There are many people who choose to travel across the country in their 5th wheel toy hauler. This type of recreational vehicle is perfect for both a summer vacation and winter vacation. A 5th wheel toy hauler vacation can be fun for everyone in your RV party, and you will find that this type of recreational vehicle vacation is easy to plan.
Three Tips to Planning a 5th Wheel Toy Hauler Vacation
The first thing you should think about as you plan your vacation with your 5th wheel toy hauler is the time of year that you will be traveling during. Figure out which season fits your 5th wheel toy hauler needs the best. You will be packing the 5th wheel travel trailer according to the time that you will be traveling, whether during the summer months or the winter months. If you will be traveling with your 5th wheel toy hauler during the summer months, you may think about hauling wave runners, water skis, bicycles, etc. If you travel over the winter months with your 5th wheel toy hauler, think about snow boards, snow mobiles, and skis. You will pack accordingly.
After you know when you will travel, you should decide the route you should take. Look at different maps that have routes listed on them, especially ones that site RV camp sites on the way. It is necessary that you plan your trip where you can park your fifth wheel in ample space. Ask the camp ground where you plan on staying if they have space for your size of trailer (typically 60 x 36 feet). When you speak to various campsites, ask them about their RV amenities. See if there are the necessary hook ups for your fifth wheel camper, such as electric and water. You may also ask about wireless internet accessibility. Do this ahead of time so that you will be prepared for your time on the road.
You should also think about those who will be traveling with you during your motor home vacation. For example, if you will have children with you, ask the campgrounds if they have any playgrounds or kid friendly amenities for you to enjoy while you stay there.
Camping With Other 5th Wheel Toy Haulers
Also, if you will be RVing with several motor homes or 5th wheel toy haulers, then check campgrounds to see if they have a group rate available. This way you and your RV companions can all park and camp near one another. Also, think about the near proximity of the campsite to your main reason to travel, meaning near the ski slope or lake front. Find out nearby restaurants, and even make reservations ahead of time to ease the burden once you arrive.
By taking head to these three easy steps, you will be sure to have a well planned RV vacation. You will have time to enjoy yourself once you arrive and while you drive because you did the due diligence prior to leaving. Have fun!
RV trailer sway will make the heart of the most experienced recreational vehicle driver start to race. Just the thought of thousands of pounds of RV swaying on the highway will send shivers up and down the spine every time. Experiencing sway for the first time will ruin your day “no doubt about it”.
Just what is RV trailer sway and what must be done to avoid it and when it happens what must be done to regain control of the RV safely.
Sway will happen when a large tractor-trailer rig passes you going fast. The air pressure will push your trailer off center of the tow line then sway back. Sway one way or another will occur simply because of the hitching system pivot point.
Sway the cause, avoiding it and recovering after it happens.
The simple cause of sway is the wind; with a crosswind of about 30 mph hitting you broadside by surprise will blow you right off the road. An RV driver without experience will instinctively turn to the right when a gust of wind has pushed the trailer to the left. Exactly the wrong thing to do the trailer now pitches to the right and away it goes closer and closer to a major disaster.
Everyone has to learn and the hard way is not recommended. So what should you do to avoid this situation? The simple answer is just slow down before happens. On a day that’s windy just drive slowly or don’t drive at all if possible. Besides heavy winds will beat the mileage to death and can double your fuel costs very quickly with all the extra weight.
Even on a nice day you will have to deal with other large vehicles passing you on the highway. The reason this is so much of a problem is they push air out in front of them and this will create a very low pressure behind them. This will have an effect on any vehicle they pass and the larger the vehicle the more the effect.
The effect occurs as the large vehicle approaches. You first feel the trailer and then on the tow vehicle getting sucked into its “bow wave”. Through the ordeal as the large vehicle passes the low pressure begin to push you away again. The situation will demand you steer in one direction and then in the other which is normal. But many times there is a problem with the trailer not being load balanced or level and disaster strikes.
Many prefer the fifth wheel trailer or the motorhome as they are somewhat less susceptible to problems related to sway. The fifth wheel by design carries more of the load over the tow vehicle’s rear axles, which helps to limit lateral sway. When you consider the standard travel trailer’s hitch system the ball coupling is extended 5 or more feet behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. With two pivot points – center of the axle and the ball just make the set up more susceptible to sway.
How to Control Trailer Sway
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Do not be discourages as there are devises available to control sway and over certain weight limits required by law. Weight distribution hitches move the weight to the front axle of the tow vehicle and include a sway control bar.
You will note that all manufactures recommend an anti-sway device on the tow vehicle in all cases. There are a number of types of anti-sway devices and the lowest cost type is the friction sway bar. The next step up is the dual cam sway controlling system. The idea behind this type is to not let swaying get started in the first place.
The driver’s worst enemy is speed and sudden movements. A properly load leveled trailer will ride steady and seem very safe at 65 mph but inch up to a little over 70 and the tendency to sway is much greater. The driver must plan his reaction farther ahead to avoid sudden movements and maintain alertness to be able to react smoothly to avoid losing control.
One other thing to remember going downhill with your rig is more susceptible to sway simply because the tow vehicle wants to push you going faster than the tow vehicle. The trailers weight tries to overtake continuously and the normal braking of the engine makes it more likely to sway.
So over all the very best advice is to just take it a little slower and stay a little bit more alert and you will have a safe trip to your destination?
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