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5th Wheel RVs Let You Go See What’s Out There!

 

The biggest names and best-known RVs in the world are right here at Country Roads RV!

 

Country Roads RV Center has been proudly serving the Piedmont Triad area for 40 years. From our beginnings as a car dealership to our current status as one of the largest and top-rated RV dealerships in the state, Country Roads RV specializes in getting people out there and into all the waiting adventure of the great outdoors! We are pleased to offer new and preowned RVs, fifth wheel campers and toy haulers from world-renowned brands including:

  •       Apex
  •       Coachmen
  •       Freedom Express
  •       Puma
  •       Sabre
  •       Sandpiper
  •       Spirit
  •       Wolf Pack

Between our stellar array of fifth-wheel RVs and destination trailers, and our manager specials designed to make campers more affordable than ever before, Country Roads RV is your passport to the beach or mountains. From Ocean Isle Beach to Vail, Colorado to Astoria, Oregon and all points in between, from the alpine slopes to the Arizona desert, these fifth wheels are the perfect choice for your outdoors exploration!  

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Fifth Wheels and RVs

 

 

Question: What is a fifth wheel? –Scott, Lexington, NC

 

 

Answer: A fifth wheel is a camper and/or toy hauler which attaches to a special ball hitch in the bed of a pickup truck or similar vehicle. It’s somewhere between a travel trailer or popup camper and a full RV, because you still have to tow it instead of it being a self-contained vehicle you can drive, while offering most of the amenities of a full-sized RV and the flexibility of a travel trailer. All models have a forward lip which rests over the bed of your truck and often houses a sleeping area. This also aids the aerodynamic profile of the fifth wheel, helping to decrease wind resistance, which can be very important in the mountains and on the coast!

 

Question: Which RV is right for me? –Bryce, Indian Trail, NC

 

Answer: Choosing the right RV or travel trailer for your needs is a fairly subjective matter. If you have ATVs, motorcycles or dirt bikes, you might be best rewarded to consider a fifth wheel toy hauler which combines living space such as bath, bedrooms and kitchen/dining space with secure small-vehicle storage. If you want to get closer to a “real” camping experience, a popup trailer or a fifth wheel with slides and pullouts might be more your speed. Some things you may wish to consider when evaluating a fifth wheel include:

  •         How many people and pets you’ll be sharing the space with
  •         Whether you do a lot of dry camping (“boondocking”) or mainly stick to RV parks and campgrounds with electrical and water hookups
  •         Any toys you want to bring, such as ATVs, snowmobiles and so on
  •         Which seasons will you be using it in? If you’re a year-round camper who gets out in all kinds of weather, you will likely want different amenities, like maybe a fireplace, than if you only camp during the late spring through early fall.
  •         Overall vehicle length. If you’re planning to live out of your fifth wheel for extended periods, you may want to look for extras like a washer and dryer, a king-size bed, etc. Every amenity you want adds to the overall length of the trailer, which can make towing more difficult and also may put you over the length restriction at some campgrounds.  

There’s really no “wrong” answer here, but your answers to these and similar questions can help put you on the right track to the perfect fifth wheel trailer for your needs!

 

Question: How many people can stay in a fifth wheel? –Otis, Mooresville, NC

 

Answer: Depending upon the size and configuration of the model you choose, a fifth wheel may comfortably sleep as few as two or as many as eight grown adults. Fifth wheels with slideouts, popouts and other features can increase the available sleep and recreational space, so if you plan to do a lot of entertaining in your fifth wheel, it may be worth your while to consider the space-expanding features of the model you’re considering.  

 

Question: How much can I tow? –Kati, Charlotte, NC

 

         Answer: The towing capacity of your vehicle depends on a number of factors, including the base weight of your vehicle, whether you’re towing a fully loaded fifth wheel with full water storage tanks, your vehicle engine torque, the condition of your cooling system, your suspension, brakes and so on. Your vehicle owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website can tell you how much your vehicle can tow without compromising safety or handling. As long as you stay within the manufacturer’s recommendations, keep your vehicle properly maintained and are using a towing hitch rated for the weight you intend to haul, you should be fine.

