5th wheel - how big is too big?

[Singleton]

This is an unlikely scenario, but worth considering. The motorhome and 20' trailer combo puts your valuable toys in a bumper pull trailer that's susceptible to theft. It's been proven time and again on RDP that trailers get stolen and emptied.

If you purchase a 5th wheel toy hauler, that reduces the criminal field to someone with a compatible hitch, a 3/4 or 1 ton dually, and the skill to pull it.

The 20 footer looks just like every other white box trailer on the road, and blends in. The 5th wheel, not so much. You can leave the 5th wheel at a park campsite all hooked up with electricity, water and sewer, chairs and a table out. People are going to notice an attempt to steal it.

If you leave the 20' trailer at the same place and drive away in the motor home for the evening, it's a perfect opportunity to steal it. It takes a couple of minutes to defeat chains and locks. The trailer can also be swiped at your house or any other place by anyone with a pickup or SUV.

It's unlikely a trailer would be ripped off as I described, if you take reasonable precautions and stick to them. I have a friend that installed a high end auto theft alarm on his trailer. A rooftop solar panel recharges the battery. If anyone tries to pinch the trailer, the alarm goes off. He put door switches on all of the openings too.

He also bought a parking boot and puts it on one of the wheels whenever the trailer is unhooked.

Just some things to consider.

Best way to keep a conventional hitch enclosed trailer from being stolen is to just remove the coupler.
Original builder of my TH thought of that and when I leave the trailer in storage or outside my house I just remove the coupler.
This is what I have and no way in hell is someone taking the trailer without a coupler

 

[Bigbore500r]

This is an unlikely scenario, but worth considering. The motorhome and 20' trailer combo puts your valuable toys in a bumper pull trailer that's susceptible to theft. It's been proven time and again on RDP that trailers get stolen and emptied.

If you purchase a 5th wheel toy hauler, that reduces the criminal field to someone with a compatible hitch, a 3/4 or 1 ton dually, and the skill to pull it.

The 20 footer looks just like every other white box trailer on the road, and blends in. The 5th wheel, not so much. You can leave the 5th wheel at a park campsite all hooked up with electricity, water and sewer, chairs and a table out. People are going to notice an attempt to steal it.

If you leave the 20' trailer at the same place and drive away in the motor home for the evening, it's a perfect opportunity to steal it. It takes a couple of minutes to defeat chains and locks. The trailer can also be swiped at your house or any other place by anyone with a pickup or SUV.

It's unlikely a trailer would be ripped off as I described, if you take reasonable precautions and stick to them. I have a friend that installed a high end auto theft alarm on his trailer. A rooftop solar panel recharges the battery. If anyone tries to pinch the trailer, the alarm goes off. He put door switches on all of the openings too.

He also bought a parking boot and puts it on one of the wheels whenever the trailer is unhooked.

Just some things to consider.

I would never leave the "box" trailer unattended or unhooked when out and about.

 

[rrrr]

I would never leave the "box" trailer unattended or unhooked when out and about.

I didn't think so, and wouldn't either. I said it was an unlikely scenario.

But there are so many boats and trailers reported stolen on RDP I have to wonder why the owners aren't properly protecting their property.

 

[Done-it-again]

We ended up going the motorhome route, but not diesel. Baby steps . Looking for a towbar setup to tow our JKU, any recommendations? Want to keep the stock front bumper, but don't want some huge brackets hanging off the front

It is an aftermarket bumper by poison spider. Had them mount 2 towing tabs to connect the tow hitch too.

 

[Riley1]

That’s how I did it. straight to the standard shackle mounts on my Poison Spyder bumper. would work on any aftermarket bumpers with shackle mounts

 

[Hermosa]

We really like the 30' RV and the ability to tow what you need. I like the toy hauler just because the tanks are bigger, the capacity in the RV kinda sucks for dry camping over 3 days or more. I add a 50 gallon fresh water tank in the rear storage, that has helped. Towing the Mini is easy, perfect little towable.

 

[Hermosa]

Sometimes we pull the Jeep

 

[Hermosa]

Or pull the CanAm in the trailer

ailer

 

[Hermosa]

 

[dirtyduner]

I look on that site all the time. Just need to reach out and see what models would fit the can am. Our last rig was a 4012 cyclone. Those are built trailers, heavy as all hell.

Let me know what i can help with. there are a ton of units that will fit a 4 seat can am!

 

[Done-it-again]

Let me know what i can help with. there are a ton of units that will fit a 4 seat can am!

What mfg do you suggest? We have been looking at Genesis and attitude any others?

For us the smallest unit 5th wheel that we can get and still fit a can am (don’t have one yet) but want to prepare and not wanting to buy twice. Lol

 

[Hermosa]

What mfg do you suggest? We have been looking at Genesis and attitude any others?

For us the smallest unit 5th wheel that we can get and still fit a can am (don’t have one yet) but want to prepare and not wanting to buy twice. Lol

I like the Genesis and their other line, the Vortex. I think all of their 5th wheels will fit a CanAm, because they don't section off the garage area. That's old skool, you want it open for the space (at least in my application).

