New & Used Fifth Wheels For Sale at MHSRV - The World's Leading RV Specialists

Fifth Wheel RV FAQs

What is a fifth wheel RV?

A fifth wheel is a towable RV that connects to a pickup truck through an in-bed hitch positioned over the truck's rear axle. The "fifth wheel" name comes from the wheel-shaped hitch plate, also called a kingpin coupling, the same design used on commercial semi-trucks. The hitch placement creates the distinctive front overhang above the truck bed, typically used as a raised bedroom or office inside the trailer. Fifth wheels range from 28 to 45 feet long and commonly include slide-outs, residential kitchens, and full bathrooms.

What's the difference between a fifth wheel and a travel trailer?

A travel trailer hitches at the tow vehicle's rear bumper, which puts the hitch weight several feet behind the rear axle. A fifth wheel hitches in the truck bed, directly over the rear axle. That one difference drives everything else. Fifth wheels tow more stably with less sway. They back up more predictably. They allow longer floor plans without matching increases in combined length, and they support the raised front bedroom that travel trailers can't replicate. Travel trailers cost meaningfully less. They can be towed by a wider range of vehicles, including SUVs and half-ton trucks for smaller models, and they don't take over the truck bed. Want interior space, towing stability, and long-trip comfort? Choose a fifth wheel. Want a lower price, vehicle flexibility, and shorter trips? Choose a travel trailer.

What truck do I need to tow a fifth wheel?

Most full-size fifth wheels need at least a 3/4-ton pickup (Ford F-250, Ram 2500, Chevy/GMC 2500). Many larger floor plans need a 1-ton truck (F-350, Ram 3500, Chevy/GMC 3500) or a 1-ton dually. The number that matters most is payload capacity, not tow rating. Pin weight, the downward force the fifth wheel puts on the truck bed, typically runs 18 to 25 percent of the loaded trailer weight. That pin weight counts against the truck's payload, along with passengers, cargo, and the hitch itself. A truck with a 15,000-pound tow rating but only 2,500 pounds of payload may not safely tow a 12,000-pound fifth wheel, because the pin weight alone can exceed the available payload. Always check the truck's door-jamb payload sticker against the fifth wheel's loaded pin weight before purchase.

What's a toy hauler fifth wheel?

A toy hauler fifth wheel includes a rear garage with a fold-down ramp door, sized for motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides, kayaks, or other gear. The garage usually doubles as living space when the toys are unloaded, with fold-down beds, removable furniture, or convertible flooring. Toy hauler fifth wheels run longer than standard fifth wheels, often 38 to 45 feet, to fit the garage plus full living quarters. See toy hauler fifth wheels for MHSRV's current toy hauler inventory.

Do fifth wheels come in bunk model floor plans?

Yes. Bunk model fifth wheels are common in the category and a top choice for families. Options include rear bunk rooms (a dedicated room at the back with two to four bunks plus a small bathroom), mid-bunk layouts (a separate bunk room between the main living area and the front bedroom), and loft bunks (built into the front overhang above the master bedroom). See bunk model RVs for bunk-equipped options across all RV categories at MHSRV.

Where can I buy a fifth wheel RV?

Motor Home Specialist in Alvarado, Texas is the #1 volume-selling motor home dealer in the world. We stock new and used fifth wheel trailers from leading manufacturers, including Axiom, Keystone, Dutchmen, Forest River, Heartland, and K-Z. MHSRV serves fifth wheel buyers nationwide with industry-leading discount pricing well below MSRP, in-house financing, trade-ins, and full-service support after the sale.