• Take your time to find the best fifth wheel.lake mead national recreation area 14 image by Jim Parkin from Fotolia.com
  
  It helps to have a game plan when you are attempting to purchase a fifth wheel. There are many valid considerations that should be thought out well before you approach the dealership or private seller with your money. This purchase will be an expensive investment, so you may have to do some legwork to find the best bargain possible. A fifth wheel is an expensive and serious investment. You can potentially lose a significant amount of money by purchasing a "lemon," so spending a few hours getting the needed background information will be time well spent.
  
  

At-Home Research

• Look for advertisements in your local newspaper listing sales at dealerships that are close enough to visit or find private listings in your area. Choose a dealership that is listed with the Better Business Bureau (see Resources). Check Internet ratings for the company before you plan to go look for your fifth wheel.
  
  

Inspection

• Perform a visual inspection throughout the entire fifth wheel. Make sure the unit has enough space and all of the amenities that you need and want. Look to see if the fifth wheel is straight from the front to the back then measure diagonally from the bottom left corner on the back of the fifth wheel to the top right corner. Measure between the bottom right corner to the top left in the same fashion. The measurements should be exactly the same; if they are not, you should look for another fifth wheel because this indicates that the walls of the trailer are warped. Open and close the doors, drawers, cabinets, windows, pop-outs and awning. Look for screens in the windows. Fold the couch to make sure it functions correctly. Test the hookups for your electricity, water and sewer systems. Check for leaks inside the unit after going around the fifth wheel with a hose and blasting the doors, windows, pop-outs and roof and awning with running water. Then go inside and check for leaks. Inspect the roof and the awning in the same way. See what options are available for the fifth wheel. Test the air conditioning and heat by turning them on and letting each run for 10 minutes. Look to see if the unit is cable ready, and test the hookup. Inspect the tires and the axles. Test the refrigerator, stove, stereo system and microwave.Test out the plumbing system, and ask the seller if the unit has gauges that monitor the different tanks and battery. Test out the drainage system and read the gauges to see if the tanks are draining properly. Inspect the water, sewer and propane tanks for damage and wear. Look into purchasing an extended warranty; some dealerships will offer this option. Read the policy of the warranty carefully to make sure that it will cover all of the internal systems and important components inside your fifth wheel.
  
  

Final Decision

• Make sure the vehicle you intend to tow with can safely tow the weight of the fifth wheel with the equipment you are using. Test drive the fifth wheel with your tow vehicle. Examine the interior more thoroughly and determine its level of appeal. Sit in the seats and lay on the beds to determine how comfortable they are. Try asking if you can stay in the fifth wheel overnight with a deposit. This will give you a great feel for the unit and you can better gauge your comfort level before committing to a final purchase.