See towing tips full blog post - www.loveyourrv.com/fifth-wheel-travel-trailer-towing-tips/

I’ve been a class A tractor trailer driver in Boston for 30 years. Just bought my first 5th wheel and it’s 38 feet long. All your tips are spot on, great description on your tips. The only thing I could add is when hooking and dropping your 5th wheel do it the same exact way every time, so when you get interrupted you can get back on track. And always remember that everyone starts with no experience, so take your time, practice and don’t let anyone intimidate you. And most important when backing, when you can’t see your spotter stop backing until you see them.

@LoveYourRV

3 жыл бұрын

Great advice, thanks! Ray

Yup agree with everything you said! I retired winter 19/20 and bought a used TT and headed out to AZ from manitoba canada! Partly due to your videos. If i may add, plan your gas stops with Google Maps sattalight view to find and mark ones that have room!!! Also carry a large road atlas, good for large perspective and never totaly trust on line maps. And give yourselves lots of time, never be rushed towing and hooking up. Good luck to all its a great adventure!!

I discovered that that bumper towing is nothing like 5th wheel towing. Considering myself a pro at the former, the first attempt at backing my new 5th wheel was a moment of reckoning. The trailer does have a delayed turning reaction due to the pivot point being over the center of the slower responding rear axle. It took me several attempts to back into my driveway correctly. Practice in an empty parking lot is a great idea. I started out with a one ton SRW truck, then went to a F450 dually diesel. The extra load capacity, braking, stability, as well as the tighter turn radius of the F450 will help me handle my 40 foot toy hauler. With practice and use my skills will grow. Excellent points on daily distance, wind, tires, trailer swing while turning, etc. Great post, thanks!

You covered everything and more than I could think of. I'll add my 2 cents worth on backing up in a straight line which a lot of people have trouble with. The key is to steer towards the error, so if you see the left side start to go too far left then steer about a quarter of a turn left, same thing for the right side. Once I learned this trick I can back up a mile if I need to.

Excellent! This vid covers it all! Some of the best campground entertainment can come from watching someone backing their rig into a site... but make sure you watch inconspicuously from a distance!

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

The best is when a big fight breaks out, some couples get really into it. When coming in all stressed from the road. :)

My grandfather was a truck driver and he loved his fifth wheel. He taught me all the trucker tricks to maneuver.

Here in Europe reversing a travel trailer (we call them "caravans" and we don't have fifth wheels) is the ultimate spectator sport. If you are having to reverse the trailer into a tight space or in any other difficult situation people just appear from nowhere to gawp.

@missouribob7850

4 жыл бұрын

... and six people start giving contradictory advice.

@EmilBurganov

4 жыл бұрын

@@missouribob7850 lol

@jdivence

Жыл бұрын

Happens in the US too

Ray, I really appreciated your advice and from year's of towing follow everything you mentioned. We also limit our hours of driving during the winter to only times of daylight to reduce driving stress and improve safety. Thank you so much!

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, good tip. :)

Great advice especially the practice.... One of my jobs I had during my truck driving career was loading Piggyback trailers for CP rail (45 ft trailers backed onto rail flat cars) the tractor I used had 4 gears in reverse. I would be shifting gears in reverse going up a ramp and still guide the trailer onto the railcars with less than 6 inches on each side and then back down a row of railcars up to ten deep that were all connected together without stopping. I had that job for about 10 years so trust me when I say practice works. FWIW Retired now with a Class A and a towcar

Hey Ray, i have watched this video several times, I always pickup another good nugget of information that I missed from the last viewing. A must watch for all new 5vers

Yes, I agree with your tips, the one about keeping the noise down so you can hear possible problems is new and will add this to keep us safe. Thank you

Thanks Ray for all the reminders on getting the fifth wheel, the truck and myself ready for hitting the road again this spring. Hope you and Anne have a great summer back home and we look forward to seeing more of your Island. Safe travels.

As always GREAT tips Ray. I do all our driving so I appreciate any help. Backing is hardest.

Good info.. Ive towed 15 years, or more. Im glad I watched this video, everythig is spot on! Thanks Ray..

As a newbie, all your suggestions about checking this or that on the hitch or tire( tork and such) is Greek to me…you covered a lot… thank you

Simply great advice, and something to always think about. Love your videos Ray. Thanks

Thanks Ray. Great info. The BEST tip you gave is about fuelling your truck. If you are LOW on fuel, and can't seem to find a large enough gas station, drop the trailer! Fill the truck up with fuel WITHOUT the trailer. I've done this a couple of times.

Love your common sense approach. Thanks for the advice Ray.

Excellent post, Ray, no matter if you’re towing a fifth wheel, or little tent trailer like us.

Thank you!! I’m looking to change from my Class C to a fifth wheel and I’ve never towed anything before so this was so helpful.

