5th Wheel camper questions

[justme]

I am looking at a 1997 JAYCO EAGLE 303 RK - 31' x 8' 2" 5th wheeler with a 16 foot electric pull out (Axles: 2 Weight: 6,645 Empty, 11,425 Full) . Visually, the trailer is in excellent condition, not a single stain, run or wear mark in the carpet.

I have never owned a trailer, and have just started looking into them this week. Therefore, I have numerous questions.

Is JAYCO a good manufacture? Are the industry leaders in quality construction, warranty hassles, and longevity? Are trailers constructed for specific regions? Can I purchase this trailer in the south, take it north, and not have to worry about adequate insulation and heating issues? Are there ways to economically upgrade the water heater (larger), stove (diesel fuel), trailer heater (diesel fuel) and other small items in a trailer?

Who make the very best electric brake to mount in my truck? See my signature for my truck specifics.

What do I need to look for and ask about?

Thanks,
Michael


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Bronze 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab, Short Bed 4 x 4, ETH/DEE, leather, camper/trailer, keyless, 285/75R16 B. F. Goodrich AT's, etc, etc... Future BOMBer!!!!

Life NRA Member

 

[RustyJC]

In response to your questions:

1. You'll find 5vers, like most RV's, fall into three general usage categories - full time, seasonal and weekender. You won't find these usage ratings stamped on any nameplate, and I'll probably generate some controversy by categorizing them this way, but here goes. Full time 5vers include brands like Alfa, Teton, King of the Road, etc. and are quite expensive. Our Jayco Designer 5ver (see signature) is generally considered to be a seasonal rig - for example, northerners who "snowbird" in Texas for the winter. The Jayco Eagle is a weekend/vacation-type rig. If that suits your intended usage, be assured that (assuming the 5ver has had proper maintenance) Jayco is a highly regarded RV manufacturer which has an excellent reputation for customer support and standing behind their product.

2. Many of the less expensive RV's have optional winterization packages that consist of extra insulation, heated tanks, etc. If the Eagle you're considering has it, you should be able to camp well below 32*. If not, you should be OK so long as you stay above 32* - if you have shore power, carry an electric ceramic space heater to warm up any cool spots.

3. Rather than get into all the accessories, I'd just recommend that you get a Camping World catalog. #ad
They'll be glad to take your money for any of these upgrades and offer installation at their nationwide network of stores as well. Of course, there are other smaller RV accessory vendors as well.

4. Electric brake controllers basically come in three types - single output electronic, inertial electronic and proportional. Having had the first, I would suggest that you avoid them like the plague - they are a royal PITA! A good inertial controller is the Tekonsha Sentinel (that's what we run). The "hot" proportional controller today seems to be the Jordan Ultima.

Sorry for the long post, but you asked a lot of questions. #ad
Hope this helps,

Rusty

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96 4x2 Driftwood 3500 Club Cab SLT V-10, automatic, 3. 54 axle, trailer & camper groups, all the 96 goodies, factory CD changer, Reese 14K 5ver hitch, B&M auxiliary trans cooler, 205* fan clutch, Smittybilt side step tubes

Towing a 13,500 lb 36' triple slide 2000 Jayco Designer XL 3610RLTS 5th wheel.

Looking for 2001. 5/waiting to order 2002 bright white/tan leather 4x2 Quad Cab 3500 SLT+ Sport ETH/DEE, 4. 10LS axle

2000 Durango SLT+ 5. 9L, bright white/tan leather, all the goodies (wife's ride)

 

[NVR FNSH]

Check out RV Consumer Group - they put out the 'Green Book' rating guide. My dad is as anal as they come & he offered to buy the current book for me when I started looking for a trailer. I have his '96-'97 issue and my observations of Toy Hauler trailers match up pretty well with the green book. I've been looking for ~8 months and am about to close a deal on a '00 KIT Patio Hauler 351F (used) for a considerable savings over new.
http://www.rv.org. /

Hope this helps,
Brian

 

[5thram]

Michael, IMHO, FWIW, be sure to get a good hitch and have it installed properly. Spare no expense here, as it will give you peace of mind when you most need it. (READ--VACATION TIME) Read the other threads regarding clearances, etc. You'll have an additional challenge here as you have a shortbed. Happy Camping!!!!!

