might be better. Navigating from lane to lane, backing up and making turns could be problematic in this instance. To stay on the safe side, always test drive a fifth wheel to see if you're comfortable with hauling it before making your decision. If necessary, it's better to start off smaller and work your way up.
Water Tanks
Find out how many water tanks the fifth wheel has. All fifth wheels come equipped with a tank for black water, toilet water waste, and one for grey water, all other water waste. Some models only have one of each tank and others are equipped with more than one of each tank type. As a general rule of thumb, the more people that plan to travel in the RV, the more tanks you need. For example, a couple might be able to get by with a single black water tank and grey water tank, but a family of four might need at least two of each.
Where you plan to travel with the fifth wheel is also an important factor. Regardless of the number of people traveling in the RV, if you frequently plan to travel to rural sites that don't have a sewer hookup, you will also likely need more than one tank to adequately store your waste water.
The more effort you put into choosing the fifth wheel wisely, the more use you will get from it. Make sure you are taking your time to choose wisely. Contact a business, such as Brad's Trailer Supply, for more information.
Share