Read the tow vehicle's recommended weight ratings found in the owner's guide. If no guide is available, look under the hood of the truck to find a ratings stamp, typically near the battery. Check the weight of your fifth wheel and the maximum recommended towing weight to ensure that your vehicle is safe for towing the trailer.
Attach the fifth wheel's towing arm to the towing vehicle's tow hitch. Check the trailer attachment once again for safety, and check that the breakaway switch is set to the "in tow" position. The breakaway switch is a brake that activates if the trailer hitch breaks during transport.
Assign an assistant the job of sitting in the driver's seat of the tow vehicle and turning on the turn signals and lights and pushing the brake to test the brake lights. Stand behind the fifth wheel while the assistant runs through the lights to check that all lights on the trailer are working.
Sit in the driver's seat and adjust the side view mirrors. If you do not have a full range of view of the fifth wheel sides, have longer RV trailer side mirrors installed on the towing vehicle.
Drive to an empty parking lot and feel how the braking is different with the added weight in tow. Anticipate the braking needs and feather the brakes to slow and stop. In the parking lot, set up the road pylons for a zigzag driving course. Practice driving the fifth wheel through the course. Practice backing up, turning around and making sharp left and right turns. Feel how long the turn takes and how the turning radius of the tow vehicle is affected with the trailer.
