Before you tow a fifth wheel, it’s important to fully understand the process. Use the following tips to ensure a safer and less stressful towing experience.
Driving Practice
Driving a fifth wheel around is going to feel a little different from regular driving. You’ll have more weight and more length to deal with and that’s going to make basic driving practices a little more difficult. You’ll have to relearn basic driving practices like turning, reversing and braking. This can be accomplished by practicing in an empty parking lot where you’ll have plenty of space to mess up and start over again.
You’re also going to need to get comfortable with highway driving and the challenges that come with that. You’ll want to also practice merging and high-speed driving, and you’ll want to leave extra room between you and the car in front of you on the road. You won’t be able to stop as quickly and therefore you’re going to want to give yourself plenty of time to react to a dangerous situation. Try to find a time of day when traffic isn’t hectic so this learning process is less stressful.
Don’t Go Over the Weight Limit
Many fifth wheel hitches can handle weight up to about 24,000 pounds, but never assume your weight limit without checking. You need to know your RVs weight when it’s empty and when it’s full and hitched up to your truck. Your owner’s manual should provide the empty weight, but you’ll need to find a dump or quarry scale or rent a CAT scale to measure the full fifth wheel and truck setup.
For more information or to explore fifth wheels for sale, visit Northern Michigan RV. We are a dealership located in Gaylord, Michigan.
