Once you\u2019ve decided on a new travel trailer or fifth wheel for your future RV journeys consider a list of must have features before closing the deal. Making sure your new recreational vehicle has all your must have features before you buy saves a lot of frustration down the road.<\/p>\n
Settling on a towable rather than a motorized RV is a commitment to towing and having the right features for a safe and carefree towing and set up experience is critical. Inside the RV, know what features are \u201cmust-haves\u201d for your lifestyle.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re planning on taking outdoor toys along with you, a rear hitch or garage are must have features for your travel trailer or fifth wheel. Toy Haulers, travel trailers or fifth wheels with living quarters and garage areas to tote motorized toys, canoes, or bikes are available in bumper towed trailers and fifth wheels. Fifth Wheels, with their added stability and weight are often up to the task of carrying heftier motorized toys as well as providing comfortable living quarters. If a toy hauler isn\u2019t for you, consider a stout fifth wheel with a sturdy hitch for towing a utility trailer or attaching a rack to hold bikes or kayaks.<\/p>\n
When you decide to tow, whether a fifth wheel or bumper towed RV, trailer weight may be the most important feature to consider. Consider the capabilities of your towing vehicle and the type of RVing you\u2019ll be doing in a new towable RV. While there are plenty of \u201cultra lite\u201d towables on the market, be aware of what your new rig will weigh when it\u2019s fully loaded \u2013 from tanks to toys.\u00a0 Check the Combined Gross Vehicle Weight for your towing vehicle \u2013 the fully loaded weight of your vehicle and trailer — before making any purchase.\u00a0 Also consider the cargo carrying capabilities of any unit under consideration. While there may be plenty of storage space, if you\u2019re planning on full-timing or long treks \u2013 your supplies may add more weight to the trailer than it\u2019s built to handle.<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019ve settled the weighty issues of choosing a travel trailer or fifth wheel, consider design features that can make towing easier and improve gas mileage. Look for a travel trailer or fifth wheel with an aerodynamic front-end cap that will cut through the wind and improve gas mileage by reducing wind drag. An end cap that partially recreates the tear drop shape is most effective and will result in a more aerodynamic trailer and possibly a slight reduction in sway.\u00a0 New end cap designs may incorporate windows or storage space.<\/p>\n
Almost all towables \u2013 except the most modest of units or folding camping trailers \u2013 will have an automatic leveling system. The highest end fifth wheels may come equipped with a hydraulic leveling system while other models will have an electric system.\u00a0 Small, modest campers and pop-ups may be equipped with a manual leveling system that\u2019s operated by hand and supplemented with leveling blocks. Electric leveling takes the cranking out of the equation, but may still require a little help from blocks for the final leveling. Except for the most extreme cases, hydraulic leveling jacks do most, or all, the leveling with the push of a button. However, if you get the worst site at the campground, it may still be necessary to add something under the wheels to bring the RV to level.\u00a0 If hands-off leveling is for you, look for a towable with a hydraulic system or ask if the leveling system on the trailer of your dreams can be upgraded to hydraulic.<\/p>\n
Assess your physical abilities and travel plans to know what kind of features the interior of your towable needs. Fifth wheels will be in multiple levels with steps up to the bath and bedroom. That means going up and down a few steps multiple times a day will be unavoidable. Bumper towed travel trailers will be laid out on a single level, if mobility is an issue. Depending on the model and the \u201cprofile\u201d of the fifth wheel, you may enjoy soaring ceilings in the living areas, but the bedroom may not feature full-height ceilings, which may be an issue for tall RVers. \u00a0Look carefully at the bedroom area; if stretching, bending and reaching are an issue, a bed that has room to walk all around it will be easier to change and make.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Once you\u2019ve decided on a new travel trailer or fifth wheel for your future RV journeys consider a list of must have features before closing the deal. Making sure your new recreational vehicle has all your must have features before you buy saves a lot of frustration down the road. Settling on a towable rather […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[1250,1251,1249],"class_list":["post-7325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rv-tips-and-tricks","tag-fifth-wheels","tag-rv-tips-and-tricks","tag-travel-trailers"],"yoast_head":"\n