kingofdodge7131

quick question about slider hitch When they slide forward to they go infront of the rear axle or stay centered? I only ask because im trying to find a way to get the more weight to the steer axle, im only 100 below on my rear and would like to move some forward. any help would be appreciated

1-2-3

They only slide to the rear to get the nose of the trailer away from the cab for turning. They go back into the original location for traveling down the road. The rail kit for my 04 included instructions to install the hitch centered or 1.5 inches in front of the read axle so it is do-able. Yours should be installed with large angle iron like brackets that attach the rails to the frame under the bed. These can be changed allowing you rails to move forward. You'll probably have to fabricate new ones.

You can move your rails to be an inch or two in front of the rear diff. However, your going to have to do your own math to figure out if everything will clear and how much your going to gain. You might can get a different pin box for your trailer to get your clearance back.

Have you taken your fully loaded rig to a scale to get some real numbers? If so, can you post them so we might can help more. I've heard that moving the pin in front of the wheels can really move alot of weight to the front so be careful to transfer too much.

kingofdodge7131

Yeah I have the cat scale. That's why I figured if ask ha. Well see what we can figure out

pevaguy

If you have a long bed, you could possibly get an extension on the kingpin and be able to slice the fifth wheel forward to transfer weight and still not hit the back of your cab.

Robert373

The way it was explained to me by the guy who sold me the hitch was if you have a shortbed truck, you can't go much if any in front of the axle due to really limiting your turning circle. It WILL be limited anyway (don't ask how I know), but the further ahead you go, the tighter it gets.

Long bed trucks you can go as much as 3" ahead of the axle.

I installed my own hitch, and it came with measurements provided by the manufacturer which put the hitch basically over top the axle. I found it tows fine right there.

I played with hitch settings at the scale, and it doesn't take much movement to change the weight on the front. Thought maybe I would leave it in the mid position (mine has 3 positions), but it took about 200 kgs off the front, so I always tow with it fully ahead. Just slide it for backing up.

1-2-3

"The way it was explained to me by the guy who sold me the hitch was if you have a shortbed truck, you can't go much if any in front of the axle due to really limiting your turning circle."


This all depends on the trailer your pulling. My 5'er has a really nice pin box that allows me to use my short bed without a slider and I can break it over more the 90 degrees if need be. I try not to cause that is very tough on trailer tire sidewalls, but if I'm in a bind, I can. I've heard alot of guys say that if you have a shortbed, you MUST have a slider, but it's simply not true.

kingofdodge7131

Yeah I don't need one with my current trailer. That's why I figured I would look into this. Are you saying you shifted 200 kg by only moving 3 in?

Robert373

My trailer has an extended pin box, and the trailer was advertised as "designed for short box trucks", but it is still tight (see the "ask me how I know" comment in my previous post).

What I was getting at is it is recommended not to tow with the hitch behind the rear axle, right above is as far back as is recommended. If you have the room, you can move it forward, but it sounds like 3" is as far forward as you should go, but ultimately a trip to the scale is best.

As far as my previous statement about 200 kg, my bad. I dug out the numbers I wrote down and I was a bit off.

Here is what I found: (hitch forward is above the axle, hitch mid is 3" behind)

FRONT AXLE empty:4320 lbs hitch forward:4342 lbs hitch mid:4231 lbs
REAR AXLE empty:2954 lbs hitch forward:4628 lbs hitch mid: 4695 lbs

Of course you are going forward of the axle, not behind, but this may give an idea how things change as you move the hitch.