5th Wheel Towing Tips for Beginners

By Terri Morgan of Where In The World Are The Morgans 

Lippert Scouts Terri and Rick Morgan of Where In The World Are The Morgans are avid travelers and experienced commercial property surveyors. Together, they journey across the country, exploring new destinations and sharing their adventures with a growing community of fellow travelers.  
   
In this guest post, Terri shares her expertise and passion for travel, offering invaluable tips on 5th wheel towing for beginners. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting your journey, Terri's insights are sure to help you hit the road with confidence. 

Plus, don't forget to download our handy 5th wheel towing tips PDF for free!

I have heard it said many times that your first RV will not be your last. In the case of my husband, Rick, and I, that is certainly true. We started several decades ago with a run-down pop-up camper. It was far from perfect, but at least it was more comfortable than the tent we had been using. If you have a pop-up, know the underbed jacks are very important. Ask me how I know. 
  
A few years in, we acquired a travel trailer through my in-laws. With it came its own set of challenges. Forget the electrical components ever working properly, and we won't even mention the awning that blew away in a surprise Arkansas storm. The RV was good for a few memorable adventures, to say the least. 

Work was unfortunately a priority for the next several years, and camping was a forgotten memory. One day, we spotted an older Winnebago Class C and jumped on it. The motorhome took us on several trips, but perhaps the craziest was a trip to Colorado. We took my husband's father, Wayne, with us, and every time we stopped, we would lose him. It wasn't intentional, as he would just wander away. We also broke down in New Mexico on Father's Day. We unhitched the Jeep we were towing, and I drove 45 minutes to Auto Zone to get the needed parts. Some people would quit after this adventure, but we wanted more. 

Since we weren't deterred by that adventure, we decided to make every day an adventure. We started our full-time journey in that old Winnebago but soon updated the RV to a newer Class A. It had its positives and negatives, to say the least. While I could drive the Class C, the Class A was outside of my comfort zone. That meant Rick did the driving, and it was tiring. While we had more room in the Class A, and it was more modern than our previous RV, we wanted something to better suit our needs. 

After a few years, we acquired our current rig — a new 44' 5th wheel. For us, this change truly came down to comfort. Our 5th wheel is new, with all the modern conveniences. I chose a front living room model, which means that at the front of the RV, the area that, when towing, is over the truck bed is our living room. In the middle is a kitchen and dining area, and in the rear, a bedroom and master bath. We actually have a bath and a half, which can be so helpful. I'm sure it is more rig than some people would want, but for us, it is our primary living space, so it's close to perfect.  

We had some adjustments that had to be made transitioning to a 5th wheel trailer from a Class A. For one thing, the Jeep Wrangler that was our "toad," tow vehicle behind the Class A, wasn't going to pull a 44' 5th wheel! We traded the Jeep for a 3500 HD dually. The big hips on a dually can be a challenge to drive daily, but we manage...mostly!  
 
Another challenge was that the time it took to tear down and pack up significantly increased, at least in the beginning. Previously, we could go from set up to road-ready in 30 minutes, which changed to about an hour. Now, we can typically get packed up for a moving day and hitched to the truck in that same 30-minute timeframe. Admittedly, it does feel as if it takes longer, as there are more steps to take to set up and tear down. 

One of the difficulties my husband and I face when dealing with the 5th wheel is that we are both very short. It's not unusual to see one of us hanging off the truck bed to get latched. We have tried different steps and ladders, and none are perfect. We just keep hanging from the truck because that’s what works! 

Before purchasing our 5th wheel RV, neither of us had any experience with a 5th wheel hitch. In the beginning, we REALLY didn't know what we were doing. We had the instructions from the dealership on hooking and unhooking and thought we knew exactly what to do. It turns out that by the time we got to the campground, we didn't have a clue! Luckily, we had friends with 5th wheels who did! They talked us through it, and I wrote down the instructions for future use.  
 
The same happened when it was hook-up time! My husband and I fought the first few times we moved the 5th wheel. I didn't use the proper signals, and he couldn't see my signals, etc. We tried having me back up the pickup truck to the camper, but that wasn't much better. I tried watching from behind the truck, but he didn't want me to ever be between the truck and the camper. Now, Rick backs up as far as he can with the tailgate up so he can use the backup camera, lowers the tailgate, and gets out a few times to see if he needs to make any adjustments. I just stand out of the way, looking pretty. HA! 

I recommend a good friend with experience. They can be invaluable. I would love to give step-by-step instructions here, but I am not an expert and would likely leave something out. Rick and I each have our own "duties" when hooking and unhooking. We know the order of operations well enough now that it's second nature. Even so, we always check, recheck, and check again.  
 
On the road, I typically am the navigator, ensuring that we don't miss any exits and keeping my eyes out for situations that can be tricky for a rig our size — even stopping for lunch while en route can be a challenge, not only for parking but navigation in the parking lot itself.  
 
Knowing your height is also important with any RV, so I keep an eye on any routes with bridges that may not have been properly marked. We have a saying, "It is always an adventure." Preparation is extremely important, as is being able to monitor and adjust your journey. 

Are we happy with our switch from a Class A to a 5th wheel? 100%! Even with the unique challenges of 5th-wheel driving, navigating, and set-up, we enjoy the comfort and, yes, the privacy of our RV. Just remember:

• Everyone is new at something at least once, and RVing is no different. 
• I suggest finding a floor plan you love within your budget and just go with it. 
• If the first RV you pick isn't your dream RV, don't worry; the odds are that it will not be your last RV. We have found an RV we love and can be heard saying this is our last one, but the saying goes, "Never say never."

As a full-time RV couple, we would love for you to follow our journey at www.whereintheworldarethemorgans.com or on Facebook. 
  
We hope to see you on the road!