Community Forums

mbass777 · 02-11-2011, 06:50 AM

New to all this got my 5th wheel used and truck and hitch from another party so they have never been connected. Would like to drop king pin all the way down to lowest adjustment to move it back a little more and lower the hitch in bed to get level and my question is it better to have the king pin higher or lower in the bed . I have a long bed dually ford

RustyJC · 02-11-2011, 07:20 AM

Assuming the hitch can tilt from side to side, the relative elevation of the hitch will affect the roll coupling between the truck and trailer (the lower the hitch, the more tendency the trailer will have to "roll" in turns independently of the truck), but you'll probably never notice it. The main thing is to get the trailer as level as possible with 6" to 8" (preferred) between the top of the bed rails and the bottom of the 5th wheel's front overhang (4" minimum clearance).

Rusty

Ray,IN · 02-11-2011, 05:45 PM

When considering lowering the hitch, be sure to account for the pin box swing when turning corners. Some pin boxes are extended, which may allow it to contact the truck bed-side. Reese recommends a 6"minimum bed-side to 5er clearance. That is what I have and it is sometimes barely enough to clear and often enough to make me nervous.

metalbender · 02-11-2011, 06:25 PM

Just make sure that you keep at least 5-6 in between the bottom of the trailer and the top of your truck bed. I have a f-350 4x4 and it sit's alittle high, i have my pin box as low as it will go and the hitch on the second to last bolt going low. and that gives me about 5.5 in of clearance. and the front of the 5er is still alittle nose high. and the axles are already under the springs so there is no way to rise the trailer with out $$$$$.

Ray,IN · 02-12-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metalbender

Just make sure that you keep at least 5-6 in between the bottom of the trailer and the top of your truck bed. I have a f-350 4x4 and it sit's alittle high, i have my pin box as low as it will go and the hitch on the second to last bolt going low. and that gives me about 5.5 in of clearance. and the front of the 5er is still alittle nose high. and the axles are already under the springs so there is no way to rise the trailer with out $$$$$.

I was in the same situation with my Chevy K3500 dually and our 5er. The 5er nose was 3" high when towing. While I was replacing two springs I had the truck shop add a 2" spacer between the axles and springs. They used lengths of sq. heavy-wall tubing, drilled a cross-hole for the alignment pins and added a bolt to the bottom-side hole to keep the alignment with the axle.
It's worked fine for a year now. This way you can raise your hitch enough to get the minimum 6" clearance, and eliminate any chance of the pin-box hitting the bed-side.
An option for your truck, although more expensive, is to buy after-market lowered rear spring hangers.

mbass777 · 02-13-2011, 06:33 AM

I think there is some Confucian on what I am trying to do I have no problem with level or spacing any were arond king pin or fiver to top of truck bed the whole point to this is geting the fiver a couple more inches behind the tv

RustyJC · 02-13-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbass777

New to all this got my 5th wheel used and truck and hitch from another party so they have never been connected. Would like to drop king pin all the way down to lowest adjustment to move it back a little more and lower the hitch in bed to get level and my question is it better to have the king pin higher or lower in the bed . I have a long bed dually ford

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbass777

I think there is some Confucian on what I am trying to do I have no problem with level or spacing any were arond king pin or fiver to top of truck bed the whole point to this is geting the fiver a couple more inches behind the tv.

You're right - I guess we're confused.

Rusty

metalbender · 02-13-2011, 08:53 AM

Why would you what to put it back for the center of the axle??? it is better to keep the center of the king pin as close to center of axle as possable for handling.

wingnut60 · 02-13-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbass777

New to all this got my 5th wheel used and truck and hitch from another party so they have never been connected. Would like to drop king pin all the way down to lowest adjustment to move itback a little more and lower the hitch in bed to get level and my question is it better to have the king pin higher or lower in the bed . I have a long bed dually ford

I actually thought the question was as noted above--

If you have a long bed, there are no cab clearance problems--what is the reasoning to move the KP rearward?

Joe

mbass777 · 02-14-2011, 08:54 AM

The king pin will be over the axle I am not moving the hitch front to back just up or down and according to my manual the best place for the hitch is a little forward of the axle so by doing that if I extended the king pin down (as it goes down it all so goes forward pushing the fiver about an 1 1/2 back) the weight will still be over the axles just wanted to know if any down side the way I see it will lower the center of gravity for those slider turns(humor) seriously some time people dig to deep into these questions in a perfect world we could all buy new fivers and trucks and pay big bucks to have some one set them up but on a limited budget what some of us just need is good info and some support I thought that what these forums were for and as for why because they put the adjustments there so why not play with them to find the best set up just thought some here may have all ready tried this If I have offended any one

I apologize in advance

wingnut60 · 02-14-2011, 02:55 PM

mbass,
I guess those of us who have replied just don't understand the situation as you have put it to us. If I adjust my king pin up/down on the trailer, it will not move forward/backward--there is only up/down to work with.
Forward/ backward location of the trailer is limited to where the hitch sits in the truck, or also, in my case, where I locate the hitch head on the base plate.
I don't think anyone is offended, just trying to see what it is you are describing.
We are all trying to help.
Joe

metalbender · 02-14-2011, 07:10 PM

Thanks for the clear idea of what you are doing. I do not see any problem in doing what you have in mind, i have done the same thing and have had NO problems. Good luck in getting your truck set up. I will try and get some pic's of my hitch tomorrow and get them posted.

Ray,IN · 02-14-2011, 11:19 PM

What your propose will work IF you watch the turning clearance between bed-side and pin-box, and bed-side to 5er 6" minimum. (see post #3)

mbass777 · 02-15-2011, 04:50 AM

Joe I can see were the confusion may have been on my fiver the king pin attachment is at an angle so any downward movement also means it must move forward or away from tv apparently all fivers are not created equaliey