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2001. 5 intenseblue 2500 ETH/DEE 4WD QC sportpkg, all the options but the cowhide, mostly stock. NRA, AMA member

 

[Runaway]

I would agree with Rusty, I have the Eagle (see signature) and it is good to about 25* in cold country before I have to worry about water freezing. Used it last deer season and once it got below the 25* mark, all bets were off. Guess I could install the tank heaters, but... .

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"01" Forest Green QC/LB ETH/DEE,4x4, 3. 54LSD, VDO (boost, pyro) Westin SS Nerf Bars and Grill Gaurd, Delta tool box, K&N.
00 28' Jayco 5th Wheel, 86 "Classic 16" Alumacraft, 00 Honda Rancher
Towing with a slight "edge" on the competition!

 

[Pogodually]

Having owned Fivers and TT, usually I would not recommend changing to higher BTU heater than what is already installed. As long as it works. Jayco is a good brand. RustyJC is righton with has answers. Get the Camping World Catalog and visit one of there stores. I you buy, then join and save 10% on everything.
Also check out the www.goodsamclub.com website. Look at joining the Good Sam Club also. Visit an RV dealer, look, and ask many questions of the sales person.

IMO and . 02 worth.

 

[Jim Gehlen]

Jayco has a good rep. Many items come to mind but make sure you have a good tire guage as well a 0-150 lb torque wrench for the wheel lugs. Go to www.iRV2.com for any questions. The info there is priceless. Make sure you always have enuf air in the tires and watch your braking. I have a Tekonsa brake controller on both rigs.

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96 2500 SLT, Banks Stinger w/KN Air, Power Vision mirrors, Rhino lining sprayed on. Davidson Air Foil, Firestone Air Bags,

97 Volvo, WIA64TTES, modified from 3 to 2 axles, 370/435 HP Fuller 10 speed. 3. 73 rear end.

2K Alfa Ideal, 34RLTBS

 

[Loren]

Justme,

BE ABSOLUTELY SURE that you can hitch a fifth-wheel trailer to your short bed truck before you buy one. Almost all trailers and almost all hitches will be positioned such that the trailer corner will hit the cab when you turn the rig.

The easiest way around this is a sliding hitch. There are two types, manual and automatic. A manual sliding hitch requires the driver to stop, get out, unlock the hitch, and pull forward to slide the hitch back in order to maneuver the rig. The entire operation is reversed to set up for travel.

The only automatic sliding hitch I know of is the Pulliam Enterprises (800-443-2307) SuperGlide. It's very convenient, but really expensive. Mine was just over $2500, plus installation. (You can do it yourself. ) With this set-up, a locking plate is bolted to the trailer plate. This latches to the hitch and causes a cam to slide the hitch rearward when the rig is turned. You can't forget it, because it always works. I figured that if it prevented me from denting the truck & trailer just once, it's paid for.

On brake controllers, I agree with the consensus here. I also like the Tekonsha Sentinel and really like the inertial controllers. I have owned the other popular inertial controller, the Hayes Micro Control, but I prefer the Tekonsha.

Trailer people talk about a four-season trailer. That means that it has the insulation and/or tank heaters necessary to use or park the trailer (with the heat on) in freezing temperatures. If the seller doesn't mention it, that trailer probably doesn't have it. If you intend to use it when or where it's cold, be sure to get one that is suited for that. You really don't want to have some water line or tank burst because it froze.

Fitting a larger water heater will probably be determined by the space available. You'll find that propane is fine for stove and heater fuel. You probably won't want to be burning diesel inside on those stove burners, but I expect that conversions are available if you insist. I will echo the advise to check Camping World.

Happy trailering.

Loren

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2000 Quad Cab, 4x4, short bed, six-speed: U. S. Gear exhaust brake, MileMarker Select Drive viscous coupling, Velvet-Ride spring shackles, Painless Wiring circuit box, Optima yellow-top batteries, Super-Glide 5th wheel hitch, Reese folding ball gooseneck hitch, Drawtite front hitch receiver, Tekonsha Sentinel brake controller, Westin nerf bars, Clarion sound system
1995 Standard Cab, 4x4, long bed, automatic: Firestone Ride-Rite air springs, torque converter lock-up switch, 4" cat-back exhaust, Reese 20K 5th wheel hitch, Reese gooseneck hitch, Hayes Micro Control trailer brake controller, 100 gallon bed-mounted fuel tank with 12 volt electric pump & fill nozzle, Swiss Cap fiberglass cap

 

[Steve M]

