This is exactly the reason why we love 5th wheels. We’ve been on the road for years, talked with people who have been on the road for decades, and we’ve discovered there’s neither joy nor pain like seeing the world towing a 5th wheel.

1: The Freedom of the Open Road

2: Sleeping in your own bed

Is there anything quite like it? We think not! The joy of getting away from your own stomping grounds and seeing the country is unsurpassed, and better still travelling in style and knowing you have your own home-away-from-home hitched to the bed of your truck. Be sure to wave to other 5th wheelers on your way!

This cannot be underestimated. Sure, we’d love the grandkids to visit, but who of us has a Playstation or xBox and a big-screen TV to keep them occupied? Why not visit them instead, where short attention spans won’t grate, secure knowing that you can retreat to your own living space?

3: Being Able to Take Side Trips

Side trips are a cinch when you tow a 5th wheel – you can unhitch and head off in the truck to do some sight-seeing or make a supply run. It’s nice not to chock, level, and stabilize the RV every time you get back to base. Is hitching up again really that much of a big deal? It can be…

4: Fear of things that go bump

Let’s face it, it takes practice, a spotter or two, good lighting, and a four-leaf clover to get into place without a love-bite. Fifth-wheel RV-specific backup cameras are a great way to make things go easier, and it doesn’t get any easier than a plug-and-play solution. They even make night-hitching easy with night-vision.

5: Shopping Around

“Shop ‘til you drop” easily applies to shopping for your first 5th wheel or replacement RV. There are dozens of 5th wheel manufacturers, each with a dozen models and a hundred options. It’s enough to make your head spin, but taking things one step at a time will help you make sense of it all. Then you can drop in the bed and take a nap before your next big trip.

6:Making Rookie Mistakes

Laughing off mishaps like old people remembering the good old days. “You remember when we left our retractable steps somewhere on I-80 and had to use the step-ladder to get in and out for a month? Good times.” Yeah, that and a dozen other silly little things have happened that’ll leave you shaking your head. Hopefully now you’ll remember to retract your steps before pulling away from the campsite!

7: Searching For the Perfect Upgrade

Sometimes it feels like the shopping never ends.There are so many things that you can get to upgrade your 5th wheel. It is hard to know when to stop! Whatever you decide to do, however, make sure you always keep your weight limits in mind. One more upgrade could put it over the safe operating limits of your truck or get you in trouble at the weigh station.

8:Feeling Smug Around Tow Trailer Owners

Thanks to the superior weight distribution that the 5th wheel RV comes with, you’ll have better braking, steering, and handling than guys who are towing their RVs and lifting their front wheels off the ground. It’s not that you can’t use a weight-distribution hitch, but you’d be surprised how many people have no idea what they are or how to use them! Because of the way 5th wheels are built, there’s more headroom and are safer than RVs.

9:Checking (and Double-Checking)

It’s OK to be a little OCD, especially when it concerns the safety of your home-away-from-home. Tire pressure, lug nuts, brakes, 5th wheel mount, lights, and body are just a few things that we’ve probably checked a half-dozen times before pulling out, and again at the first rest area. Be vigilant, 5th wheeler!

10: Learning the Limits of Your Weight Rating

Learning weight limits can be harrowing. After loading fresh-water tanks and compensating for black- and grey-water tanks, as well as fuel tanks, food, clothes, gear, and souvenirs, you can easily end up over the weight limit! Even when parked, weight plays a big role, from learning how to properly stabilize your trailer on soft surfaces to learning that a *cough* “jolly” couple can’t sleep on the same platform bed without flipping the RV.

11: Planning the Next Trip

The highway is longer on the other side, and you’ll always be planning your next trip. We just can’t help ourselves! You’ll be halfway to Grandma’s in the mountains and suddenly the thought will pop into your head “Self, you should definitely go to the beach.” Depending on how well you pack, only you can decide whether you’ll make that detour before or after Grandma has put that pie together.

Whether you’re heading to a beach, the mountains, a national park, or visiting family, brewing your own morning coffee, driving your own vehicle, and sleeping in your own bed are second-to-none, baby! We’re sure there are a few more things that we could have added to this list. After all, we haven’t been everywhere (yet)! Do you have a funny or tragic to tell about 5th wheel life, or do you have a memory that reminds you there’s nothing like a 5th wheel? Be sure to share in the comment section, below! Then, take a trip and enjoy life in a 5th wheel.