Dutchmen Goes 20,000 -- Industry Dives 21: Shopping Time?

If you're a Dutchmen RV owner, you're not alone. Recently the Goshen, Indiana plant celebrated the roll-out of 20,000 units with the completion and delivery of a Denali fifth wheel. By our calculations that's 8 and 1/2 units produced per working day since the facility opened in 1998.

Dutchmen's happiness must be tempered by the overall falloff in industry shipments. Recreation Vehicle Industry Association manufacturer members report a decline of over 21% in wholesale sales for the month of May, as compared to the same month in 2006. Shopping for a new fifth wheel? Dealers may be happy to cut you a deal . . .

Is a Fifty Foot Fiver Big Enough?

Back a few months ago we report that the RVIA (Recreation Vehicle Industry Association) had begun to 'send out feelers' for a possible future attempt at raising the bar as to how big a fifth wheel can be. Under current industry and safety standards, RVs are limited to less than eight and a half feet of width, with an interior space of less than 320 square feet "when erected." When you roll out your slides, the interior space--including those slides--must be less than 320 square feet to meet the standard.

Envision this: A fifth wheel, with triple slide outs, fifty feet in length. Ah, you don't need to hand me a calculator to run up the numbers. But we're not talking a "concept" fifth wheel--we're talking about custom built fivers, with a particular bent for those who need to haul a lot of merchandise or trundle around all their "toys." This came to us through an on-line industry newspaper that, in discussing the RVIA's wish list, mentioned that, "Some manufacturers are already preparing for that possibility. Check out the conceptual drawings of the 50-foot fifth wheel . . ."

We called the manufacturer, Starship Custom Vehicles. We asked, "Is that a conceptual trailer, or could we order it?" Far from being conceptual, Starship would be happy to build one for us. What flavor would we like? The rep told us they like to focus on an "all aluminum" trailer, in keeping the weight down to a dull roar. As to price--well, we couldn't quite get a starting value, but I suppose it's one of those, "If you have to ask, you can't" deals.

We'll have more on the issue of RVs that aren't really RVs, at least if your yardstick gets involved in the near future. Meantime, if you've got a hankering to order one of these bad boys, check out the Starship website.

Diagram: Startracks custom 50' fifth wheel with 12' cargo area. Diagram courtesy Starship Custom Vehicles

Slide Out Supports: Love 'em or Leave 'em?

There can be no doubt that slide-out rooms in fifth wheels are the difference between night and day. That little bit of extra floor space can make up for a whole-lot of "too much togetherness." Now the question: Should you use aftermarket slide out support stands?

Variously called "slide out stabilizers," or "slide out supports," these little jack stands are designed to slip under a slide out frame and crank up to give added support. One major retailer says they, "Protect your slide-out extension tubes from bending, causing difficult slide-out operation." Sounds pretty serious--a bent frame could be bad news when it's time to weigh anchor and hit the road. But hang on a minute--if they're so critical, why don't RV manufacturers provide them with new rigs, or at least make them a piece of optional equipment?

Not everyone with a slide out "buys into" the stabilizer story. One RV technician says his understanding is that if an RV under warranty comes in with a damaged slide that could be attributed to a stabilizer, all bets are off for getting warranty service. It begs the question: If your slide out needs stabilization to prevent damage, why aren't there scores of unhappy campers limping across the country on their way to service bays, slide out rooms flapping in the breeze?

Some of those who fore swear slide out stabilizers point to a potential problem: What if your rig were to "settle" while the stabilizers did not: They suggest the pressures placed on the slide out frame could be enough to damage it, leaving the RVer in a world of hurt.

On the other hand, friends of ours just don't feel comfortable "hanging out in space," without the additional support under their slide out. Of course, we also have a friend who won't venture up into the "gooseneck" portion of her fifth wheel until her husband installs a king pin stabilizer. Says she knows it's crazy, but she just imagines the whole works tipping down on the king pin when she shifts her weight forward. Does impose an interesting mental picture . . .

OK, we'll turn it over to you. Have you had experience with a slide out frame bending--with or without a stabilizer?

Newbie Questions: Can I Tow With My Sliding Hitch Back?

Folks new to the fifth-wheeling game sometimes have a little catching up to do. Sometimes even us 'old dogs' learn something new. For example, I know plenty of fifth wheel owners who've never had the need for a "sliding hitch" because they've always towed with a long-bed truck.

First, what's a 'sliding hitch'? Specially designed for short-bed pickup trucks, a sliding fifth wheel hitch temporarily allows the actual hitch to slide farther back in the bed of the pickup. This is helpful when making really tight corners--as when maneuvering in or out of a camp site. With the hitch "forward" in the truck bed, a tight corner could actually cause your trailer to impact with the truck cab--not a happy situation.

So, can you tow with the hitch in the "back" position? Technically you could--and some people erroneously do. But towing in with the hitch back puts the weight of the trailer's kingpin far behind the axle, compromising the pickup's suspension, and great endangering road-worthiness. Never tow with the hitch in any position other than the proper forward "tow" position.