 

Question: How do I know if my truck can tow a fifth wheel? –Monique, Lake Norman, NC

 

Answer: Fifth wheels use a special hitch in the bed of your pickup to help distribute their weight evenly across the truck’s body and provide a pivot point for turning. If your pickup doesn’t have this hitch, you need to find out if your vehicle will allow one to be installed. Most full-sized pickups do allow for fifth wheel hitch installation, but it’s important to check with your vehicle manufacturer to find out for sure. If your pickup is already equipped with this type of hitch or factory fifth wheel prep kit, your next step is to find out how much your hitch and the total towing weight of the vehicle are rated at. The hitch and truck manufacturer’s websites can help you with this, depending upon the year, make and model. It’s important to keep your vehicle properly maintained, to minimize the impact of towing on your engine, transmission, braking and cooling systems.

 

Question: Why choose a fifth wheel? –Cameron, Gastonia, NC

 

Answer: A fifth wheel is arguably the most versatile camping trailer available, marrying the amenities of a full-size RV and the storage of a motorcycle trailer with the flexibility and convenience of a popup travel trailer. Towing a fifth wheel is much easier to drive and tow because the camper is connected directly above the rear axle (as opposed to the rear bumper area like a travel trailer), therefore reducing sway.  Perfect for weekend excursions and extended cross-country travel, fifth wheels also generally don’t require special licensing to tow. (Note: Be sure to check the applicable laws for the states or jurisdictions you’ll be traveling through, because some states do require a special endorsement on your license to tow trailers above a certain height and/or weight.) This combination of utility and ease makes them a great choice for both casual “glampers” and hardcore camping enthusiasts of all stripes.

 

Question: Can I use my regular hitch to tow my fifth wheel? –Adrian, Iron Station, NC

 

Answer: Generally speaking, no. Fifth wheels are designed to be towed by a pickup or similar vehicle using a special hitch in the bed of the pickup. Using a regular towing hitch with a fifth wheel could result in property damage, severe injury or death to you or others, and drastically compromise the safety and handling of your vehicle. We strongly advise against using improper towing apparatus on ANY trailer, regardless of size or style.

 

Question: What is the average cost of staying at  RV parks?

 

Answer: RV park camping rates vary greatly depending upon the type of site, the location, the season and the type of RV you’re using. Sites with electrical and water hookups generally cost more than sites without. Generally speaking, with a fifth wheel, you should expect to pay between $50 and $125 per night, but these rates may be higher on holiday weekends, in high-traffic areas or places near the ocean, for example. It’s a good idea to call around or check websites for the area you plan to camp in and get a baseline for what the normal rates are, but make sure to budget a little extra just in case. If nothing else, it’s more money for smores and firewood!

  

Question: What is dry camping? –Alyssa, Bessemer City, NC

 

 

Answer: Dry camping, also known as boondocking, is camping in an RV or travel trailer without water/sewer hookups or electrical hookups. Typically, dry camping is done in remote, out of the way areas which aren’t really designated campsites but where there’s no restriction on overnighting. However, many RV parks do have dry camping sites for those who prefer to rough it or don’t want to use power and water hookups for whatever reason. Dry camping sites tend to be less desirable, and thus less expensive, than fully equipped sites, which makes them a popular choice for folks who are camping on a budget. Fifth wheels are popular with boondockers because they’re self-contained enough to allow water and sometimes battery power for a couple of days without plugging into utilities.

 

Question: Can I increase my vehicle’s tow rating? –Alvin, Catawba, NC

 

 

Answer: Generally, no. The tow rating is a combination of the torque, horsepower and structural durability of your vehicle, along with other factors. While you could theoretically boost the towing capacity by dropping in a beefier engine and upgrading your transmission, you’re more likely to reduce the operational lifespan of the vehicle than you are to squeeze enough extra towing potential out of the vehicle to make the investment worthwhile. You’re better off either choosing a different tow vehicle or a lighter fifth wheel.

 

 

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