5th Wheel Trailer / Caravan - Pros and Cons ?

5th Wheel Trailer / Caravan - Pros and Cons ?

Author
Discussion

redgriff500

Original Poster:

26,766 posts

262 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
quotequote all
Hi guys,

4 kids and loving the countryside I've done camping and TBH with a 2 and 4 yr old its fair bit of hassle for a weekend away.

I'm not a caravan fan but have recently come across these 5th wheel versions which seem to mean you can get a 28ft caravan in the space of a 21ft caravan (no hitch and 4ft over the back of the pick up) plus I'm told they are a LOT more stable and easier to tow and manouvere and obviously less likely to get stolen as you need a 5th wheel equipped pick up.

So what are the pit falls ?

Some are 7ft which would be fine but I've seen some at 8'4" are these legal on UK roads as they seem a bit cheaper ?

I wouldn't consider spending £20k so I'd be looking at an older one but these still have AC and push out lounges / bedrooms so I really quite fancy one.

Cheers


Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

166 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
quotequote all
They pull miles better than a bumper drawbar.

The downsides being that you have no room in the bed for anything and you have to have a pickup.

You can have them on a fifth wheel or a normal ball hitch in the bed. You can get detachable fifth wheels and ball hitchs that unscrew, so when you arn't towing the bed is free of clutter.


redgriff500

Original Poster:

26,766 posts

262 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
quotequote all
Thanks - that's not an issue I have had a few Yank Crew Cabs and there is loads of room in the trailer.


spaximus

4,230 posts

252 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
quotequote all
Biggest downside is the cost of them and the truck to pull them. Another thing to watch for is on many sites they are too big to fit as they are geared towards normal sizes. They are well equipped and some now even come with slide outs, I believe there is acompany in Wales who builds them other wise import from the states

redgriff500

Original Poster:

26,766 posts

262 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
quotequote all
Too big.. I think (but feel free to correct me) that the length should be ok.

18+ft isn't unsual for a std caravan (which I presume excludes the hitch) and a Vovlo estate isn't much smaller than a crew cab really.

How wide is a std caravan 7' ?

Is an extra 16 inches in width a problem on caravan sites ?

Serious question as I've only ever camped.

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
quotequote all
Motorhome owner here:-

I can't see the point myself, the obvious disadvantage being you are always tied to having a large pick-up if ever you change your car, which does not apply with a "normal" caravan.

Plus, they are very expensive, and selling on might be a problem...

The way they extend outwards sideways is very useful though to give extra space inside...

Pros and cons......

icepop

1,177 posts

206 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
quotequote all
My neighbour is on his second 5th wheel, and I've been really impressed with the two he's had. He did the usual research, as originally he wanted a caravan, then tended towards a motorhome. Being an ex HGV driver, he always had an eye for a 5th wheeler, once he became aware of them, as he didn't want the total length of a big caravan/car combo, nor the inflexibility of the large motorhome, i.e. have to use it to get around once camped, or drag along another vehicle. The combination of large living space of the 5th wheel, kept compact, as the bed area is located above the overhang, and the rig uses electricaly operated push outs for extra living space, and the fact that the towing vehicle can then be used for driving around once on site, makes for a very logical choice.

The two models he's had were American, 23ft and 27ft, I think, with dining room, and sitting area push outs. Both had the advantage, being America models, of having full sized cookers/fridges/furniture/double bed......permanently made up, over the pick-up bed. Fitted with full central heating boiler unit, and seperate air conditioning. Far easier to reverse, being pivoted around the hitch on the pick-up bed, very tall, 10ft head room, same width as the Navara pick-up used for towing.

Main selling point, is that they cost about £18k, plus the towing vehicle, which if you can use as your daily vehicle, comes to a similar price to a caravan/car combo, and a hell of alot less than a similarly specced motorhome.

Have a good look at the 5th wheel option.

STash07

376 posts

152 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
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iguana

7,025 posts

259 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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7ft6 is uk legal width for smallers tow vehicles Cars 4x4 vans etc. Maybe some big yank Pick ups are over 3.5t gvw? Then its ok but. No euro\jap regular onés are that i know of.


Shaw Tarse

31,543 posts

202 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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STash07 said:
Beetle?

arfur daley

834 posts

165 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
if your vehicle has a fifth wheel fitted, I believe that becomes a problem at mot time if you take it to a class 4 test garage.

redgriff500

Original Poster:

26,766 posts

262 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
I wouldn't have a motorhome because with 4 kids I'd need a HUGE one which would mean I'd struggle to go out and park it once I got to the destination.


redgriff500

Original Poster:

26,766 posts

262 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
iguana said:
7ft6 is uk legal width for smallers tow vehicles Cars 4x4 vans etc. Maybe some big yank Pick ups are over 3.5t gvw? Then its ok but. No euro\jap regular onés are that i know of.
So its Gross Vehicle Weight that relates to width not Train Weight ?

I had an F150 Supercrew and IIRC that weighed 2 tons but legally could only carry 3/4 ton in the back BUT mine had been re - plated which was just a technical exercise as the previous owner towed boats. Looks like I should have kept it.

The one I've seen is 8'4" and seems surprisingly cheap so I'm wondering if the catch is that it isn't actually legal to tow over here - albeit it has been used over here for many years.

redgriff500

Original Poster:

26,766 posts

262 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
arfur daley said:
if your vehicle has a fifth wheel fitted, I believe that becomes a problem at mot time if you take it to a class 4 test garage.
Yes I'd seen that mentioned but I think there is either an exclusion due to weight or I'd just cover it in the back.

GAjon

3,721 posts

212 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
If you are looking at American imports make sure the electrics have been converted/ are compatible for UK use.

redgriff500

Original Poster:

26,766 posts

262 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
iguana said:
7ft6 is uk legal width for smallers tow vehicles Cars 4x4 vans etc.
After a bit of research I've found that in 2010 this changed it's now 2.55m same as lorries BUT a max length was introduced of 7m (23ft)

Greg_D

6,542 posts

245 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
As i understand it, a lot of camp sites have a blanket ban on commercial vehicles (to discourage the piepeople) wouldn't the pickup fall foul of this?

redgriff500

Original Poster:

26,766 posts

262 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
Greg_D said:
As i understand it, a lot of camp sites have a blanket ban on commercial vehicles (to discourage the piepeople) wouldn't the pickup fall foul of this?
I'm not expert but I looked into this when I went camping last year in my T4.

Only a few mention it and most describe it as a ban on VANS as many people use Navaras etc as cars these days - my Bank Manager drives one !

And they tend to describe vans as ones having no windows in the back so my pimped T4 wasn't an issue. I have heard this isn't the case on Caravan Club sites though.


Greg_D

6,542 posts

245 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
happy to be proven wrong, just chucking something into the pot.

you may very well be right though, the chap who told me had a signwritten astravan (welding, so not obviously pieperson) and simply COULD NOT get into ANY camp site

I don't suppose it is worth the risk to the site owner of having them descend en masse though.

can any caravanners confirm that pickups are welcome?

redgriff500

Original Poster:

26,766 posts

262 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
Greg_D said:
happy to be proven wrong, just chucking something into the pot.

you may very well be right though, the chap who told me had a signwritten astravan (welding, so not obviously pieperson) and simply COULD NOT get into ANY camp site

I don't suppose it is worth the risk to the site owner of having them descend en masse though.

can any caravanners confirm that pickups are welcome?
A signwritten work van is precisely what many won't accept.

BUT I went to a campsite with a lake near Twekesbury and they allowed vans on.

Have to say there were no problems.

Most van drivers are like most car drivers.