Riding in your camper/5th wheel?

[DHayden]

Was just wondering how many of you guys let your families ride in the camper or in your trailer. I don't have one but wonder how many I see on the road have people in them.

I remember riding in the camper when I was a kid and it was a blast but it was a different day back then. Who is, who isnt?

 

[RustyJC]

Speaking from my perspective as a moderator at iRV2.com, I don't know of many members over there who would let a pet, and none who would let a family member, ride in a 5th wheel in the few states where it's legal. In almost all of those states where it is legal to ride in a 5th wheel, it's not legal to ride in a "bumper pull" or conventional travel trailer.



If you've ever seen one of these things after a wreck, I doubt you'd let a family member ride in one, either.



Rusty

 

[MUDDY]

i wouldnt let my kids ride in my camper. but,,,,,,,,,,,,, id be happy if my ol lady wld ride back there:-{}

 

[Dkevdog]

:-{}



Well Rusty Guess its time to stir the Pot. I've had passengers in the back of my Sunnybrook fifth wheel a few different times. I think it would be best if they remain seated and with a seatbelt on at all times, which, Fifth wheels do not normally come equipped with. I have given some thought to installing them.



If a Fifth wheel was equipped with properly installed seatbelts, I don't see how they are any less safe than alot of the class C coaches running around out there with people up and about and running around making sandwiches and what not.



Kev

 

[y-knot]

Good Lord, Tell me you are not serious.



Your fifth wheel is nothing but a bunch of cardboard,furring strips, and Reynolds wrap. They don't come with seat belts because they didn't think there was anyone (come down... . goose faba... . gooose faba... . goooooossseeee fffaaabbbaa..... ok now I can be nice) foolish enough to ride in them. Haven't you ever seen a wrecked trailer, they fly apart like a rock'm sock'm robot. It is illegal to ride in ANY TRAILER, as obvious as you would think this to be, I guess this is why we have so many laws and regulations.

 

[klenger]

We let our cat ride in the trailer when he feels like it, but no human units.

 

[dezeldog]

If them Hillbillys can haul their kids and inlaws around in the back of a pickup I'd think a ride in a fiver would be a step up for them.

 

[Sregorb]

Pertinent website to this topic (Canada+US):

http://www.rvda.bc.ca/rvlawcan.htm



Brian

 

[DHayden]

LOL Y-knot, I can see the anger sharks swimming in your head. I'm gonna have to recommend 30 days of personal anger management .



I thought this might stir a pot but I wondered who would be honest and fess up. As I said I rode in the camper when I was a kid but was a different time.



I would definitely not let my family ride in a trailer on the highway or any major road. I might consider letting the kids have some fun if we were already off the road and looking for a nice camp site, speeds below 20mph and no other traffic. Maybe ... depending on the situation.

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by y-knot

Good Lord, Tell me you are not serious.



Your fifth wheel is nothing but a bunch of cardboard,furring strips, and Reynolds wrap. They don't come with seat belts because they didn't think there was anyone (come down... . goose faba... . gooose faba... . goooooossseeee fffaaabbbaa..... ok now I can be nice) foolish enough to ride in them. Haven't you ever seen a wrecked trailer, they fly apart like a rock'm sock'm robot. It is illegal to ride in ANY TRAILER, as obvious as you would think this to be, I guess this is why we have so many laws and regulations.

I don't know about Kentucky, but in Calif. it is legal to ride in a 5th wheel if you have a communication device to the truck (walkie talkie). It is illegal in a travel trailer, guess the law thinks the 5th wheel hitch is much safer.

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by y-knot

Good Lord, Tell me you are not serious.



Your fifth wheel is nothing but a bunch of cardboard,furring strips, and Reynolds wrap. They don't come with seat belts because they didn't think there was anyone (come down... . goose faba... . gooose faba... . goooooossseeee fffaaabbbaa..... ok now I can be nice) foolish enough to ride in them. Haven't you ever seen a wrecked trailer, they fly apart like a rock'm sock'm robot. It is illegal to ride in ANY TRAILER, as obvious as you would think this to be, I guess this is why we have so many laws and regulations.

Your quite misinformed on many levels my friend. As was pointed out, it is PERFECTLY legal in the state of California as well as others to ride in the back of a fifth wheel trailer. Yes the law states(at least in CA) that two way communication is required, and that I do have. Do your homework with regard to law.



And as far as my trailer being made of cardboard, furring strips and what was it?? Reyneolds wrap?? No, sorry, I got rid of my Fleetwood . My trailer is now constructed from an aluminum structure frame and has gel coat sides, thank you. No junk here, but that isn't relevant is it??