Our first rig was a '72 17.5' Prowler we towed with a '60 Chev Apache 1/2 ton pickup (6 cylinder engine, but great hauling drive train). Our first trip in 1977 was from the Pacific Northwest to Biloxi, MS. The return six months later was along I-10 with a stop to visit our snowbird grandparents in southern CA. We didn't go anywhere very fast anyway and made lots of stops due to the small fuel tank size of the pickup. One day going through TX, we ran into a strong headwind just after having filled up. We covered 100 miles before we needed to stop to refuel. It was a small town gas station and after fueling up, I asked the station folks if we could park around the side of the station for the night. They let us and it was a smart choice. No wind the next day and we did much better than 100 miles per tankful!

Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

Nice to hear confirmation that I’ve been doin right for 15+ years.

Great tips. I am under the gun a bit...my father in law is now in assisted living and my wife has sold the house. He has a 33ft Alpine Lite 5th wheel and F350 Super Duty diesel truck. We are in a pinch to tow it to a friends property, (thank you Laughlin's!!) My brother in law was going to drive it, as he has experience. they backed out and now I may be stuck doing it. Learning online as fast as I can, but I am not happy about doing it. I have towed small trailers with loads of wood, but not a 5th wheel. We got the truck all set up, but we will travel down to check out the trailer. Will have to move in the sliders and charge the batteries. With my father in law's memory issues, I can't ask him anything about it. He has a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 brake controller. I will have no time to "practice" before it needs to be moved. I think I am clear on how to dock it into the Curt E16 hitch. Any tips? This vid gave me a lot to consider. I feel like paying someone to do drive it as there are so many unknowns for me. Am I nuts for attempting this move?

Another fine video sir! Thanks for helping us all out.

Thanks Ray. Always interesting and good information

Ray we survived our winter campinig 3 weeks in November, thanks for your wiinter tips. These new tips are pecfect for our summer travels.

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Great to hear. :)

Thx Ray for another informative and interesting video FWIW I think you nailed it with 1 possible ommision in that pulling a trailer especially longer/heavier ones is a perishable skill that might need polishing up on if not performed regularly. I try to find low traffic residential routes near my home when heading out after being land locked to work up to getting out on open road especially when heading into high traffic areas. YMMV Happy Camping.

I'm not a ford fan, I can hardly stand them (other than bump and dentsides) but that truck is a time capsule. No matter how much I want to hate it, it's just too gorgeous.

Great tip video, there was something for everyone. 👍🏼

Very helpful tips, thank you. I have had my truck (almost identical to your new one) about 2 months and will be picking up my fifth wheel in a few days. Will keep your tips in mind as I go through the learning curve of towing it and especially backing up.

@LoveYourRV

4 жыл бұрын

Awesome. :) Happy travels!

Super helpful! Thank you so much! 💕❤️

Really, really good advice!

Worth the time, good advice.

all good tips ray !!

excellent video, thanks for sharing!!!

Well done Ray!! If I may, I'd like to suggest one more tip. This one would fall under your "respect your weight," or more specifically, "respect your center of gravity" category. I'm retired from 44 years in the heavy-duty trucking industry. One thing we always emphasized to our drivers is, watch out exiting highways and expressways on "cloverleafs," and even on straight off-ramps that lean. Reduce your speed to UNDER what the posted speed is for that exit. That posted speed is what the highway engineers use for a standard car or SUV. With a high center of gravity, you are many-times more apt to roll your rig over by going too fast through those (sometimes) sharp turns!!

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Great tip, thanks!

Many thanks for this!

Thanks Ray

Great tips. Thanks.

Excellent!

They're going to be SO sick of me and my rig in the Fairgrounds parking lot! Thanks for your advice, much appreciated. Unfortunately my partner is a white dog in a bandanna so I'll be getting in and out a lot. Decided just today on a 5th wheel instead of a trailer for the towing safety and hitching/unhitching factors but it doesn't make backing any easier.

Great tips!

Thanks for sharing

Great video ...again . If i may one more point; bearings; grease and replace regularly. I had a bad experience 40+ years ago and learned a lesson. nothing like burning them out on a holiday weekend on the side of a road, miles from nowhere. Every year they get checked or sooner if doing a lot of boon-docking on sandy or dirty roads. Heat is not your friend on tires & bearings.

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Good points, thanks. Last summer I decided to learn how to replace and repack my bearings myself also have a tire monitor system that reports back temperature, nice to be able to keep tabs on the heat while underway. Cheers! Ray

As always great informative content! Thanks for all you do making your videos!

Great info Ray!! Thanks.

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

You're welcome. :)

Nice information

I have pulled an 8 foot utility trailer for 30 years and it is very unforgiving when backing up. It will jackknife in an instant. Oddly enough this little trailer experience has served me well with our TT. I still have the height, width, etc to deal with though. Thanks, cheers.

