What is a fifth wheeler and do you need one?


You would be forgiven if you’ve never heard of a fifth wheeler. They’re particularly popular in the United States and slowly but surely are becoming a common staple of caravaners everywhere in Australia. Well, at least for those who use a ute to tow. Let me explain.
Caravans are getting more and more luxurious, larger and heavier. As a result, the RV and caravan industry is constantly looking to make towing an easier task. That’s exactly what the fifth wheel is all about. Whilst it may not be a modern day invention, it’s certainly rearing its head as of late. Honestly, we’re excited to get as many people converted as possible!
Without getting too technical, a fifth wheel basically refers to the hitch design of a specific type of caravan. There would be 4 on the actual caravan you’re towing. The ‘fifth’ is the removable hitch where the caravan attaches to the ute that is towing it.
The hitch resembles a U-shape or wheel shape, hence the name. And it’s bolted through the tray or tub of the vehicle to the chassis.
There are a handful of instrumental benefits to a fifth wheeler over a conventional caravan. The first, and arguably the most important, is the safety aspect. With a fifth wheel setup, 20% of the weight is distributed over the rear axle of the tow vehicle. By comparison, in a traditional caravan setup, only about 10% of the weight is distributed.
By having more of the weight on the vehicle’s axle, it dramatically reduces the possibility of swaying and fishtailing while towing. It also removes the need for things like stabilisers, because the coupling on the fifth wheel does a good enough job already.
Another massive benefit to a fifth wheel setup over a traditional caravan is the added manoeuvrability. If you think about your standard caravan setup, the angle at which you can turn and line up is extremely limited. With a fifth wheel, you have the ability to position the tow vehicle up to 90 degrees to the van which means tight campsites and awkward caravan parks are a thing of the past.
Hitching a fifth wheeler is also incredibly simple and very achievable with just one or two people. Provided everything is set to the right height, it’s as simple as reversing the hitch into the receiver, putting the safety pin in and hook-up up the electronics. A lot easier than a traditional caravan if you ask me.
The other beautiful thing about a fifth wheeler is because part of the caravan, usually one of the bed sections is situated up over the top of the ute tub, you can afford to have a shorter overall length. Making the overall combined length of your rig shorter and easier to navigate through streets, roundabouts and everything in between.
It seems a little redundant to mention this next point but I’m going to anyway, the SPACE! With a fifth wheeler, you get so much more usable space in a more compact unit than you do with a traditional caravan, often being described as an apartment on wheels.
Now, the one real kicker of a fifth wheel setup is, yes, you do indeed need a ute. It will either need to be a tub or tray style setup. Which also means you lose the storage space in the back of the ute. But some of the best things in life are a compromise, right?
Having a ute isn’t really a bad thing though, is it? With a quarter of all new-vehicle sales in Australia each year being utes, you certainly won’t be alone on the road. It also means that there is a HUGE amount of possible vehicles for you to choose from. Whether it’s a smaller traditional dual cab like a Hilux or Ranger, or perhaps a larger ute such as an F250 or Ram!
The next time you’re in the market for a caravan, or a home away from home, give a fifth wheeler a go. Safer, more space, easier, and a whole lot cooler. There really aren’t any downsides to a setup like this. Plus, you’ll be joining the millions of ute-crazed Aussies that are!