tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-245512062009-06-13T22:30:49.248-07:00Here's everything you need to know about fifth wheel RVs including how to use them, new models and accessories on the market and much more.RVerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17450023922393031993noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-72757077880975446592008-10-16T20:25:00.000-07:002008-10-16T20:30:55.027-07:00

In this two-minute episode from the RVtoday TV show, host Stew Oleson and Motorhome Magazine's Bob Livingston demonstrate a hitch from PullRite that enables fifth wheel trailer owners with short bed trucks to make sharp turns without damaging their truck or coach.

Chuck Woodburynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-26719669404610911302008-10-02T22:38:00.000-07:002008-11-09T11:40:55.977-08:00

Roger Conley from Reese, Michigan decided to invert his 5th wheel hitch in order to give him more room in the truck bed and make it easier to hook-up. He took the idea from the classic goose-neck hitch and improved on it. He took the king pin off the 5th wheel and bolted it into his truck bed. Next he took his 5th wheel hitch apart and welded up a goose neck type extension onto it. The base plate

Jim Twamleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04342410970007385658noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-63932648090896106752008-09-23T21:06:00.000-07:002008-09-23T22:04:05.961-07:00

I don’t know the RVers who own this rig, because they were never home when I went by to meet them, but this innovative flag pole holder clearly deserves a story. This project requires some welding, but the end result is worth it. The flag pole holder fits neatly under the king pin held in place with a tripod 5th wheel stabilizer. The holder allows the flagpole to extend well beyond the nose of

Jim Twamleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04342410970007385658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-83208072076427036732008-09-22T05:57:00.000-07:002008-09-22T06:05:03.099-07:00

Fleetwood Enterprises' RV Group has announced the launch of its brand-new 2009 Terry LX fifth wheel product line. "Even in this challenging market, the demand for a competitive fifth wheel product is still very prevalent," said Paul Eskritt, president of Fleetwood's RV Group.During its 2008 National Dealer Meeting, Fleetwood unveiled a new style of pin box design, which allows a short-bed vehicle

Chuck Woodburynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-54751314008746492662008-09-19T18:16:00.000-07:002008-09-19T18:21:39.238-07:00

Although no formal announcement has yet been made, as of today it appears that luxury trailer maker Teton Homes of Casper, Wyo., is about to shut its doors after 41 years in the RV business. A number of Teton Homes owners have reported that company officials told them the business is no longer operating.The customer comments are in line with a statement by a Teton Homes employee who answered the

Chuck Woodburynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-67978032259381900112008-08-21T17:09:00.000-07:002008-08-21T17:23:55.639-07:00

Full time RVers Murphy & Gail Horner are members of the Escapees RV Club and have lots of great RV ideas. Murphy modified his 5th wheel landing gear making it much easier to raise. He simply put a long bolt through one of the existing holes and secured it with a retaining nut and washer on one side and a lock-nut on the other. Now he doesn't have to try to get his fingers under the landing pad in

Jim Twamleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04342410970007385658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-35617648501453540442008-07-03T17:38:00.000-07:002008-07-03T17:49:36.256-07:00

Checking the lights on your 5th wheel is a hassle and takes two people to do the job. Now you can check your lights easily by plugging in “Lightcheck” by Coil n’ Wrap. It uses the standard 7 pin trailer plug. This tool is about the size of a tennis ball can and is packed with trouble shooting information should you have a short or some of your lights are burned out. Besides checking the lights

Jim Twamleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04342410970007385658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-29084265089969376712008-05-23T07:50:00.000-07:002008-05-23T19:11:57.079-07:00

I was in Little Rock, Arkansas this week enjoying some delicious weather. Arkansas is the only state I know with a city as a National Park. I'm not criticizing just pointing out they do things differently down here. As I was walking the dog through the "trailer park" the other day I came across this example of how things are done differently in Arkansas. I'm not sure how well this works at