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

My wife's boat trailer is a single axle, lots of fun backing the trailer empty down a steep boat ramp once it disappears out of sight. ;)

Good video!

Great advice Ray

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks. :)

Thanks!

@LoveYourRV

Жыл бұрын

You're most welcome. Cheers, Ray

i have a series of backup cameras the cover the rear and the hitch. I mean I tow more than just my RV with my vehicle. I have a couple utility trailers and a portable radio tower trailer. Which brings me to the spot of practicing. if you have a flatbed trailer or can barrow one about the length of your RV trailer then use that to practice backing up into spots so you dont damage yor actual RV

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Good tip! thanks. :)

I’m the same way about possible problems being identified by unusual sounds.

Not too bad of an idea for a video Ray. when my grandfather on my mothers side would tow the tow behind camper with his 1997 chevy silverado, it had regular mirrors to that of what most vehicles had, my grandfather had and used a type of add on tow mirror that slipped over top of the mirror, look up CIPA 10800 Chevrolet/GMC Custom Pair Towing Mirrors, I don't think that their the exact type of towing mirror that my grandfather had, but their a bit similar in design. I think the mirror on the tow mirror add on was a bit more square and a bit bigger then that one.

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

I like my new Ram 3500 truck mirrors they big and flip up for more coverage and have a built-in convex mirror. They also have power adjust which is handy.

Dude i'm thinking of doing this and i'm a serious student to the game. I am a clothing designer and will be operating online, i have Nelly (my cuz) & Snoop Dogg as models. So, i'll use a "Fifth Wheel" promote my clothing all over the states. I even have bullet proof curtains ready for the rig. lol I have things like a make shift hospital. lol I have a ham radio can talk over seas, where there is no signal. I have a repair center for the Fifth Wheel on board, even air tools and compressor. lol Night vision, heat sensors, top of the line spare tires, first aide kits, fire extinguishers, extreme weapons, welding eq & craftsman tools of all types. Thank you for the tips.

@Murphy326

3 жыл бұрын

Wtf 😂

@ILLGOOD

3 жыл бұрын

@@Murphy326 Wtf? yeah, and?

that great ol tail swing...took the front bumper off a bmw in a parking lot once...ouch :(

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Whoops!

Hey Ray, What do you use to monitor weather - specifically wind in areas you are heading? Do you have an app that you like or do you just use your weather radio? Great vid as always, Cheers.

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I find this website and app quite nice visually and feature-rich - www.windy.com Also, here is a blog post I published with tips for RVing in high winds - www.loveyourrv.com/10-tips-fifth-wheel-camping-extreme-winds/ The commenters on the video for it also shared some advice - kzread.info/dash/bejne/qYRkrNyyaJmuZ8o.html Cheers, Ray

Hi rRay love your videos have a question have you done any research in lifting the trailer up so it drives down the road more level

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

I've looked into and feel the best way is to have a subframe added to the trailer, looking at getting it done before next seasons boondocking this winter. I mentioned how the truck clearance made out this last trip on this update - www.loveyourrv.com/2018-ram-3500-truck-review-update-after-10000-miles/ Cheers, Ray

Hi Ray, I was wondering if you recommend having a safety chain for a fifth wheel with a gooseneck ball hitch?

@LoveYourRV

Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure about goosenecks having never towed with one but that was my impression that since they are a ball hitch they need a safety chain.

Best tip for smooth ride in truck? GMC 2500 get lots of chucking from Curt hitch. 5th wheel 9500 GVWR. Tks

@LoveYourRV

2 жыл бұрын

My 10,141 GVWR trailer has always towed very smooth with no chucking. I had a 1994 F350 dually 8 foot box with a DSP hitch previously and now a Ram 3500 single rear wheel with 8 foot box and Mopar factory hitch made by Curt and still very good. I would maybe look at weight distribution, maybe you have too much weight fore or aft in the RV, or maybe the fiver is riding too much nose high or nose low. Just some guesses. I also guess the truck springs could also play a role. Maybe adjustable air bags could help. Cheers, Ray

Good afternoon I just started watching please tell me if you made a video about your truck size, diesel, gas, 2500 or 3500 size of truck bed and your hitch looks to be a mopar product and the unloaded and loaded weight of your fifth wheel. Have you had any luck with a particular brand of tires thanks I am sorry forgot to ask if you have 4x4 ?

@LoveYourRV

4 жыл бұрын

Here are my truck videos - www.loveyourrv.com/category/new-ram-truck/ Will have a 20,000 mile update put soon. Cheers, Ray

Thanks for the info. I’m not new to towing a 5th wheel but I like to listen to others. That being said, I made a big booboo today. As I pulled out of a campground, a neighbor ran out yelling “stop!” I did and when I got out of the truck I saw my front jacks weren’t fully retracted! I could have done some serious damage and felt like an idiot. Thanks to the Man above the neighbor saw this. My problem is I don’t have a written checklist. I’ve done it mentally. Is a copy of yours available?

