I have a 4x4 . And I am looking at 5th wheel travel trailers (just sold my Lance camper) is it a must that the axles on a 5th wheel traveltrailer must be reversed(to raise the trailer) to pull it with my 4x4 ctd.

Ive been looking at used wilderness,Aljo,wanderer,coachman etc 5th wheels.

Ive been searching for a used trailer already with axles already reversed ...Ha ha ,good luck

I can do the work myself as im a welder and have a shop behind my house.

My question is , can I even safely (without damageing the bed of my truck) haul a 5th wheel tailer with my 4x4 back to my house if I buy one ?

The 5th wheels I have looked at (used from Private Partys) look like they wont fit my 4x4. Too "Garsh darn "(edit ****) low and might hit the back of my truck bed.

Rick

 

Be very cautious even after you flip the axles, my last truck was a chevy crew cab dually 4X4, not lifted and with stock tires (sat lower than a dodge). Even with the flipped axles I damaged the bed rails a couple of times. I live and play in Wyoming and took my 5th wheel in some rough places, that's why i have a tag now. I put skids on the trailer and drag it in a few places but would prefer to drag the trailer than damage my truck. I liked the 5th wheel but I knew the Dodge would get 315s as soon as she got home so no way could I pull it anymore (at least where I want to) without lifting it so high that it be unstable.

 

I have a Jayco and the axels allow you to raise them. Mine has three positions on the shackles that connect from the spring to the frame. I had them set them all the way to the top position. I have about 6" of clearence between bed and 5th wheel underbody.

Take a look at Jayco. I do not know when they added this feature. This may also give you an idea of how to modify another brand. Basically it is just a lift kit.

Also I have a pivoting Reese head which help on hills hook-ups.

 

On my last 5th wheel [Okanagan] I had them weld in another frame rail of 2x6 tube where the axles are. What we did was take the entire running gear out. Raised the whole 5th wheel and welded the tubes on. Then we put crossmembers between the tubes and put the running gear back in place on the new tubes. This was for my 01 Ram and it was perfectly level.

I will more then likely do the same thing if needed on the next 5th wheel.

If you can clear the bed rails and put 4" between, that would be ok to get home as long as you do not go over any curbs or speed bumps at an angle.

I went the frame rail way as opposed to flipping the axles because a friend of mine had some bushing problems because he flipped them.

Scotty

 

Hmmm , Well now im thinking screw a 5th wheel and just get a ball hitch trailer. I like going on dirt roads back in the hills hunting and dont want to damage my truck with a 5th wheel on uneven roads.

Maybe 5th wheels are just for straight highway driveing. A regular trailer is lower and less wind resistance too.

Looks like the 5ths have disadvantages too! I saw several damage Dodge truck beds from 5th wheels in idaho(idaho country roads) when I was searching for a CTD to buy. Maybe a regular trailer has some advantages!!??

 

alot of 5th wheels have storage underneath that will fit a nice wire travel kennel for wet gsp's. a friend of mine has a 5th wheel and they store the kennel there. the dog travels in the cab 99% of the time. cause we love our bird dogs.

i have 2 female gsp's that are driving me crazy these days...... they are ready to go hunting. so am i.

photo in the gallery.

 

I just went through the same thing, myself. My 5th wheel while stock had about 6" gap above the bed, and that was riding a few inches higher in the front than the back.

I thought doing the flip would be too high and not handle well, so I looked into other alternatives (bigger tires/wheels on the trailer, welding in a subframe above the suspension, welding on longer shackles).

In the end, I became concerned about messing up the alignment by messing with the frame or shackles. Doing the "flip" was the easiest thing to reverse if it didn't turn out the way I wanted (left the stock spring perches on) and it was by far the cheapest option.

Now the thing rides with about 10" or more gap above the bed, the hitch is adjusted so the trailer rides just a bit lower in the nose- which is nice as once I set the landing jacks down when I camp it is perfect. It still handles great. I go into some rough places, and have never even come close to hitting the top of the bed.

I wouldn't give up on the 5th wheel yet. To me, they have always handled better.

As far as getting one home unflipped, adjust your hitch so you have 6" gap or so, even if it rides nose high. As long as it isn't extreme, the equalizers should keep you from overloading the rear axle (and you'd be running empty, anyway, I would presume).

Then get her home, get some of the predone spring perches, and get her done...

 

GSP
Are you talking about "dropped" axles?

I have a "78" 22' Arabian 5th wheel that had dropped axles and did $1100 damage to my "98". I was going to fllip them but was warned tnat it would not be safe. I called the Axle Manufacturer and was advised to replace them with straight axles.
I bought new axles,with brakes, and new wheels for about $600 and raised my trailer about 8".

No problems since.

 

Just for clarification for those who may not know. "Flipping" trailer axles is a misnomer that's commonly used to describe relocating the axles from an "above-the-spring" to a "below-the-spring" position. The axle orientation must remain the same since these axles generally have camber built into them. To relocate these axles, spring perches must be added to the top of the axle using a kit such as this one from Dexter Axle.

Rusty

 

Good point Rusty.

I looked at the Dexter bolt on kit, but personally I thought I would feel more secure with regular perches welded on by a certified welder... plus they were cheaper.

 

Most people buy the Dexter kit and weld the perches after they've ensured that they're located correctly.

Rusty

 

If you are just looking for shelter for hunting, you might try a slide in camper mounted on a flatbed gooseneck trailer. Get extra room on the back to haul quads, motorcycles, other toys, and have a deck in camp.

 

Take a look at my web page and you will see that you do NOT have to flip the axles on the 5vrs to have them tow properly. Mine sits down just right

 

Thanks for the replys. I will deal with it when I get a trailer looks like. My muscles and back are acking from working on my truck installing a Reese 16k dual pivot.
I found a Jayco 26' 5er I might get, unless I find another 5er at a better deal$$