Does anyone make one, Flat floor fifth wheel ( no interior steps) Options

[dkean]

I know Spacecraft builds an 18 wheeler type trailer with no interior steps,but what about a regular type fifth wheel? Then you could have a full basement and have a AC unite down there instead of on the roof. Would New Horizon build one? I spent 28 years driving an 18 wheeler and that was enough of dragging a 53 footer around the country. I like my one ton dually and 32 foot fiver but a flat floor fifth wheel would be much nicer. My wife has had both knees replaced and I have a bum left leg from polio as a kid in the late 40's. Of coarse using the clutch for 28 years didn't help. I got out of trucking before automatic's got popular. Yes I did most of the shifting without the clutch but the left leg still got a work out.

[marnindale]

I know Spacecraft builds an 18 wheeler type trailer with no interior steps,but what about a regular type fifth wheel? Then you could have a full basement and have a AC unite down there instead of on the roof. Would New Horizon build one? I spent 28 years driving an 18 wheeler and that was enough of dragging a 53 footer around the country. I like my one ton dually and 32 foot fiver but a flat floor fifth wheel would be much nicer. My wife has had both knees replaced and I have a bum left leg from polio as a kid in the late 40's. Of coarse using the clutch for 28 years didn't help. I got out of trucking before automatic's got popular. Yes I did most of the shifting without the clutch but the left leg still got a work out.

I would recommend contacting New Horizons about what you would like. Our 5th wheel was built by them and we found them to be very responsive through out the design process. I'm not sure how it would be a fifth wheel without steps; however, have you thought about seeing if it possible to have a small ramp built in lieu of steps?

[avan]

Don't know the specific answer to your mfr question but would guess that it's ultimately an issue of where you want the steps rather than 'how many'. The bulk of a 5ver's basement and storage is in the area where the interior floor is raised by steps. Lower the frontal area by the 18-22" inches or more of interior steps and therefore matching the front/rear floor elevations would reduce basement height by the same amount - a major reduction in storage - which you would reduce further with your A/C.

The other alternative would be to raise the rear 2/3s of the 5vers floor to match the frontal floor elevation. That of course would greatly increase basement storage. If one tried a happy medium, you'd still have full 5ver basement storage but the height of the storage area would be reduced which, at least for me, would not make me happy. However much you raised the mid/rearward floor to match the front and maintain basement storage, you'd effectively raise the entry into the 5ver so what steps you eliminate inside, you'd probably add outside. Not having seen a flat floor 5ver, perhaps the professional RV engineers have a workaround other than an elevator.

[RV]

Welcome to the forums dkean!

While you are talking a really custom high end fiver with a flat floor, remember that would also necessitate a much bigger climb in and out to reach that floor over the maximized storage. With your experience in driving big rigs, and autos pretty much the norm now, here is an alternative design that just might suit ya for not a heckuva lot more than a custom New Horizons and an appropriate truck to haul it with for all the extra weight capacity under the floor. This company does a flat floor, and is between a motorhome and a fiver in design, and you'd have no problem driving it. Click on the link:
http://www.powerhousecoach.com/index.html

May not be in your budget, but does fit your description.

Hope that helps, and once again, welcome to the forums!

[Stanley P. Mille...]

I think Teton built one, vague memories from an RV show many years back.

The biggest issue is overall height, having the floor high enough to clear the truck bed makes for a very tall rig even with low ceilings. Being at 13 plus feet may be fine on the Interstate, even on the national highway network but it may be a problem in a lot of places that expect rigs to be closer to 12 feet.

[BrianT]

I like the idea of no steps inside, too. Our first rv was a 32' Jayco travel trailer, a 1993 model, if I remember correctly. It was over 10 years old when we got it. I liked that trailer. It had a decent floorplan and held up well into 2006 when we sold it to someone who wanted a hunting camp. Now if that trailer had had a few slides and maybe a bit taller ceiling height, I think we'd have probably kept it, maybe done some remodeling and probably a new roof by now.

We thought long and hard and looked pretty seriously at travel trailers. It's been a while since we looked, but I believe there are a few companies out there that do make a quality travel trailer. They're longer to tow, but having driven big trucks, I'm sure you're already familiar with that. They're also not so tall, which may or may not matter.

Granted, they don't have as much storage space. You may or may not really need it. But, if you want to, you can also put a cap on the back of your pickup and use that for some of the things you might have in the basement. Or use a van if you so choose. Can't do that with a fiver.

Travel trailers do tend to be lighter weight but with a bunch of slides, they do get heavier. They also don't have as much frontal area (wind resistance). Last time I checked, many could be safely towed with a 250/2500 sized truck. But it's been a while since I've seen weights.

Just throwing out some thoughts. May or may not be relevant.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

Brian

[Bill B]

Dkean - Stan - Carriage made 14 of them (I think). Henry has one. One is supposed to be in Fl being rebuilt and rumors of one in Az. Dkean, go to the HDT portion of the forum Henry's handle is --- Ketchup- Volvo770 and 40' A1 --- (he changed it again - was hjsdds) and his webshot page is http://good-times.webshots.com/album/554955209lMmUbH

Stan - Henry's was on the cover of Trailer Life back in the 90's. Henry has a picture of the cover somewhere. (Of course maybe Teton did build one also, I have been wrong before)

His unit has an extendable porch and fold down steps with a handrail. It is a very nice unit. Definately out of the 1 ton range I'm afraid though.

[dkean]

Thanks for all the reply's. RV thanks for the welcome. That super class C is to much $ for my pockets. Bill I went to ketchup link you posted. That is just what I would like to have. But it seems that I have to many mods to my currant fifth wheel. I will have to keep it until we hit the lottery. We just got a mountain master 6500 generator in the pick up bed. It replaced my two Honda 2000. Back in April we had the level up system installed by trailair. While we were there we had the center point system installed. I added a second 13,500 AC in the bedroom . We only have a 30 amp system. So the second AC has a sub panel with 30 amp breaker to run off the CG power or the generator when we dry camp. We have the auto sat dish. We also got some Michelin XPS tires. OH almost forgot the 3000 watt inverter with the six 6 volt batteries.

You know the difference between men and boys is the price of there toys. As you can see I have a very understanding wife of 49 years. She to was a professional driver. She drove a 40' school bus for 27 years.

[Jack Mayer]

As you already found out, Carriage built some many moons ago....Henry's is quite nice.

The Teton Las Vegas was built in VERY limited quantities, and it is flat floor.

Spacecraft build a flat-floor 5th on a semi-trailer chassis. The ultimate 5er; 22.5 wheels, airbrakes, etc.

Horizons does not build a flat floor at this time. Phil (the owner) looked at Henry's recently, but it would be very difficult for them to build one without rebuilding their molds for the caps, among other things.

And that is all I know about flat floor manufacturers....

[dkean]

Thanks Jack. If I can I have a question for you. Did you get your tractor from ONEZMAN. If so is he still doing the conversions?

[Jack Mayer]

I did get my tractor from Larry. It was a very good experience. Larry had some issues with 4-5 of his trucks - most of those were converted at the same place. But the other 60+ trucks he converted were mostly pretty good- including mine. As far as I know he is no longer converting.

[Mark & Dale ...]

Americana Sequoyah