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

We have a checklist app that we can update as we add and subtract stuff Here is the blog post with a sample of our list - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-checklists/ Cheers, Ray

HI Ray Love your posts Is your trailer GVW over or under 10,000 lbs My trailer is just over and BC requires HEAVY TOW endorsement I watch your blog and others and never see any comments on licensing requirements.in bc

@LoveYourRV

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. :) Ours is 10,141 lbs. GVWR so under the need for an extra endorsement. I have lots of friends that have taken the test and passed easily.

Took me ten years to learn dhow to unhitch lol.

i was looking to get this almost exact cougar, but i have a half ton.... was it fairly light?

@LoveYourRV

3 жыл бұрын

Has a GVWR of 10,141 lbs so probably not a good idea to tow it with a 1/2 ton due to the payload capacity required. For example, the hitch pin weight on my Cougar fifth wheel when fully loaded up for travel is around 1700 lbs. Most half tons will have a hard time being safe with that much weight in the bed, especially when you add up all the other items being carried in the truck. Cheers, Ray

I hear a lot of people upgrading to a light truck tire with a really good brand, like the Michelin defenders.

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

My personal feeling is stick with STR Special Trailer Tire if you can as they are specifically designed to be used on trailers. LTs are designed for trucks tires. I've been using the Goodyear Endurance STR Made in the USA and speed rated for 87MPH. However, my trailer is fairly light. I know many heavy trailers don't have a good STR tire option to choose from, so swap them out for an LT tire. This is a pretty good article on the subject - rvingwithmarkpolk.com/2012/11/08/trailer-towing-st-tires-vs-lt-tires/

What highway towing speeds do you recommend?

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Depends on the highway, some are more open and smoother than others. I'd say I usually like the speed between 58-62 MPH, good fuel mileage there and we aren't usually in any rush but will raise it to 65 mph if on a busy interstate and having too many big trucks passing me all the time (sometimes I think it's better to go with the flow) or on a long open straight highway.

what size truck bed do you have? what is the length?

@LoveYourRV

2 жыл бұрын

2018 Ram 3500 8 foot bed 21 feet total length - www.loveyourrv.com/25000-mile-ram-truck-update-new-cooper-tires-def-question/

Ray, What is your take on dually vs SRW? I noticed you went from dually on the Ford to SRW, what was the criteria for your decision?

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

When I researched the new truck the SRW had a payload of 4300 lbs and tow capacity near 17,000. These were more than sufficient for our 30-foot fiver and anything we would be likely to buy in the future, we prefer the smaller sized fifth wheel. So, no need to go with a dually and its disadvantages. I haven't found the SWR to be any less stable than my old dually, in fact, it's been a little better having the more modern suspension, power and braking and its a 1000 lbs heavier. Check out my truck review posts for lots more info - www.loveyourrv.com/category/new-ram-truck/ Cheers, Ray

I am looking for a rough number for the width needed for driveway corners ???? It's a new to me 32 foot 🎉 😅 I seem to be finding everything else 😂😂😂😂

@LoveYourRV

10 ай бұрын

My sisters driveway is about 12 feet wide and I have no problem getting the rig into it.

@FeliciaBetts-tp8fn

10 ай бұрын

@@LoveYourRV Thank you ! I am out in the mountains and was trying to make a new pad for it. Unfortunately, my friends truck wouldn't fit it... it was too close to the sides of the bed, what a learning curve I am having !!! Hahaha 🤪 Thank you again!!

Where do you stay if you haven’t made it to your camp site? Hotel?

@LoveYourRV

2 жыл бұрын

Usually we can find overnight parking at a casino, truck stop, rest stop, store lot, etc.

When parking, always be mindful of your martian friends!

R

100 miles a day! That won't work in NM. 250 miles between major towns!

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Guess that's a problem if you need to be in major towns for some reason. I've been to NM a few times, its a gorgeous state with lots of camping, there are tons of beautiful state parks and many aren't that far apart, never found I had to drive that far to the next campsite.

@tumbleweedking5668

5 жыл бұрын

@@LoveYourRV Lived here since 63 know more about it than most Canadians. Depends what part of the state your in.

@LoveYourRV

5 жыл бұрын

Not saying your statement is wrong, just pointing out many RVers like myself aren't usually needing to travel between major towns but more so to the next camping location, which New Mexico is rich with at least from what I've experienced. I did give a driving figure of between 100-250 miles as a target I like to do in a day.

This video was not helpful .

Thanks Ray