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 Topic: American Travel Trailer or 5th Wheelers
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14/11/2022 at 4:51pm
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max length in the uk is 7 meters, sites are few and far between for american trailers or even 5th wheelers, and what did you intend on towing either with? their weight being the main concern, but the american trailers tend to have air brakes and a totally different coupling to uk vehicles
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14/11/2022 at 7:18pm
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Quote: Originally posted by ClubmanGT on 14/11/2022
Thanks for the reply.
A Travel Trailer comes in under 3500, so would be OK to Tow this with a Discovery 5.
The 5th Wheeler, I would need to get a Ranger with the coupling adaption. There is a Company in Cambridge (CCRV) that can do everything for me.
They import the units and convert them to fully UK legal.
They can even deliver them to a specific site.
no is the short answer! your licence will say 3500kgs and that includes the towing vehicle and for a discovery that is already 2500kgs before you hitch anything on it, so unless you have had your driving licnce for a long time you wont be legal is the short answer
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14/11/2022 at 9:00pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome
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I have seen a few on UK campsites. Don't forget you would need a pick-up truck to tow one. They are very tall so you might have problems with roads which trees and bushes that have not been properly maintained. I think you would also need to find sites with plenty of room so that you can reverse onto a pitch. I am sure there must be Facebook groups devoted to 5th wheelers so it might be worth a search.
David
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14/11/2022 at 9:03pm
Location: North Devon
Outfit: Fifth Wheeler
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Good Evening
Firstly, if you intend towing a fifth wheel you need the appropriate license. If you have a pre 1997 one you have a legal gross train weight (tow + trailer) of 8250kgs. The fifth wheelers you mention supplied by CCRV in Cambs supply 30ft trailers that can be legally towed by a ford ranger/ navarra type pickup. They also do free training courses for towing and reversing and include coupling etc. I had a ranger with a rockwood triple slide trailer for two years and used sites here and in Europe extensively. They are far more manouverable than say a 4x4 and twin axle caravan.
You also mention above that they offer a delivery service. I changed my rig in 2018 to a 40 ft fifth wheel which was delivered to a site in Spain where I lived until virus lockdown, after that the same firm brought it back to where I now am in North Devon.
Bear in mind that they have an 8ft wide body before slideouts are deployed and are much taller than Euro outits, mine is just under 4 meters.
If you have any questions or need advice please ask away and I'll try & help.
CREAKY
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relájate, la vida es demasiado corta
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15/11/2022 at 7:29pm
Location: North Devon
Outfit: Fifth Wheeler
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Evening
If you look at ccrv's website, they have a section called the big pitc guide where owners input sites that accommodate 5ers. Another resource is the rv owners club or its sister site, motorhome fun.
As for depreciation, I guess that's the same for all leisure vehicles. Saying that, my trailer is 4 years old and the current value is only 6k less than purchase price.
Research is the key when looking to park, I really enjoyed touring much more so than when I had a twin axle caravan. Far easier to use and the extra space with slideouts is to me a no brainer.
Give Paul or Avril, or Jay and Jane a call at ccrv, they're heplful folks.
Good Luck
CREAKY
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relájate, la vida es demasiado corta
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16/11/2022 at 7:13pm
Location: North Devon
Outfit: Fifth Wheeler
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Evening
I notice that here and on the mhf forum you favour a travel trailer. The law states that in the UK the maximum permissable body length not including the tow hitch is 7m. You won't be towing a TT with a discovery! To tow over 7m legally you'll need a vehicle that weighs over 3500kgs, ie an american truck or a twin wheel transit pickup type. Also to remember that american towball hitches are 2 & 5/16ths of an inch compared to 50mm on euro cars.
Fifth wheelers are different as the body sits over the rear axle of the tow vehicle.
There are a few unscrupulous dealers around that will tell you otherwise to get your hard earned.
For the fun factor and being biased I'd say fifth wheeler all day long. For practicalities I'd say rent bricks and mortar.
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relájate, la vida es demasiado corta
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17/11/2022 at 5:35pm
Location: North Devon
Outfit: Fifth Wheeler
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Hi
That RS in the link is a nice rig, goes out at around 30ft so similar to a fifth wheel or a travel trailer, it needs a lot of research where to park up. In my experience both here and Europe you'll be accepted on more sites with a fifth wheeler than a travel trailer, purely due to the overall length and manoeuvrability.
Perservere with ccrv, they'll give you sound advice and more importantly won't sell you something unsuitable. The ideal situation is what you mentioned earlier to find somewhere to pitch up long term. That way you can get your rig delivered and sited without the outlay of an expensive to run tow vehicle. We overwintered in Spain for 7 years before virus and back then I had a Dodge Ram pickup truck with a great 6.7 liter engine, not so good was 12mpg on a good day. The Ford Ranger with the 3.2 engine will get you mid 20's towing.
We've fulltimed for the last 13 years in various rigs, luckily I have year round pitching for the 5'er, it's rather luxurious compared to a caravan, with the slides out the lounge at the back is 14ft wide!!!
Have fun with your search.
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relájate, la vida es demasiado corta
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via mobile 15/11/2022 at 6:24pm
