Keeping fifth wheel attached for a night.

quick83 · 09-07-2021, 07:36 PM

Has anyone ever just stayed hooked up to their fifth wheel and was able to get level enough to open their slides? We have a very high new 4WD and wondering if since it’s so high, maybe on a level spot I can get it level enough to open the slides. Please advise if you can.

NavyLCDR · 09-07-2021, 07:38 PM

I don't see why it would be any different than a bumper pull TT. If it is within 1/2" of level, I don't see why not.

asr524 · 09-08-2021, 05:49 AM

Mine is currently in the driveway hooked to the truck and slide out.

aceinspp · 09-08-2021, 06:35 AM

On one night stays at camp grounds I never unhook im level side to side but a little high on the nose but I have no issues with slides. Later RJD

**Bama Rambler** · 09-08-2021, 06:44 AM

We do as Ace says. We don't unhook for overnight stays, however, our RV is level when hooked to the truck.

As long as it's level enough to be comfortable to sleep, I'd think it's fine to leave hooked up.

TowPro · 09-08-2021, 06:45 AM

the slides don't care if its level. they care if one corner is jacked up higher than other as it twists the body.

**ependydad** · 09-08-2021, 12:25 PM

We look for spots where we are a little nose low. The LevelMate Pro is really helpful in this situation because we can monitor the level from the truck.

Then we lower the landing gear and take just a little bit of weight off of the truck. We do it for stability with the 4 of us in the camper. The kids rolling over would intrude on my sleep enough that I didn't wake up feeling rested.

jwfrede · 09-08-2021, 01:01 PM

When traveling long distances with just one night stops I try not to unhook my fifth wheel. I reserve pull through spots and use the anderson levelers I kept from my travel trailer. I don't use the leveling jacks. I get it fairly level side to side and hope they gave me a level site front to back. If its too far off front to back I have unhooked in the past.

I guess if the front of the trailer is low I could just use the two front jacks together since that would just be taking some weight off the truck. To do that I would need to get both jacks down hard together otherwise I would be twisting the trailer.

Splashes3 · 09-08-2021, 02:33 PM

Over the years, with 2 different trucks and 2 different 5vers, we have stayed hooked up many times. I do take some wt off the truck...the trailer is fairly level.

TowPro · 09-08-2021, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Splashes3

Over the years, with 2 different trucks and 2 different 5vers, we have stayed hooked up many times. I do take some wt off the truck...the trailer is fairly level.

My buddy did an across the US trip, unhooking every night. one morning he did not hook up correct and bashed his bed up real bad. Just saying practice does not make perfect, it just increasing the chances of making a mistake. I used to leave it hooked up and just put jacks down to stabilize it while using it on the road

ThruHiker · 09-08-2021, 03:06 PM

One night stops we always stay hooked up (fifth wheel) if possible. We are slightly nose high, it's never been a problem if the site is level. Sometimes we go back to the old ways and use a board or leveling blocks if the site isn't quite flat LOL. But yeah, staying hooked to the truck overnight is fine.

ewinterbee · 09-08-2021, 04:23 PM

As the consensus seems to be, on overnight stays when we are pulling back out in the morning, we do not unhook our fifth wheel. I level side to side, use the landing gear to take weight off truck and put down the rear stabilizers. If I know where I am going when reserving I always try to get a site that is slightly low in the front. If I don't, I do my best to level front to back. If I have shore power, I unhook the umbilical cord and plug into shore power. Reverse the process after breakfast and roll out. Probably not necessary to unplug 7 way cord but I always do. I have a thing about supplying power to the battery from two different sources.

phillyg · 09-09-2021, 08:02 AM

On a reasonably level site, yes. I've used the 6-pt levelers to get nearly level without affecting the FW hitch head.

5picker · 09-09-2021, 08:56 AM

We often stay hitched for one night stays if the site levelness allows.

Like others, I'll use the rear stabs and the landing gear for stability but don't unhook. Just be sure with auto level that it doesn't raise the rear truck wheels off the ground. I've seen it happen. Be sure the trailer wheels are chocked!

Also... depending on YOUR truck's 7 pin configuration, you may/may not need to disconnect the 7 pin plug or you could run the truck battery dead with no shore power connection. Not all trucks are wired the same. You need to know what YOURS does.

DrLewie · 09-09-2021, 09:03 AM

We stay hitched whenever we're in a park for one night. I'll use the levelers to get it close if necessary, and never had an issue with the slide or fridge.

**Mr. Dan** · 09-09-2021, 09:30 AM

We stay hitched whenever we stop for one night but we don't require a pull-through site. I may throw down a leveler block or two to get a little closer to level and I drop my landing gear and take a little weight off the truck. I also drop and snug up my rear stabilizers and pull the umbilical cord out of my truck since my GMC has an always hot connection.

Tundra 2014 · 09-09-2021, 09:56 PM

I stay hooked to the truck. I do put my front jacks (5 th. wheel) down a little to take weigh off the truck. When boon docking, I would caution you to disconnect the light hook up , if running the furnace and unsure of the trailer battery power. I had one of my 2 trailer batteries go bad and almost drained truck battery overnight. Especially if you have hydraulic slides and small factory batteries.

dalford · 09-09-2021, 11:09 PM

I notice a few posters have said “they take the weigh off the truck”. Does the truck care of is it bad on the truck?

I admit I have done it but only because I probably read it on the forum. It takes weight off the truck but it makes my 5th wheel nose high. I wonder what is worse. I’ve never had a slide issue either way.

**Bama Rambler** · 09-10-2021, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalford

I notice a few posters have said “they take the weigh off the truck”. Does the truck care or is it bad on the truck?

I admit I have done it but only because I probably read it on the forum. It takes weight off the truck but it makes my 5th wheel nose high. I wonder what is worse. I’ve never had a slide issue either way.

I don't necessarily "take the weight off the truck" I run the landing gear down to take a little bounce out of it when walking around in the bedroom. But we've stopped late and have slept in it with it sitting on the hitch. The truck doesn't care if there's a few hundred extra lbs. on the hitch while we sleep.

**Mr. Dan** · 09-10-2021, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalford

I notice a few posters have said “they take the weigh off the truck”. Does the truck care of is it bad on the truck?

I admit I have done it but only because I probably read it on the forum. It takes weight off the truck but it makes my 5th wheel nose high. I wonder what is worse. I’ve never had a slide issue either way.

Yeah, I should have said I take some weight off the truck tires - to reduce a little of the bounce out of the trailer. If it looks like my trailer will be nose high, I’ll toss some of my wooden leveler blocks behind the trailer tires and back up on them.

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