Riding in your camper/5th wheel?

[wbrown02]

The most important factor in letting anyone ride in anything is the connection between the steering wheel and the seat! Second is the vehicle and the vehicle set up. Anytime you have passengers try to start, stop, shift, brake and turn as smoothly as possible and always stay ahead of the rig... . look far down the road and plan your moves. Here in California some of the metro transportation companies use tractors with 5th wheels to tow trailers with paying passengers inside.

Yes I do let my family ride in the 5th wheel rather than the truck if they wish. They are more comfortable and have access to the potty and groceries. I have an air ride 32,000 hitch and air ride suspension on the trailer and the truck is a 3500 dully. And many years ago I drove a big rig wrecker for a living and have seen many rv wrecked.

 

[Elite1]

Besides, look at all the horses and cattle you see in trailers... you don't see them complaining ???... So next time the wife is nagging, just treat her like a nag, back in the trailer she goes!

 

[MD500E]

Wow, what a sensitive issue! I personally don't have a problem with people riding in a fifth wheel. Many of the van chassis motor homes have no more structural integrity than a well built fifth wheel. I personally would take my chances riding in the back of a fifth wheel across the country when compared to the same trip in a sub-compact car that is just waiting to get clobbered by something many times its size.

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by MD500E

Wow, what a sensitive issue! I personally don't have a problem with people riding in a fifth wheel. Many of the van chassis motor homes have no more structural integrity than a well built fifth wheel.

My Point EXACTLY.



Kev

 

[knewman]

I could think of some people I would like to carry for a ride in my fifth wheel

 

[SBashaw]

DPelletier



Nice touch!

 

[DPelletier]

SBashaw,



Thankyou!



Dave

 

[Dbonzi]

I allow my children to ride in our 5Th wheel.

Usually on the freeways and on low traffic back roads. Try to avoid it in large cities. I think you would have a better chance surviving a crash in a 5th wheel then you would in an airplane!!

Look how many (Quote "fools") ride these things. Sometimes you have to put all your paranoia to rest and have a little faith in God!! I believe when its your time to go, its your time to go.

Just hope its not the piolits time



Dennis

 

[CraigJohnson]

I tried it

I put the wife and kids in the 5er once when we got to the campground. I rode around looking for a good spot and "had" to circle the campground a couple of times and make sure I hit all them potholes. When I finally stopped at the perfect campsite, the door flew open and momma was mad as h#@@. They never wanted to ride in it again.

 

[Bug Out]

5th/trailer wheel Vs. motorcycles?

I let folks ride in the 5th if asked. I also ride a Harley with the wife on the back.



Now how many of the folks that WON'T allow anybody in the 5th wheel, would not think twice about riding down the freeway at 65 within 12 inches of the asphalt on a motorcycle?



What would be more safe to have an accident in/on?

 

[OTRPU]

I done it 33 years ago. Had a new Chevy Cheyenne C20, loaded with a 10 ft hardside Mitchell truck camper towing my 25 ft glass tri-hull boat. Three passengers rode in the truck camper all the way to Flathead Lake, Kallispell, MT and back. I drove so didn't really know any better. Nuther trip I was dog butt tired, wifey drove and I slept in the cabover. Awoken by the truck fishtailing back and forth, wifey gotta little foxy. Ran into heavy rain coming through Idaho Springs, CO. No communication tween camper and truck other than yellin through the crawl through. She finally pulled over and stopped. I decided I'd take the wheel. Scart the livin hell outta me I'll tell ya. Right then and there I decided it wasn't a good idea for living things to be ridin in my campers. Dad actually ask if he could ride in the boat. I was dumb but not stupid. Wifey felt like she wanted to get some sleep and decided to try riding in the fiver cabover, shortly decided it wasn't a good idea. I don't care what anybody else does, but I for one will never allow it again in vehicles I'm haulin. JMHO



Tow Safe,

Steve J.

 

[Coalsmoke]

After seeing what happens to some pretty tough cargo haulers when they flip, I'd hate to think of a living thing being inside all of that fiberglass, window glass, wood, etc. if the worst did happen.

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by OTRPU

Dad actually ask if he could ride in the boat.

What, was he planing to do a little water skiing on the way back?

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

I don't think its a good idea either to let anyone ride in the 5er. But I think it is legal here in PA as long as there is some type of communication from one to the other. I am not sure if its for bumper pull campers too or for 5ers as well. Either way I don't think it is a good idea even in a Coach RV to be up walking around or doing anything while cruising down the road. Just my . 02

Don

 

[Spooled-up]

What about nationwide seatbelt laws? Wouldn't that make it illegal to ride in the trailer? I would think they would have to revise these trailer occupant laws now that occupants are required to wear seatbelts.

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by DMKelley

What about nationwide seatbelt laws? Wouldn't that make it illegal to ride in the trailer? I would think they would have to revise these trailer occupant laws now that occupants are required to wear seatbelts.

Heck most buses don't even have them, especially school buses... I doubt they inforce RV's.

 

[Coalsmoke]

Well, for what it's worth (if anyone cares ) Crash tests have proven the busses with stacked bench seats are safer without seat belts. Go fig. There was a whole big deal up here a couple of years ago about that issue of school busses not having seat belts, and the studies showed that with seat belts, you would pivot forward and break your neck on the top of the seat on front of you, where as no seat belts meant you would slide into the seat infront of you and your whole body would absorb the shock, not just your neck.

 

[Dkevdog]

My wife having been a school bus driver for 4 years now, I can tell you there are alot more reasons that busses are not equipped with safety belts. Here are just two of them:



Aside from what's already been mentioned, here is one example she witnesses daily: The seltbelts, in the hands of 6-12 year olds make excellent weapons and work well to break windows.



But more than that, in a severe accident it would be a nighmare for the driver and rescue personell to have to go through an overturned bus and unbelt 80 kids... ... .



Kev

 

[Eric_77]

Originally posted by OTRPU

Dad actually ask if he could ride in the boat.

Well never let anyone ride in the fifth wheel before (it is Util trailer anyway) but I have had two people ride in the boat before. It was an emergency guy had ripped his foot open and we didn't want to try and move him for ride to ER. They said they would have been better getting moved into bed of truck; boat was rough.

 

[JyRO]

Bugout...

has an excellent point. I guess I better not ever ride my Harley again. I hear that you could get injured in a motorcycle wreck. Is that true? Can't take that chance ... wooooo.



Boy, if that's true, I wonder if I'd get hurt more or less on a motorcycle than in the back of a 5'er?



I'm getting skeered to death of everything. I might stub my toe getting out of bed in the morning. Think I better stay in the bed shivvering from fear. That's better than encountering any risk.



I'm ridiculous, as well as the funniest person I know. I crack myself up ... funny though, I'm the only person I can crack up.



P. S. - I was thinking about taking a breath, but I decided not to, cause I might get a germ.



- JyRO