Swivel wheels for the rear of a 5th wheel.

[D&D Young]

We recently purchased a Montana 3811 ms and we are having a difficult time getting it down to our house. We live on a narrow street that has approx 27 degree grade on one section if the hill. The bottom levels out and the rear of the unit will scrape. We ended up putting boards under the wheels to raise it high enough for the rear to clear. We removed the hitch from the frame and we now just clear It by like an inch. Does anyone know if the make small swevil wheels that can be connected to the frame that would raise the rear up a couple of inches without damaging the frame. There is 13' from the rear wheel to the end of the trailer. I have seen this type of wheels on travel trailers but never on a 5th wheel.

Yeah I know, it was piss poor planning.

Dennis

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[BFlinn181]

I'd check out the frame ends to make sure they can support the weight when the casters hit the road. It wouldn't be good to have the frame flex or a sidewall get a wrinkle if the frame end isn't strong enough to handle the load.

[dskyward]

I seen a YouTube video of a mechanic who put two 7” 5000 lb caster wheels on the back end of a fifth wheel for scrape reasons with success.

I may have to do this to mine as I too have 13’ like you and I’ve bought property past a low water crossing with a good sharp upward ascend that may cause us to scrape.


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[Electra 225]

Ever see this?


https://youtu.be/hHfVp9wwEn0

[dskyward]

A very nift invention, but unfortunately a ccc hog. Probably a good 200 lbs or more? This won’t help with tail scrape on certain dips or sharp inclines.


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[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by Electra 225

Ever see this?


https://youtu.be/hHfVp9wwEn0

I don't see how it would be of any benefit in the OP's description of a sudden change in elevation of his road to his house. (27º!)

[Electra 225]

Yeah sorry bout that OP . I didn't read thoroughly enough. Oh well, it is an interesting invention, thought I'd quickly share.

[dadnjesse]

I had the casters on a fifthwheel I had to get up and down my driveway, over the years I noticed the frame was getting bent

[steeltom75]

I added these to my 5th wheel after adding the Hydra lift - they are attached to the reinforced / extended section of frame that was added when lift was installed - they keep frame from dragging when on a slope to flat transition that I have on driveway into my storage building

[mobilemike]

Wheels that hang down from the frame will just shorten the ground clearance and cause the rear to drag much more often.

The best bet would be to reprofile the driveway for a less drastic transition at the bottom so the rig does not drag.

Welding drag plates to the bottom of the frame rails as added support might be an idea.

[grindstone01]

The problem with adding wheels to the rear underside frame is you now loose 5-6" of clearance. The wheels will now hit on slopes that the frame would have cleared and just put more stress on the frame. The best set up would be to recess the wheels so that they ride only 1" below the frame.
I agree that skid plates would be a better option.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by mobilemike

Wheels that hang down from the frame will just shorten the ground clearance and cause the rear to drag much more often.

The best bet would be to reprofile the driveway for a less drastic transition at the bottom so the rig does not drag.

Welding drag plates to the bottom of the frame rails as added support might be an idea.

The OP didn't have an issue with is driveway, it was the road to his house.

[mtofell]

From my research I seem to remember the swivel type cannot support the weight and will buckle. They are also quite tall and will make contact more often.

I installed these and I think they should work well, when needed:

https://www.etrailer.com/Skid-Wheels...ll-description

Mine has dragged a few times and ripped the jacks and spare tire off the bumper. So far no problems but I haven't been out much since installing them.

[D&D Young]

After reading the responses I received I realized I left a few things out. So I will update. *My rig is a "2018" Montana 3811 with a lenght of 40' 9"which we purchased at the Tampa show in January.
*My road is a village road which is also a dead end without a cul-de-sac. I must back down the hill and turn 90 degrees into my driveway.
*After removing the hitch I clear with about 1 inch if I keep to the extreme right side of the road just inches away from my wall. Way to close for comfort.
* Since the distance is 13' from the rearmost tire to the end of the trailer, I will chance hitting the rear of the trailer into to road where it levels out.
*I do not need to lift the trailer so the wheels leave the ground but just need to let the skid wheels touch to keep it from scraping the rear and ripping the cap off. I think the metal wheels from etrailer would work fine causing little or no damage to the pavement.
* I would only drag/scrape for approx 4 feet.
I am adding several pictures to give a better idea of my situation.
This tire in the road indicates where the trailer will hit. ;Also the house at the bottom of the hill is my neighbors, my house is on the left side and not visible in the pictures. I also have to start my turn when my drivers door is between the pole and guide wire.

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