If you’re new to the wide world of RVs and a rookie at RV lingo and terminology, there’s a chance you’ve seen a 5th wheel out on the road but never known what to call it. Fifth wheels are the travel trailers that are hauled behind a pickup truck, with a small section that hangs over the bed of the truck to give you a little extra space. If you’re wondering where you can rent a 5th wheel, you’ve come to the right place.
5th wheel trailers definitely aren’t what you might expect when you first go to rent an RV. But despite being less common than larger motorhomes and campers, there are many reasons to consider renting one for your next big road trip or camping adventure. If you already own a truck, for example, it’s an easy way to bring along all the comforts of home while hitting the road in a vehicle you’re already comfortable with. And because 5th wheels are typically much roomier and comfier than a traditional travel trailer, they’re an ideal choice for larger families or groups of friends.
Ready to learn more about how to rent a 5th wheel RV? Read on to learn more about where to find one, how much it costs, and what else you should know before booking your rental.
Where Can I Rent a 5th Wheel?
Click over to most RV rental company websites and you’ll see a host of Class A, Class B, and Class C RVs. While browsing, though, you might realize that listings for fifth wheel trailers seem hard to come by. So how can you rent a 5th wheel? It turns out it’s easier than you might expect.
Smaller RV rental companies, including local mom and pop type places, don’t always have 5th wheels in their fleets, but chances are that the larger nationwide companies with locations in your area carry at least a few. If you can’t find any on a particular company’s website, try giving their customer service department a call to see if they can help you rent a 5th wheel camper that perhaps hasn’t yet been advertised online. You can also try searching for phrases like “5th wheel rentals near me,” “gooseneck trailer rental near me,” or “camper rentals near me” to find rentals in your area.
If all else fails, you can always try searching for 5th wheels on peer to peer RV rental websites. Similar to the Airbnb model, peer to peer RV rental platforms put their customers directly in contact with RV owners so you can rent a 5th wheel from the actual person who owns it. In addition to being much less expensive than trying to rent a 5th wheel bunkhouse from a traditional RV rental company, peer to peer sites are a great way to find a wide variety of camper trailer rentals, including less requested models like 5th wheels.
Using peer to peer RV rental sites can also be helpful if you’re coming from a smaller city or an area where there aren’t many traditional RV rental companies. Almost all of the different peer to peer platforms offer a way to search your area by a certain radius, giving you the ability to rent a 5th wheel or other RV from someone who lives close by.
How Much Does it Cost to Rent a 5th Wheel?
In general RV rental can be hard to price out because there are so many different factors that go into the cost of a nightly rental. When you rent 5th wheel hauler, how much you ultimately pay will depend largely on how new or how old the model is, how large or how small it is, and what time of year you plan on traveling. Typically, the prices for all RV rentals go up during the busy summer months, when the weather is nice and more people are traveling with their school aged children on vacation.
As you would expect, newer models with upgraded amenities will also cost you more than renting a 5th wheel that’s significantly older. Likewise, smaller 5th wheels will generally cost less money to rent than larger ones. As a bonus, smaller models tend to be better on fuel economy, so if you do end up picking a smaller version, you’ll save money every time you gas up.
Generally speaking though, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 a night to upwards of $350 and more for newer, fancier 5th wheel models. It never hurts to compare prices, so before you book, try calling around to a few different rental places to discover the best rates for your travel dates.
What to Know When You Rent a 5th Wheel Travel Trailer
As mentioned earlier, 5th wheel trailers are a good option when you’re looking for slightly more room than what you’d find in a standard RV travel trailer. Most 5th wheels range from 24 feet to 45 feet in length, meaning you won’t feel cramped even when you’re traveling with three or four other people. The large majority of 5th wheels have ample storage space, making it easy to take your camping gear and other recreational items along with you for the duration of your trip.
If you need even more room, consider renting a 5th wheel that has slide outs to extend the living space within the trailer. These days, some 5th wheels even come with more than one bathroom, which can come in handy if you’re traveling with kids or two different couples.
Some drivers find 5th wheels easier to maneuver than larger Class A or Class C RVs. And unlike other types of travel trailers, 5th wheels tend to be fairly stable on the roadway, meaning there’s far less chance of them swaying or jack-knifing when the wind picks up. Hauling a fifth wheel behind your truck also gives you complete flexibility when you go camping because you can leave the trailer behind at your campsite and simply take the truck into town if you need to get groceries or want to go sightseeing without moving your entire camper.
No matter why you ultimately decide to go with a 5th wheel trailer, it’s a great option for almost any road trip or camping trip you can dream up. Whatever you’ve got planned, we hope you have an amazing adventure on your horizon. Safe travels and happy camping!