 

[Done-it-again]

I like the Genesis and their other line, the Vortex. I think all of their 5th wheels will fit a CanAm, because they don't section off the garage area. That's old skool, you want it open for the space (at least in my application).

We looked at a genesis at the Pomona show and liked the 33ckxl with the residential package. I liked the fact that it’s 35 overall, but I think it’s going to be tight to fit a 4 seat x3.

 

[dirtyduner]

We looked at a genesis at the Pomona show and liked the 33ckxl with the residential package. I liked the fact that it’s 35 overall, but I think it’s going to be tight to fit a 4 seat x3.

As far as Genesis and Vortex go.
28CRT will be super tight, 32Cr is probably your smallest you can go with 5th wheel and be able to drive it right in. 33CK is tight with a 4 seat X3, not ideal. 34GS, 35CR and 36CK are both awesome for the 4 seat X3.

Attitude's are great trailers as well, a lot of people online will talk crap on the attitudes but we have great luck with them as a dealership.
2814, 3016, and 3218 will all fit a 4 seat X3. 28SAG or 2817 will be tight, 31 ft will work but will fit a lot like a 28.

A lot of options available. most are going to have 72-74 inches in the skinniest spots but that doesnt mean a 72 inch wide vehicle will necessarily fit. If you have one you are looking at specifically I can do a test for you to just make sure, our test X3 we use has a little bigger tires too.

 

[Done-it-again]

@dirtyduner Did the 33CK and the 3317xl change this year? It looks like the length was increased some..Still the model we keep coming back to after visiting the RIV show at the speedway yesterday...

 

[Bigbore500r]

I'd also like to drop it in here that I ended up going the MOHO route, and as such have no need for my bitchin '13 4x4 crew cab Dually. Ad is in the classifieds....

 

[Waterjunky]

Not a big deal in the desert but the longer lengths are an issue everywhere else. Up here in Northern California, many of the campgrounds cannot handle a 5er that long. Even if they do accept them you are very limited in sites. The Sierra Nevada's are stuffed full of smaller forest service, federal and State campgrounds but as soon as you get into the mid 30's you are out.

All depends on what you are planning as to what works best for you.

 

[Done-it-again]

Not a big deal in the desert but the longer lengths are an issue everywhere else. Up here in Northern California, many of the campgrounds cannot handle a 5er that long. Even if they do accept them you are very limited in sites. The Sierra Nevada's are stuffed full of smaller forest service, federal and State campgrounds but as soon as you get into the mid 30's you are out.

All depends on what you are planning as to what works best for you.

That was our issue before have a 4012 cyclone. Being 42' overall sucked when trying to find camping spots.

 

[Waterjunky]

I am in a similar quandary. I am looking at getting out of the Arctic Fox cab over and back into a 5'er, but I lose so much agility. Having a 4 yr old is really crimping things in the cab over. I would love something about 32' with a modest garage in back for random stuff but struggling to get back into payments and then I need to find one in that size that is build decent. Most of the decent toy haulers are big. I generally buy stuff like this used but being the market has only really started selling again a few years ago there is about an 8-10 year vacuum in the used market. I keep thinking I should wait until after the election as the economy will soften and used stuff should start flooding the market again. I have also been considering a class A. With the kid, there is logic in this and just towing the Explorer or boat behind it.

 

[riverroyal]

If your waiting for the economy to go RV’ing your missing out now. There is no right or wrong time to throw money away

 

[Done-it-again]

I am in a similar quandary. I am looking at getting out of the Arctic Fox cab over and back into a 5'er, but I lose so much agility. Having a 4 yr old is really crimping things in the cab over. I would love something about 32' with a modest garage in back for random stuff but struggling to get back into payments and then I need to find one in that size that is build decent. Most of the decent toy haulers are big. I generally buy stuff like this used but being the market has only really started selling again a few years ago there is about an 8-10 year vacuum in the used market. I keep thinking I should wait until after the election as the economy will soften and used stuff should start flooding the market again. I have also been considering a class A. With the kid, there is logic in this and just towing the Explorer or boat behind it.

Sounds like we have the same dilemma. After visiting the RIV show yesterday the Genesis/vortex are built good with no garages.....I was hoping that Cyclone or Momentum would have a non garage 's around 37' overall, but no dice. The Attitudes looked like junk with the new interior and it didn't feel that they were on the same quality as Genesis. Stealth looked ok, just didn't have the options were are interested in. So that's basically it for toyhauler non garage 5th wheels. I did noticed Arctic Fox did have a 5er, but didn't check if it was a toyhauler or not. I have looked at class A's too (that's what I would like) but they are really set up for 2 people. The bunk units are small and kids would out grow the beds fast. Then your making the couch bed all the time cause you cannot get to the door really well when its open. Plus the gas models ride terrible and I'm used to driving/borrowing my parents 42' diesel pusher, so little spoiled with that. So not really sure, hopefully dirtydunner chimes in.

 

[riverroyal]

Try Montana. Left s deposit on one a few weeks ago. Be here in a month

 

[River Runnin]

If I had to do it again!.... The longest 5'er I could get! ... But anything associated with THOR would NOT be on the list as they have really cheapened for profit! Everything they have aquired!