Community Forums

kcjones50 · 08-19-2005, 08:20 AM

Does anyone know the minimum distance required between the truck and the front of the FW to ensure that in tight turns the trailer does not hit the front? I have a HDT and am planning on putting my bikes behind the cab, probably in a vertical position. The hitch can be slid back but I would prefer keeping it as close to the cab as possible. I was at a campground and the owner who seemed to know what he was talking about had said 60" or 50", I can't remember which.

Thanks!

kcjones50 · 08-19-2005, 08:20 AM

Does anyone know the minimum distance required between the truck and the front of the FW to ensure that in tight turns the trailer does not hit the front? I have a HDT and am planning on putting my bikes behind the cab, probably in a vertical position. The hitch can be slid back but I would prefer keeping it as close to the cab as possible. I was at a campground and the owner who seemed to know what he was talking about had said 60" or 50", I can't remember which.

Thanks!

RustyJC · 08-19-2005, 09:26 AM

It all depends on the configuration of your trailer.

If you don't have an offset pinbox, then go to one of the front corners of the trailer and (assuming you have a curved front cap - see my avatar for an example) drop a plumb line from the corner portion of the cap that extends farthest forward. Measure horizontally from the center of the trailer's kingpin to the plumb line - that's what you'll have to clear, so I'd add 2"-3" minimum to that measurement.

If you have an offset pinbox that places the kingpin ahead of the front cap, you will normally have to clear 1/2 the width of the trailer at a 90* angle, so I'd take 1/2 the trailer's width and add the 2"-3" minimum to that measurement. For our 102" wide 5th wheel, that would be 51" + 3" = 54".

If you want to clear past 90*, that's a different kettle of fish. I'm assuming you don't.

Rusty