Max tilt of 5th Wheel to Side

[dragonheartt]

We are looking at upgrading from a travel trail to a 5th wheel toyhauler.  I know most models today are about 12 to 13 feet tall.  The concern is, I park the camper in the back yard.  The problem is our house is a walkout basement, so the yard slopes to the rear and slopes away from the house.  The slope to the side is the concern.  How much can these things tilt.  The slope not extreme, but it isn't slight either.  Once in the rear yard, it is level.  The travel trailer has never had an issue, but it is older and sets lower to the ground and doesn't have the height.  I have been noticing there are areas on the side of the road worse than my yard, so if one had to pull off on the side of the road it would be same concern.  Thanks.

 

[Rene T]

As long as you don't try to open the slides or run the fridge, you'll be fine.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

If you are worried about it tipping over, don't.  But you can't operate an RV absorption fridge if tilted very much, and it can be a real pain walking around inside (loading gear, cleaning, etc).  My long term plan would be to build a level pad area to park the RV.  Until then, just watch your step.

 

[grashley]

First, do not worry about rolling the FW over.  The camper never felt like it was a problem, did it?  You would need to be 1 or 2 FEET height difference between the left and right tires before it even becomes a bit of a concern.

If the back yard is level, you are good.  I park in my back yard, and I am off level about 2" side to side and off 7" from the wheels to the landing gear.  I use 2x12 boards to level and raise a bit.  My summer plan is to create a level, hard (gravel) surface  to park on.

 

[AStravelers]

You got your travel trailer back to the level spot in the yard so you won't have a problem with the 5th wheel. 

If the route to the yard is grass or dirt which softens with rain, the heavier rig will pose a problem with slipping and spinning the drive wheels on the truck.

 

[dragonheartt]

Thanks for the replys.  The tipping over was more my concern.  I didn't think it was an issue, but just wanted to ask.  Thanks again.

 

[John From Detroit]

Just so you know there are things you can do to make it level Side to Side when parked. As others have said it would take quite a bit to roll the rig (I could scare you with what I've had happen to my class A.. On 2 occasions. and it remained "Wheels down" Though one time.. .Well I could have flipped it but made a snap decision that kept it right side up)

The other time I had more slope than .. Well we pulled it out of that hole VERY VERY carefully.

(Soft spot on the shoulder. they keep digging it up. like six times in 2 years).

But if it is just a bit off. Well the site I'm parked on as I type is 1.4 inches off level so I have 2x12's under the wheels on that side (1.5 inches thick) the 0.1 in over compensation .. Forget about ti.
in fact the 1.5 is forget about it but .. Well. I like to zero the bubbles.

FOR a SINGLE axle trailer  Try assembling some plank like this

First plank about 5 feet long  2" (1.5) thick by the width of the tires
Second plank about 3 feet Glued to the center of the 1st so you have 1' or the first showing at each end
Third plank about 12 inches long centerd on the 2nd

This forms a "Stile" (Steps going both up an down) you can pull across it to level. and then pull off

If that's two heavy cut the length of the 2nd plank by 6 inches and the bottom oner 12 then mount them so the upper planks are off center  Pull up one one (Food long pad) 2 (Foot long pad) 3 Foot long pad But pull off on six inch pads.

This is not practicle on dual axle rides (the planks need to be much. MUCH longer)

 

[8Muddypaws]

There is something nobody else has mentioned.  When hitching the fifth wheel to the truck they both have to be ?about? on the same angle.  Too much difference and you?ll never get the jaws to latch around the pin.

When we had a fifth wheel I learned this the hard way.

 

[Rene T]

There is something nobody else has mentioned.  When hitching the fifth wheel to the truck they both have to be ?about? on the same angle.  Too much difference and you?ll never get the jaws to latch around the pin.

Agree unless their hitch swivels from side to side like mine does. I can be off quite a bit and still am able to hook up.

 

[AStravelers]

There is something nobody else has mentioned.  When hitching the fifth wheel to the truck they both have to be ?about? on the same angle.  Too much difference and you?ll never get the jaws to latch around the pin.

When we had a fifth wheel I learned this the hard way.

And the HARD WAY is????

Maybe the pin slipping out of the jaws and dropping the trailer down on the truck bed rails and tailgate?  Happens to lots of folks.  Sure makes a mess of the bed of the pickup.

 

[8Muddypaws]

Sorry to disappoint.  The hard way was not being able to get the pin to latch.  I had trouble getting it to release before that.

My brother in law managed to drop his brand new Vanleigh Becon by not making sure the pin was latched.  Expensive lesson for sure.

 

[Boonieman]

  If I understand the post, I would be more concerned about the fiver coming into contact with the top of the bed rails. Depending how much clearance you have between the truck bad rails and the fifth wheel camper (mine is about 7 inches) there is a risk if your truck is sitting level and the fifth wheel is backing into an unlevel spot. As the camper leans, it can get scary close sometimes. It is even more extreme risk if you are turning backing in, and it exaggerates the angle at the back corners of your truck bed.

 

[MN Blue Skies]

My long term plan would be to build a level pad area to park the RV.  Until then, just watch your step.

We have a walkout basement and that's exactly what we did.  We had a contractor build a level pad for our 35 foot 5th wheel.  The cost was approximately $2,000 here in Minnesota.  (If we were younger and could do the work ourselves the cost would have been less than $1,000. In our community we should be able to easily recover our $2,000 investment for the RV parking pad when we sell.)

BTW...  Of course everything depends on how your lot, home, and garage align but we had just enough room to tuck the pad next to our attached garage.

We also started out with a TT and upgraded to a 5th wheel.  You're gonna love it! 

Pictures might help us visualize your scenario.

 

[MN Blue Skies]

And the HARD WAY is????

Maybe the pin slipping out of the jaws and dropping the trailer down on the truck bed rails and tailgate?  Happens to lots of folks.  Sure makes a mess of the bed of the pickup.

We've been there and done that.  A very expensive oops! 

 

[AStravelers]

Sorry to disappoint.  The hard way was not being able to get the pin to latch.  I had trouble getting it to release before that.

My brother in law managed to drop his brand new Vanleigh Becon by not making sure the pin was latched.  Expensive lesson for sure.

I'm not disappointed.  Glad it didn't happen to you.  Partly wanting to detail to folks, who may not have a lot of 5th wheel experience, what happens when the pin isn't properly latched.

Something which may not be emphasized from the sell when going through a walk through.