Haw Creek
Recreational Vehicles,
Camping, Travel, and More...
 

Fifth Wheel Camping Trailers - Some History

A lumber wagon and a motorized tractor with a 5th wheel to connect them
An early motorized fifth wheel application


A comparison between a 5th wheel application where the axle turns and normal steering
Vehicle steering methods

A fifth wheel trailer is a camper that is designed to be towed using a special hitch mounted in the bed of a pickup truck.  In this arrangement, the trailer is attached over the truck's rear axle and wheels, which then supports a significant portion of the trailer's weight.

pickup truck with fifth wheel connected

The phrase fifth wheel refers to the connection of the trailer to the hitch in the bed of the truck. The phrase originally referred to a turntable device that allowed the front axle of horse-drawn wagons and carriages to pivot with the animals as a turn was made.  With the advent of steam, electric and gasoline engines, the fifth wheel was modified in some applications to allow connection of these wagons and carriages over the rear axle of a motorized tractor. This modified fifth wheel evolved into the hitch systems used today with fifth wheel RV campers and semi-tractor trailers.

fifth wheel hitch mounted in the bed of the pickup truckA 5th wheel is used to "join" the pick-up and the trailer into one unit, when connected.  It consists of two flat horizontal metal plates, one lower plate mounted in the bed of the truck and one on the camper.  The plate on the camper also has a large vertical pin called aking pin on fifth wheel trailer king pin, which slides into a slot on the lower plate, and is locked into place by the 5th wheel hitch jaws.  The hitch, when connected, forms a flexible coupling that permits both rotational and vertical movement between the pickup truck and camper.

Fifth wheel trailers are available from entry level campers for occasional camping though luxury recreational vehicles suited for long term or full time RVing.  Sizes range from the 19 foot Scamp 5th Wheel to over 40 feet.

While most fifth wheel campers require a heavy duty pickup, or larger, as a tow vehicle, there are a few light fifth wheels that can be towed by a light duty pickup truck.  It is very important that the tow ratings of the truck exceed the fully loaded weight of the camper.  Some recommend that the tow vehicle be rated for ten to twenty percent more that the camper's fully loaded weight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North American recreational vehicle manufacturers web sites are provided on Haw Creek in the RV categories of class A motorhomes and coaches, class B motorhomes and vans, class C motor homes, fifth wheel campers, travel trailer RVs, tear drop trailers, tent or folding trailers, and truck campers, including off road RVs. In most instances, along with the home page for the manufacturer, a list of available models is provided.