Reese 5th wheel hitch over rear axle or ahead?
#18
Chapter President
The drawtite # for that hitch is 40119.
For some reason, I cannot download the PDF install instructions for either # but the rail mounting kit instructions linked fine. Scroll down to the Dodge instructions. Assuming the slider in the full forward position is going to put the pin in the same location as the fixed hitch, the diagram in the instructions does clearly show an installation with the pin on the same center line as the axle. I don't know why and I don't like it. Is this possibly the limitation of a shortbox?
CLICKY
For some reason, I cannot download the PDF install instructions for either # but the rail mounting kit instructions linked fine. Scroll down to the Dodge instructions. Assuming the slider in the full forward position is going to put the pin in the same location as the fixed hitch, the diagram in the instructions does clearly show an installation with the pin on the same center line as the axle. I don't know why and I don't like it. Is this possibly the limitation of a shortbox?
CLICKY
#19
Chapter President
40164 is a drawtite # for an 18k slider - which is a much nicer hitch, btw - and it uses the very same rail mounting kit as the 16k (Rail kit #30035). Based on that alone, you shouldn't expect the pin center to change much. That said, the 18k pin box can be flipped to change the offset fore or aft a little bit like I stated in an earlier reply but it may not be much of a change in this application.
#20
Other than ease of hooking up, I have never really understood why people didn't just go gooseneck and do a 5th wheel to gooseneck adapter...totals out to be about 600 bucks, pulls the same and is rated just as high takes up less space in the bed, etc...definitely a smarter option for us shortbed folks
#21
Registered User
Its true if you move the hitch forward of the rear axle some of the weight is supported by the front axle.
If your towing a fifth wheel trailer, you may need a slider hitch if you do that.
Otherwise the front of the trailer may hit the cab when backing hard either way.
My trailer has a the standard size fifth wheel kingpin set up and my hitch is over the rear axle. When I back to a 90 degree angle, the front of the fiver
just does get by the truck cab. If I were 5" forward, I would hit the cab.
There are longer king pin hitches you can buy to solve this problem but the
manufacture of the fifth wheel my void your structural warranty because of the addition flex and strane placed on the forward steel structural members.
Depending on what truck you have, you could overload the front axle if you had to tow something bigger than you own with more pin weight.
Dave
If your towing a fifth wheel trailer, you may need a slider hitch if you do that.
Otherwise the front of the trailer may hit the cab when backing hard either way.
My trailer has a the standard size fifth wheel kingpin set up and my hitch is over the rear axle. When I back to a 90 degree angle, the front of the fiver
just does get by the truck cab. If I were 5" forward, I would hit the cab.
There are longer king pin hitches you can buy to solve this problem but the
manufacture of the fifth wheel my void your structural warranty because of the addition flex and strane placed on the forward steel structural members.
Depending on what truck you have, you could overload the front axle if you had to tow something bigger than you own with more pin weight.
Dave
#22
Other than ease of hooking up, I have never really understood why people didn't just go gooseneck and do a 5th wheel to gooseneck adapter...totals out to be about 600 bucks, pulls the same and is rated just as high takes up less space in the bed, etc...definitely a smarter option for us shortbed folks
Load is spread a bit more, rather than riding on a ball, has the whole plate to rest on. Pin is simply there to keep it all connected.
Plus, most of those adapters can make it hard on the superstructure of the camper, it's not designed to be extended out that far.
#23
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post