Jim Twamleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04342410970007385658noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-55734975350754256522008-05-05T21:18:00.000-07:002008-05-05T21:31:53.049-07:00

A Minnesota State Trooper says that while he doesn't know of any law in his state that prohibits riders in fifth wheels, if he catches you, he'll push for a citation anyway. Trooper Andy Schmidt, writing in the electronic edition of the Detroit Lakes Tribune, says, "In the event of a crash, camper trailers usually do not do very well. They have a tendency to come apart as if a bomb exploded and

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-35790718309121859662008-04-04T16:22:00.000-07:002008-04-04T17:05:25.197-07:00

Here's another one of those "campfire topics" that come up among RVers. How much does your rig weigh? For those of us with fifth wheels, it seems like we can find plenty of places to put "stuff," and if you're a fulltimer, it doesn't take long to stuff, and stuff, and stuff--to the point our rigs look like overloaded thanksgiving turkeys.Is your rig weight safe for your tow rig? Imagine the

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-25080481767911969322008-03-07T12:43:00.000-08:002008-03-07T19:43:54.336-08:00

Thinking about a new pickup for your lightweight fifth wheel? If you're thinking a Ford F-150, here's a potential solution to what to do when you lose storage space to your fifth-wheel hitch. Think MidBox.MidBox is an optional storage compartment in the side of the truck, immediately behind the cab. Open the door, and slideout drawers provide safe, lockable storage for tools or whatnot

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-9528819213312920372008-02-27T09:00:00.000-08:002008-02-27T10:28:51.243-08:00

For fifth-wheeling RVers, a pickup truck is the essential vehicle for RV travel. Most of us fiver-owners pride ourselves on driving safety--but how about personal safety in the truck? Most folks agree that wearing seat belts can reduce injury and death in vehicle crashes, but what do their actions say?It seems like pickup drivers and riders have a little bit looser attitude about belting up--at

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-5001948527394644042008-02-01T20:40:00.000-08:002008-01-31T20:51:29.667-08:00

If you haven’t crawled under your 5th wheel to examine your axles, leaf springs and leaf spring equalizers you should. As a safety precaution, be sure your RV is adequately supported with appropriately rated jacks before you crawl under it. Most axles will have a tag on them (usually centered in the middle of the axle) that will tell you the weight rating. Axles are made from steel and therefore

Jim Twamleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04342410970007385658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-55970464795810116362008-02-01T13:03:00.001-08:002008-02-01T13:26:33.052-08:00

With all the noise about declines in sales and layoffs in the RV manufacturing industry, one player says they're bucking the trend and increasing staff for the spring production of its high-roller fifth wheel.Carriage Inc., says they'll be putting more folks to work as they bring their high-end "Domani" line into higher production. With prices starting in the 70,000s, and factoring in the

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-77695749906303484272008-01-21T08:41:00.000-08:002008-01-21T08:52:51.819-08:00

So what do you do when you extend your fifth wheel's awning and discover it's full of folds and wrinkles? Bring out your tools, that's what! A camp host at Newport, Oregon's South Beach State Park pulled out his Crescent wrenches, pliers and other heavy metal tool box objects, and hung them from his awning to provide a little tugging power. The awning looked pretty darn good when we passed by, so

Chuck Woodburynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-24177881194768629802008-01-16T13:00:00.000-08:002008-01-16T13:12:11.173-08:00

With fuel prices becoming more than a major headache, when a fifth-wheeler can find lesser cost diesel, it's a great time to "stock up." But where to put it? A new 40-gallon 'fuel n tool box' might be the answer. Designed to sit in your pickup bed just aft the cab, Transfer Flow's "40 Gallon Toolbox" combines an auxilary diesel fuel tank and 5 1/2 cubic foot tool box.The toolbox sits atop the

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-56417539172584751812008-01-03T12:24:00.000-08:002008-01-03T12:38:00.336-08:00