I know FOR A FACT, that this IS COMMON PRACTICE for race teams, to be working and using the trailer while in route to a race. But again, that is not relevant.



Don't get me wrong, I agree with you about these things coming apart in an accident, 12 years living next to a tow company owner and wreck recovery specialist makes this very easy to see first hand. But what I will argue to death, is that most fifth wheel trailers come apart no less than a moderate class C coach, and nobody has any problems loading the family in one of those now do they?? Heck, you (or at least I) pass motorhome rigs all the time on the road where I see people up and about walking around, kids playing, etc. How hard do you think an adult is gonna hit the windshield when the driver needs to stop in a hurry?? You think that things loaded in the cupboards of your motorhome are going to stay put in an accident?? NOT! I've seen enough photos and first hand disasters to know that unless your talking about a well built Class A coach, these things are ALL coming apart in an accident.



Don't get me wrong, the safest place for anyone is in a the tow vehicle. But there are occasional times when the cab of the truck is just too crowded. Course if Dodge will build us real crew cabs... ... . but thats another story.



No need to argue and certainly no reason for you to consider me a fool- you don't even know me. Just different opinions, thats all.



Kev

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by dezeldog

If them Hillbillys can haul their kids and inlaws around in the back of a pickup I'd think a ride in a fiver would be a step up for them.

Careful... ... ... . this is already become a sensitive thread:-{}

 

[Tony T.]

This post remines me of the movie "The Long Long Trailer" with Lucille Ball, and Dezi Arnaz. The scene where Lucy decides to ride in the trailer, and prepare a nice meal for Ricky. :-laf

 

[y-knot]

That's funny.....

Many moons ago, my mom decided to cook a dinner while we were on a large farry. We all went up to the deck to look as we sailed. When we came back an hour or so latter, my mom was sick as a dog. The rocking of the boat was amplified by the rocking of the trailer, and she was so sick it was funny. We always tease her about it... . I still laugh.

 

[DPelletier]

Kev,

Don't get excited. Y-knot's posts are always, well... ... less than socially sensitive! I am sure he didn't mean anything personal .

Dave



Disclaimer: The writer takes no responsibility for any real or percieved insult or offense. No animals, children or CTD pickups were harmed in the writing of this post.

 

[dresslered]

I would have to add that just because there is no law, this shouldn't supercede common sense. I even use to wear seat belts before they made it a law.

 

[JyRO]

hauling in the 5'er...

Hey Rusty - I'm an irv2 member, every time I pull my 5'er with my family and take the dog, poopsie get's the luxury of riding in the 5th wheel. However, she doesn't roam about, she stays in her crate (not that that makes it any safer). When I opened the door the 1st couple times, I thought I'd see her a little panicky and ready to get out. But I think she loves it back there. She always looks real calm and when its time for her to get out to use the bathroom and stretch her legs, she does, but she's in no rush. And she always happy to climb the steps to get back in. One thing that may help though is her crate ... she feels comfortable in her crate, like she's protected in her own little house.



Once my wife said she wanted to ride back there. So I let her. She rode on the couch. She said she could've fell asleep easy, and that the ride was smooth and comfortable. But we kept talking on the radios. Only that one time though, she just wanted to know what it was like back there going down the road.



- JyRO

 

[RustyJC]

JyRO,



OK, I stand corrected. Now I know of 2 people (you and Kev) from iRV2.com who let people ride in the 5ver.



Rusty

 

[Dkevdog]

Dave, Y-Knot, no offense taken, I just wanted to state the facts. And, I see that no one yet has challenged my notion of the safety of riding in a motorhome either.



Like I said, time to stir the pot.



Rusty- I remember a thread on this in IRV a while back and remember I think there were at least 3 that had or do allow riders . Maybe not.



Course if you get a backlash for admitting it, you probably aren't going to find many more to admit it .



Kev

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by Dkevdog

And, I see that no one yet has challenged my notion of the safety of riding in a motorhome either.

Kev,



I think Warpath (Bill Rowell, iRV2's founder) would agree with you - that's one reason he built his Freightliner F112-based ShowHauler. Did you see the pictures of the rectangular-section steel tubing they use to frame the box on those things?



Also, most of the bus conversion people would agree with you for the same reason. I even know of some people who choose Class C's over Class A's because the Class C has the Ford or Chevy designed and crash-tested cab section from the van, and I think some of the Class C chassis even come with airbags.



And the crash photos I've seen of trucks towing 5th wheels and the crashes I've personally come upon verify that the trucks hold up far better in an accident than the RV!



Rusty