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RV glossary · RV types

Fifth wheel

Also called: 5th wheel, Fiver

A towable RV with a raised front section that extends over the bed of a pickup and connects to a fifth-wheel hitch. The hitch position gives very stable towing, and the raised front usually holds the bedroom.

Because the pin sits over the truck’s rear axle, fifth wheels tow with less sway than bumper-pull trailers of the same size and turn more tightly. They usually have more interior height, split-level floorplans and large basement storage.

Fifth wheels require a pickup with a bed-mounted hitch, and their pin weight (often 15–25% of loaded weight) means payload is usually the deciding factor. Larger models often need a three-quarter-ton or one-ton truck.

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Related terms

Fifth-wheel hitch
A heavy-duty hitch mounted in a pickup bed, over or slightly ahead of the rear axle, that locks onto a fifth wheel’s kingpin. It places the pin weight where the truck can carry it best, giving stable towing.
Pin weight
The weight a fifth wheel puts on the hitch in the truck bed, usually about 15–25% of the trailer’s loaded weight. It is the fifth-wheel equivalent of tongue weight and often decides whether a truck has enough payload.
Kingpin
The downward-facing pin at the front of a fifth wheel that locks into the fifth-wheel hitch. The surrounding structure is called the pin box.
Toy hauler
An RV with a rear garage and ramp door for carrying motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides or bikes. The garage often doubles as living space with fold-down beds or sofas, and the ramp can become a patio.

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