What is a fifth wheel? They’re just travel trailers, right? Well, not so fast. While a 5th wheel camper is a towable RV, it’s different from standard travel trailers. In fact, a towable RV called a fifth wheel (or 5th wheel) is distinguished from other travel trailers in several ways. Not only are they different in exterior design and interior layout, but towing one is different from hauling other types of campers.
In this post, we hope to clear up the confusion by answering the question “What is a fifth wheel camper?” with important details and distinctions that set them apart.
What Is a Fifth Wheel Trailer?
A 5th wheel RV is a towable rig with a large cap at the front. This is one of the main features that distinguish a fifth wheel from any other type of travel trailer. The cap sits over the bed of the truck that serves as the towing vehicle.
Fifth wheels aren’t all one size. Some are extremely large with multiple slide-outs, and some are a bit smaller, like the one shown here.
Under the cap, most have a steel pin box with mounting holes on one end. This is where a steel shaft called a kingpin connects to the front of the fifth wheel.
Pickup trucks that tow fifth wheels are equipped with a heavy-duty hitch installed in the bed of the truck. That wheel hitch clamps around the fifth wheel’s kingpin, locking the trailer and the hitch together. So, the manner of towing is one significant distinction of a 5th wheel camper.
Here you see a close-up view of the locking jaws of a fifth wheel hitch in the bed of a pickup truck.
Another noteworthy difference between common travel trailers and a fifth-wheel type of RV has to do with the living space inside. 5th wheel floor plans allow for multiple levels and slide-outs. The large living area these rigs offer is possibly the biggest reason they are so popular with full-time RVers.
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Fifth Wheel Camper?
As with any RV setup, there are pros and cons here. The trick, as always, is to identify the setup that works best for your family and your style of travel.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of 5th wheel travel trailers.
Pros of Fifth Wheels
We’ll start by taking a look at the advantages, which can be considerable.
Space
Fifth wheels offer a LOT of room for the size of the rig, some up to as much as 500 sq. ft. That’s larger than some tiny houses and city apartments! Some 5ths are extremely luxurious, and many have enough space to offer most of the amenities of a sticks & bricks house. They not only offer a sizable living area but also lots of storage space. This is one of the reasons why 5th wheels are popular among both full-timers and families.
The interior of this Alliance brand fifth-wheel shows how much like home an RV can feel.
Better Towing Experience
Fifth-wheel hitch towing provides better handling and control than bumper-pull/travel trailer towing. This is because placing the trailer’s weight directly over the truck’s axle significantly improves balance and sway control, making the towing experience better overall.
Home-Like Interiors
The floorplans of fifth wheel campers are often more home-like than other RVs. A variety of layouts are made possible by the step-up area (into the cap), and often include multiple RV slide-outs. Some have island or peninsula kitchens with residential-size appliances. Some even have actual bathtubs!
Most fifth wheels have slide-outs (some have several), that serve to increase the interior living space of the rigs substantially. We’ve seen floorplans with as many as FIVE slideouts!
Value
Fifth wheel owners get a lot of bang for their buck. Despite the fact that they’re some of the most spacious rigs on the road, they’re nowhere near as expensive to buy as large Class A RVs and other big rigs (of course, lacking a drivetrain, 5ths have a built-in price advantage here). With a fifth wheel, you get a lot of living and storage space for your money.
Cons
Like anything else, there are some downsides, too. So, let’s take a look at the disadvantages of owning and traveling in a fifth wheel camper.
Big and Heavy
Fifth wheels tend to be larger and heavier than other travel trailers, so they require a bigger truck to tow.
Loss of Truck Bed Space
Because the fifth-wheel hitch is located in the bed of the truck, you lose the use of much of the truck’s bed when you’re towing the camper. And many hitch designs remain in the way even when not towing (because of their size/weight and difficulty getting them removed and reinstalled).
The fifth-wheel hitch occupies a significant portion of the bed of your truck, reducing the amount of cargo you can place there.
Need to Properly Balance the Camper and Truck
Balancing the size of the truck and trailer is important when you’re towing a 5th wheel. You have to ensure that the fifth wheel overhang isn’t too long or the bed of the truck too short. Otherwise, you could hit the back of the truck with the fifth wheel when maneuvering. Breaking the rear window on the truck is an awful self-inflicted wound.
Fifth Wheel Hitches Require Maintenance
In addition to maintaining the camper and the truck, the hitch itself requires maintenance. They have multiple moving parts, including the kingpin locking assembly. There are several parts at work here that need to be lubricated regularly. Some 5th wheel owners use a plastic “hitch disc” or “lube plate” similar to this one to help protect against friction:
- Reliable Wear Protection: Protect your fifth wheel hitch from damaging friction with Camco's Eaz-Lift 10" Standard RV Lube Plate. By reducing wear and...
- Vibration Cushioning: This 5th wheel must-have is designed to absorb vibrations, provide smoother towing, reduce trailer stress, and enhance...
This helps with the lubrication of the skid plate, but other hitch parts still require regular lubrication. White lithium grease is often recommended for the purpose of lubricating all of the moving parts.
- 2 Pack Value - Includes 2 Tubes - Meets NLGI-2 performance
- Long lasting
Is a Fifth Wheel Worth It?
Absolutely! They’re incredibly popular for a reason. Depending on your travel & living style, a 5th wheel may be well worth having. But as with all RVs, the best rig is the one that suits your needs best.
If you live and travel full-time in an RV, travel with family, or spend considerable time living in your rig in one place, a fifth wheel could be just the perfect rig for you. While other travelers may immediately recognize that it’s not the right RV for them. In the end, if you have a good understanding of what owning a fifth wheel entails, we’re sure you’ll be able to assess whether or not it’s the best home-on-wheels for you.
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Tacoma Washington
Saturday 28th of March 2026
I've seen a few 5th wheel trailers over the years. My grandparents had one 40+ years ago.
Doug
Friday 27th of March 2026
We started with a 21' 5th; they kept growing over the years, but when it was time to get back down to 21', unfortunately they don't seem to exist and we had to go to motorhomes
Bill Clark
Friday 27th of March 2026
I'm an ex-Engineering Manager of a semi-trailer manufacturer in Australia. I built and operated personally a 5th wheeler caravan because of all the benefits. One benefit is that the "king pin" (hitch point) can be a small distance ahead of the tow vehicle rear axle, thus putting a proportion of the hitch load onto the tow vehicle front axle thus adding to the steering control for the whole combination, just like commercial semi-trailers.
Robeye
Friday 27th of March 2026
I love our fifth wheel but it is a different animal when backing into a site especially if you've been pulling and backing a travel trailer for years (like me).
Raymond McDonald
Friday 28th of March 2025
I have owned our Kountry Star for 8 years and learned a ton from you guys on how to take care of it! I recently purchased a 5th wheel for our adult children to live in. I have to say they really are very different from the class A. For starters this 5th wheel has 3 holding tanks! Also, it came with the Anderson ultimate 5th wheel hitch and is way less bulky than the traditional 5th wheel hitches. Plus only 35lbs! The 5th wheel really is set up for more full time living than our class A IMO.