Our elderly fifth wheel has a model number: 28.5 You all know what that means--it's 28 and a half feet long. As long as we've wandered around looking at fifth wheels, you could generally tell just how long the rig was by the number plastered on the wall next to the entry door.Now here's a new wrinkle: How long is a 337RLS? Close to 38 feet you say? No, it's 33' 6. And it's "sibling," the

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-54227111959883960682007-12-26T09:44:00.000-08:002007-12-26T09:56:16.837-08:00

The demise of Fleetwood Manufacturing's Canadian production facility in Lindsay, Ontario spelled bad news for hundreds of line workers. But the breach has been filled, a new upstart RV builder called Great Lakes Recreational Products says they'll reopen the former Fleetwood plant, hire back 300 of the former employees, and start churning out a new line of fifth wheels and travel trailers as

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-62537804395157175872007-12-19T12:54:00.000-08:002007-12-19T13:07:07.726-08:00

OK, so we're still back in the stone-age. Our fulltime fifth wheel has NO slide outs. Not that we don't want slide outs--we're starting to get the cabin fever syndrome, and the distaff side REALLY wants to have room for company to come over. And when our 20 pound cat stretches out on the living room floor, well, there's just no room for the rest of us to put our feet.So a question that puzzles

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-70124494409930326732007-12-14T10:16:00.001-08:002007-12-14T10:45:08.338-08:00

Are they hippie throwbacks? Visionaries? Just plain crazy? You'll have to make the call for yourself. Vance and Kathleen Hamiliton decided to throw away the stix-n- brix lifestyle for a new fifth wheel. Not contented with the factory livery, they hired an artist who--not with an airbrush mind you, but with a plain old paintbrush--turned their new fifth wheel into a traffic stopping,

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-74917414620874352812007-12-05T12:29:00.000-08:002007-12-05T12:37:55.482-08:00

Slideouts in RVs are better than sliced bread, or so we've heard. We're still limping along with a no-slidem and wish we had the extra space. Our pocketbook probably won't allow it, but here's a new wrinkle: A fifth-wheel with a slideout the runs from the living room up and into the bedroom. Read that a 37' fifth wheel with a 30' slideout.Sound crazy? These are hard times for RV builders,

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-12496841208182826132007-11-23T12:13:00.000-08:002007-11-23T12:24:10.383-08:00

Indiana RV manufacturer, Pilgrim, says they're rolling out a new line of RVs that will be completely formaldehyde free. In addition, the new technology will completely eliminate plywood from their rigs, and make the a whole lot lighter.A company press release touts: "'Every week, the recreational vehicle industry across North America runs through hundreds of thousands of square feet of Luan

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-13304922501469575232007-11-14T11:26:00.000-08:002007-11-14T11:49:41.865-08:00

Pssst! Wanta stir up a controversy at your next fireside gathering? Ask your fellow fifth-wheeler if he's balanced his trailer tires. It's almost like asking what your favorite holding tank chemical is.If informal polling holds true, the majority of fifth-wheel folks probably don't balance their tires. Their arguments against it? Many have never thought about doing it. Others say their

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-9455061244775231932007-11-07T14:09:00.000-08:002007-11-07T15:07:51.090-08:00

One RVer described the problem as, 'Like flipping pancakes with your dishes.' Others have had similar complaints. What is it? It's a reported problem where the kitchen (galley) is located in the rear of a fifth wheel trailer.The theory is with the kitchen cabinets located aft of the trailer axles, a 'whol lot of shakin' goin' on' for anything not "nailed down" in the rear of the rig. Hence,

Russ and Tiña De Marishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858684951887200481noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24551206.post-29667901045293819502007-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:002007-10-27T11:46:56.674-07:00

5th Wheel RVs have a basement. This is the area behind and below the king-pin where you'll find a massive storage compartment. This area is so large on many new 5ers that you could use it for separate living quarters for your mother-in-law. One of the problems I experienced with my 5ers was access to the stuff in the center of the basement. One of the ways you can solve this problem is to install

Jim Twamleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04342410970007385658noreply@blogger.com2