![]() it would be a commercial vehicle and if stopped, you could pay a lot of fines.Īlso, to register the semi as an RV, you would need to put a sink, microwave, a toilet inside the sleeper portion of the rig. basic requirements would be that you cannot attach a commercial trailer to the semi once it is registered as an RV. It is possible and it will depend on the regulations of the state you live in. The regular trailer is designed to provide lots of comfort to its residents. Design- semi-trailers are designed to handle the cargo they will carry. Semi-trailers barely have electrical wiring in them and that is usually only for an overhead electric light to help to load in the dark.ĥ. ![]() The obvious difference- regular 5th wheel RV trailers are designed for living and have a lot of amenities placed inside by the manufacturers. The standard 5th wheel may reach 20,000 to 30,000 pounds but that is about it.Ĥ. Weight and hauling- semi-trailers are designed to haul and hold up to 80,000 pounds. 96 inches may be the average width as well.ģ. A 5th wheel may get to 35 to 40 feet in length and not be as high as a semi-trailer. Size- a standard semi-trailer is usually between 40 to 53 feet long and is about 8 1/2 feet wide by 13 feet high. The axles are on the rear portion of the trailer to help support the weight.Ģ. No front axle- a semi-trailer doesn't have a front axle to rest on when not in use. ![]() There are some major differences aside from some of the obvious ones you can see with your naked eye:ġ. We mentioned several important aspects you need to be concerned about but none of those aspects reveal the difference between these two types of trailers. That is a good question and none of it has to do with the 5th wheel except the kingpin. What is the Difference Between Trailers and Semi-trailers? Once you are done, you need to have the second measurement 5 inches longer than the first one.įor example, if the first measurement comes in at 60 inches, then the second measurement needs to be at 65 inches. The second measurement you need is from the center of the kingpin to the front wall of your trailer that is coming down from the overhang. The first one is from the center of the 5th wheel and goes to the back corner of your frame or where the wheels sit, whichever is furthest. This is a lot more difficult to measure as it involves getting two different measurements. The other is called the truck frame/wheels to trailer clearance. That is just one of the two types of clearance you need to worry about. For example, if your trailer is 96 inches wide, you would need 48 inches + 4 inches to have enough clearance room. When you are turning, you have to make sure that there are at least 4 inches plus half the width of your trailer of clearance between the cab of the truck and the trailer.Īnything less means that you may damage the trailer. The next important issue you have to make sure works is clearance. You would have to make sure that you have the same kingpin design before you can tow a 5th wheel RV However, only some semi-trucks use this system. Most RV 5th Wheel trailers use a 2-inch kingpin to link up to the 5th wheel. The key to the whole operation, on top of what we just mentioned, is the kingpin. ![]() This is a possibility and many RVers have done just this.
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