Good replies and advice. We own a Jayco 5th as in signature. It's a nice rig for the money. No problems at all so far. We've had it down to 23*F. I was alittle worried about the exposed tanks underneath but we didn't have any problems. It's not built for full time or even seasonal but for the money...
Towing a 30 ft 5th will be very close to the cab in turns and maneuvering around campgrounds. We use a stationary Reese 15k hitch. I can turn lock to lock forward with no problem. Backing up is also no problem but I have to watch the corners. I towed a 303RK. Almost bought it but during our tow test I got in a spot in a parking lot that I had to back out of. A sliding hitch would have worked but I like it simple. Even if it costs me some maneuverability. My next truck will be a long bed and I'm going for the big boy! That being said, if the price is right and you don't mind a sliding style hitch, I'd go for it.
Also, with our smaller 5th, we can use an 18" extended pin. The 303RK only allows for a medium extended pin.
Almost forgot, crawl under any potential travel trailer or 5th wheel and check for rips in the underbelly or rotted wood. The frame and underside of the Jayco is what sold me on it more so than the interior. They're built on a good frame. Look under the slide too. Some of them are leaks waiting to happen.

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98 2500 CC SB 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10, -silencer, AFC+20, Edelbrock IAS, VDO gauges, Reese 15k Classic
97 Dodge Stratus 150HP
92 Harley Fatboy, Dynojet fuel management, Supertrapp 2-1
00 Jayco 25' 5th wheel, single slide

[This message has been edited by Steve McDaniel (edited 05-27-2001). ]

 

[M1A2]

I agree with everything that has been said so far, and wanted to chime in with my opinion. I have owned 2 Jayco fifth wheels. The first for five years and never had a problem, the second only a year and again never a problem. Good quality and construction. I too have camped in some "colder" weather and agree that unless the tempature drops into the 20's for more than 24 hours you will be fine. A hard freeze for that long and you run the risk of your holding tanks freezing. Nothing that a heat pad and tape can't fix. Both of mine had the optional insulation in the ceiling and where quite comfortable in the 30's. Good luck and happy camping.


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1999 FLAME RED 2500 SLT, QC, 4X4 AT, 3. 54 AGATE LEATHER, JAYCO 325 BHS

 

[KB0OU]

I haul Jayco Travel Trailers, work with JET Inc. I can say that they are very well constructed. Some may tell you that they are heavy. It takes some wieght to put a good frame and good components in a trailer. All of the Jayco trailers pull very well. Note on the sig that I use a 3/4 ton truck. I can haul anything they make with it. I would not try to haul a 5th wheel with a short bed truck.
Good Luck

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96 CC 4X4 2500 SLT AUTO transmission WITH TRANS-GO KIT, PrimeLoc, ISSPRO EGT Boost transmission Temp, GUTTED CAT, 190,000+ Miles still goin' strong, Lots of Ham Radio gear, NO IGNITION NOISE!!! Love my diesel!!! # 8 TST Fuel Plate. 136 Gallons of fuel, 20K 5th Wheel, Goose Ball, Reciever with all size balls, Pintle. We Haul to Please!!!

 

[Fireman]

I have been looking into 5th wheel hitches for a short bed, and have decided to purchase the Super Glide by Pulliam Ent. (aka Pullrite) that Loren mentioned a few days ago. Their dealers are few and far between around these parts, so I contacted Pulliam for more info. Not only were they friendly and very helpful they had some good news. The y have a new version of the Super Glide that has just become available. It is a smaller version with a 16,000 lb towing capacity, and 4,000 lb pin capacity, and the best part, considerably lower price.

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L. Stubbs
'01 2500 4X4

 

[Pat_in_Utah]

Check out the all-new Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller. It is even BETTER than the sentinel (in theory anyway - not out till 6/01)

http://www.southwestwheel.com/brakecontrollers/brakecontrollers.htm

I've pre-ordered mine and will report on it when it arrives.

Pat


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2001. 7 White Sport RAM 2500HD QC SLT 4X4 LB 3. 54 LSD Cummins Auto
My Ram Page

1999 21' Terry Lite Towable 5400# GVW
1990 Kawasaki KLR 250 Enduro

 

[BigMike]

Make sure you get a good exhaust brake. I've got a BD and it works great!

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1999, 2500,4X4,QC,5spd, KN Filter,VA Box,4" Exhaust, Piller Mount Pyro & Boost Guages, BD Exhaust Brake, Bugshield w/eyebrows. Bedliner, Diamond Plated Rail Protectors, Better Built tool box, Rear Flaps.
Pull a 2000 30. 5' Terry Manor 5er.