Hodge RV Co ltd
Manufacturers of Quality Fifth Wheels & Caravans
WhatsNew:
The NEW Free Spirit 23'6" - North Island Tour RIGHT NOW!!!
2nd September, 2010
This model is touring the North Island at present. Please call 021 538738 or contact us to leave your details so we can arrange a viewing.
Perfect for anyone needing a smaller 5th wheel & the ability to go that
bit further. Priced at just $95,000
ready to go its great value for money!
The "Panache" was reviwed in Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations magazine!
Cick here to view the article
28'4" - 2580kg Tare - Tow with Navara etc.
The facts about towing
Why do 5th wheels tow so much better than caravans?
The portion of a caravan between the rear bumper and the axles acts as a lever on the front tow coupling.
As the rear lever of a caravan is significantly more than a 5th wheel it creates far more leverage
Caravans are attached to the tow vehicle quite away behind the rear axle. The tow bar acts as a lever on the tow vehicle.
Fifth wheelers are attached above the rear axle, so there the lever is eliminated.
In a nutshell: When wind blows sideways on a caravan the back moves side to side which forces the back of the tow vehicle side to side. this causes the 'fish tale' effect.
When wind blows on a fifth wheel there is no lever for it to act on so there is no 'fish tale' effect.
(Your overall length is also shorter by up to 9ft, as you have no drawbar and the coupling is in the deck)
Why an Auto-Sliding hitch is essential
Japanese utes have short decks. In order to 'jack-knife (turn to 90 degrees) the hitch point in the deck must be atleast half the width of the fifth wheel away from the cab. To achieve this the hitch must be mounted at the rear of the deck. This introduces a lever much the same as a caravan.
To eliminate this problem we utilize the best auto-slinding hitch in the world. It is also the most expensive, but comes standard with all Road Glide fifth wheels.
The Auto sliding hitch has the hitch point above the rear axle while driving straight. Once you turn beyond 13 degrees the hitch point automatically slides down the deck allowing a full 90 degree turn.
Welcome To Hodge RV
NEWS FLASH! - Free Spirit on North Island demo tour right now
Designed & Built in NZ
- New Zealand unique laws and standards. When you buy from us your 5th wheel is designed and built from the ground up to suit these standards. This includes having a manufacturer’s GVM of less than 3500kg and less than 2.5m wide.
- Throughout NZ's seasons there are huge variations in weather. Your Road Glide or Free Spirit 5th wheel is built with the best quality materials so that whatever the weather you will comfortable in your home away from home.
- Need a unit to live in full-time and intend on keeping it for years? Your Road Glide or Free Spirit 5th wheel is built to last. Extensive use of welded aluminium instead of steel and timber dramatically increases the life and lowers the maintenance and weight you are towing.
- Want plenty of space, but still need easy and fuel efficient towing? Your Road Glide or Free Spirit 5th wheel is built to be towed by affordable Japanese & Australian utes that also have economical ongoing running costs.
- With our unique light weight strong construction you still have huge cargo capacities for plenty of water, food, clothes, cooking equipment and TOYS!
Built to order
As we manufacture your fifth wheel to order we can customize one of our floorplans to suit your individual needs and personal style. We often have built in desks, washing machines, bike racks, cat doors etc.
So you are ready for a lifestyle change
We are proud of our 5th Wheels and caravans and want you to have many kms and hours of enjoyment. Purchasing a home on wheels is an emotional and major decision, not only because of the cost but for many it is going to be the beginning of a complete lifestyle change. We are often in the privileged position to see many of our buyers packing their new home ready for new horizons with excitement and anticipation. Like any new experience though there is alot to learn and also to put into practice. This is where we step in with our 25 years of 5th Wheel experience, in making sure that you know how everything works, how to hitchup and unhitch, and driving practice. We spend as much time with you as you like without any pressure with no set time limits. From past experience we have found that people have different needs usually based on past experience. At Hodge RV you will not be handed the keys, and then immediately waved to as you drive out the drive.
Warranty & Backup
As we are the manufacturer parts and repairs are simple and straight forward. The appliances within the units are from NZ suppliers/distributors so are quickly and easily serviced.
All Road Glide 5th wheels come with a four year warranty for chassis and 3 years for bumper to bumper and individual manufacturer’s warranty for appliances. Depending on the circumstances of a problem we can have a repair done at most major centres in NZ or in our factory in Christchurch.
Need more information?
Check out our comprehensive website
Call us:
(03) 3498025 or 021 502458
Email us: sales@hodgerv.co.nz
Call into our factory in Christchurch, New Zealand:
772 Halswell Junction Rd
Check-out our contacts page for addresses etc

