A fifth-wheel is a travel trailer supported by a hitch in the centre of the bed of a pickup truck instead of a hitch at the back of a vehicle. The special hitch used for fifth-wheels is a smaller version of the one used on 18-wheeler trucks and can be connected by simply driving (backing) the tow vehicle under the trailer. Fifth-wheel trailers are popular with full-time recreational vehicle enthusiasts, who often live in them for several months in one place, using their pickup truck tow vehicle for local errands. A fifth-wheel trailer tows more securely than a traditional travel trailer because the hitch weight sits directly over the pickup truck’s rear axle or tires. Since part of a fifth wheel sits in the bed of the pickup, it reduces the overall length of the vehicle-and-trailer combination while allowing the same room as a comparable-length travel trailer. Additionally, the hitch’s location in the pickup’s bed reduces the risk of jackknifing and allows for more maneuverability when backing. Because of the greater room available on the roads in North America, these vehicles are more popular in the United States and Canada than in Europe or other parts of the world. For uneven terrain, a gooseneck hitch is an option for fifth-wheel trailers.[citation needed]
The downside is that the hitch takes up room in the pickup truck’s cargo bed regardless of whether the trailer is hitched or not. The hitch can be unbolted from the bed but this takes a lot more time and effort than the unhitch operation.[citation needed]
The largest fifth-wheel trailers are full-size semi-trailers that range from 14.5 to 17.5 m (48 to 57 ft) in length and require an tractor unit as the towing vehicle due to their weight and the use of air brakes.[citation needed]
There’s towing a fifth wheel trailer. Not sure if they’re a thing in the UK.
searches
Sounds like it:
https://www.ccrv.co.uk/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravan_(trailer)#Fifth-wheel_trailer
These are almost nonexistent in the UK and a very niche requirement which doesn’t explain the vast majority of pickup users’ choice.
That’s getting stuck on a mini roundabout 15 seconds into your journey