Guide to Parking Your Fifth Wheel

Learning how to properly tow a fifth wheel is an extremely important milestone in RV ownership. However, it’s also equally important to know how to park it. Unlike a car, there are a few extra things you need to be careful about in order to secure your 5th wheel. We understand that backing up any type of trailer or RV is a little tricky. Luckily, with a little practice, it becomes much easier, so read on to learn how to park your fifth wheel like a pro.

Check the Parking Spot

Once you’ve reached your campsite, you’ll want to survey the area before you pull into your parking spot. If you reserved a specific site at a campground or RV park, the website or manager usually tells you how large the site is and what size camper it can accommodate. However, it doesn’t hurt to check for yourself before trying to pull in.

Also, make sure your tow vehicle can fit in the site and isn’t sticking out into the road. Look for any uneven surfaces, including potholes, ruts, slopes, or mounds. You should avoid these when trying to park your fifth wheel and instead look for flat, smooth ground.

Back Up Your Fifth Wheel

After surveying your site and figuring out the best place to park, slowly ease your rig into the spot. While you do this, keep checking all the mirrors. If you’re using a spotter to help direct and guide you, keep the windows rolled down and the radio off so you can hear clearly and communicate in a better way. Be careful about the direction of your tow vehicle when you back into the slot. As you back up, your fifth wheel and your tow vehicle will form a V-shape. The sharper the turn of your wheel, the sharper the V-shape will become.

Level Your Camper

Once your fifth wheel is in place, you need to make sure your rig is level and stable. If your unit is equipped with an auto-leveling system, all you need to do is push a button and hydraulics will automatically adjust to get it level. Otherwise, you’ll need to make sure to bring a few extra items, such as a bubble level to check that everything is actually straight, and blocks to place under the wheels for balance.

We hope that this guide has been useful. Are you still looking for the perfect fifth wheel for all your upcoming adventures? Head over to Lakeside RV Sales. You can find a great selection of fifth wheels for sale at our dealership in Anderson, SC. We welcome all those coming from Charlotte and Greenville.