5th Wheels that will fit the English Caravan width

The fifth wheel travel trailer extends over the truck bed to allow approximately 20 percent of its gross weight to be spread over the entire suspension of the towing vehicle. Commercial truckers use the fifth wheel hitch configuration to carry heavy loads because of its forgiving nature.

A fifth wheel trailer will stick to the tow vehicle through thick and thin. In many adverse handling situations, a fifth wheel trailer will actually enhance the ability of the tow vehicle to stick to the road. Whether in tractor trailer rigs or in travel trailers, the fifth wheel configuration is popular because of its safety and handling capabilities

A fifth wheel travel trailer is particularly popular with RVers who are full-timing because of the size of RV required for this lifestyle. The fifth wheel is easy to connect and disconnect from the truck, it's relatively easy to back, it reduces sway problems (when properly designed),, it allows for more storage facilities, and the usable square footage is more than any other RV type for its overall length.

A fifth wheel can actually enhance the handling of the towing vehicle when you get in a tough spot.

Well with space, interior fittings, water carrying, Safety on the road, transport at the destination even if it is a pick up truck it would seem as if all of my bases are covered!

A NZ'er left a message in my Guest book "Good site. Good re has been done. I am also interested in 5th wheelers but they don't seem to be too popular in NZ. I wonder why?" well the answer to that is because of the tremendous amount of second hand Rentals Motorhomes that are coming onto the market all of the time it has killed the Caravan business and any thing else that may develop from it in allied things like 5th.

Tahoe Lite FW 21MB GL

Extract of a letter received from the Department of Transport, UK, October 1995.

All vehicles and trailers used on our roads (UK) must comply with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/078): as amended and the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/1796): also as amended. These Regulations set the overall parameters and technical specifications such as width, length, weights, braking systems, lights etc, with which vehicles must comply if they are to be used on our roads.

The maximum dimensions allowable for the fifth wheel trailer when towed by a motor car or light van are 2.3 metres (7 feet 6 inches) in width and 7 metres (approximately 23 feet) in length. However, if the towing vehicle is a motor vehicle with a gross weight exceeding 3,500 kgs, (Heavy Duty License required for this) the maximum permitted width becomes 2.5 metres (8 feet 2V2. inches) and 12 metres (approximately 39 feet 4 inches) in length providing the trailer has at least 4 wheels.

These are all narrow (7'6') that should suit the caravan width in the UK.

Check out my points rating for

Motorhomes compared with
Caravans (Trailers) compared with
UK Via USA made compared with
5th wheel

Forget most of above... I have found a dealer in Wales bringing in 8foot wide units...... so what do you do..... keep your fingers crossed

Max width for New Zealand is 8feet 2 inches

Registration & tow vehicle
It is my understanding (Ed said im response to my question) that the least expensive place to register a RV is Oregon or Florida. Florida you can become a resident in 6 weeks so that may be something to consider. As far as size and power vehicle what you have suggested will work beautifully but I would get a 3/4 ton pickup simply because they are built more for the application. There are 2 types of 3/4 ton vehicles out there. One is rated at 6600 lb. and one is rated at 8400 lb.. On that small of a 5th wheel the 6600 is ideal because of the larger cooling system than the 1/2 ton pickups and the stability of the 3/4 ton is far superior to the 1/2 ton but gives almost the same ride.