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Old 09-28-2017, 03:02 PM   #1
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Distance between bumper & front of 5th Wheel trailer

This might be a crazy question but looking to the experts here or at least those that know more than us. Does it seem logical that the 5th wheel king pin sits too far back? We have a Dodge Ram long bed truck and when we back the truck up to the trailer straight, there is only about 6 inches clearances between the bumper and the back of the trailer. I'm afraid to move it in fear that we'll hit the trailer when turning.

Do we need to get a slider hitch or a new kingpin even though it shouldn't be necessary? All suggestions welcome.
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Old 09-28-2017, 03:18 PM   #2
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Something is not right from the way I read your post. I have about 6" to 8" with the tailgate down.

So, can you put the tailgate down with the 5th wheel hooked up? If not, how do you get the 5th wheel off the truck. I lower the tailgate and move the truck forward to disconnect truck/5th wheel.
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Old 09-28-2017, 03:32 PM   #3
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I do have a large bumper so that's part of the problem. Not a standard bumper. The tailgate will drop but its almost touching the trailer.
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Old 09-28-2017, 03:34 PM   #4
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Here is a picture of the back of the truck. Sorry don't have one with it up to the RV
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Old 09-28-2017, 03:40 PM   #5
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The 5th wheel hitch should be centered plus or minus an inch or two over the rear axle. With my standard bumper and tailgate I bet I have close to 8" between trailer and tailgate with the tailgate down. I have an 8' bed and can get close to 90 degree Jack knife when backing up.
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Old 09-28-2017, 03:44 PM   #6
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I have a short bed truck and have about 6" from the top of the tailgate when it's down to the front of the FW. Your kingpin should be centered directly over, or slightly ahead of the truck axle. A sliding hitch will not solve your problem.
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Old 09-28-2017, 03:58 PM   #7
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I am rethinking my 8" distance between the 5th and tailgate when it is down. It might be 8" to 10". I can can almost squeeze behind my truck with tailgate down and still hooked to the 5th wheel.

Looks like you have a step on your bumper...but that should not interfere with the 5th wheel IMHO.

I just measured. I have the 5th wheel hitch in the truck but the 5th wheel in in storage lot. Anyway I have 70.5" from the center of the hitch to the end of my tailgate when it is down.
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Old 09-28-2017, 03:59 PM   #8
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Hi, who installed your hitch? Can you please take a picture of the hitch and of your truck hooked up to the trailer.

I have a 8ft bed too. Something does not sound right.
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Old 09-28-2017, 04:22 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raineman View Post
Hi, who installed your hitch? Can you please take a picture of the hitch and of your truck hooked up to the trailer.

I have a 8ft bed too. Something does not sound right.
I'm just getting started so I haven't actually bought the hitch. We backed the truck up to where the Kingpin was just over the top of the ball in the center of our 8' bed so it was a guestimate. We are looking for a hitch now and likely will go with a Reese 16K non-slider hitch. Since all we have is the gooseneck hitch in the bed right now, we prefer to get a regular hitch. Hubby thinks it will be more stable ride for the RV.

All these answers will help us a lot. Thank you all so much.
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Old 09-28-2017, 05:01 PM   #10
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Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by SLAJMARTIN View Post
Does it seem logical that the 5th wheel king pin sits too far back?
Based on the rest of your post, I suspect you meant too far forward, not back.

Moving the hitch back towards the tailgate would increase clearance between the rear bumper and the front of the trailer.

Quote:
We have a Dodge Ram long bed truck and when we back the truck up to the trailer straight, there is only about 6 inches clearances between the bumper and the back of the trailer.
I suspect you meant front of the trailer, where the kingpin is located.

Different brands differ. You want the center of the kingpin to be not less than 2 inches and not more than 6 inches in front of the center of the rear axle. Since your Ram has the 8' "long" bed, that should be no problem. If the hitch installer inappropriately installed the hitch so the king pin is centered directly over or behind the center of the rear axle, then he should be shot at sunrise. But it's easy to determine if your hitch installation needs adjustment.

Go to a large empty parking lot with the trailer tied on. Have a spotter get out and walk near the rear corner of the bumper. Very slowly, while going forward, turn as sharp as possible toward that side while the spotter watches that corner of the bumper. If you can turn a complete circle with the steering wheel locked in the tightest turning position, then you know you won't have any problem when going forward.

But backing up into a jackknife is different. You can back into a lot sharper angle than you can achieve while going forward. So slowly back the truck and trailer into a jackknife while the spotter watches the rear bumper clearance. If you can back into a 90° jackknife without bumper to trailer contact, you're good to go, either going backward or forward.

If you cannot make those turns without bumper to trailer contact, then check the location of your 5er hitch in the bed. Drop a plum bob from the top of the bed near the rear wheel. Adjust the location of the plum bob until it is centered on the hub of the rear axle, then mark the top of the bed. Do the same step on the other side of the bed. Stretch a cord or string between the two marks on the top of the bed. Then site down and mark the bottom of the bed below the tight cord. Draw a line on the bottom of the bed from one side of the bed to the other. That line should be the center of the rear axle. Then install the 5er hitch and notice where the center of the kingpin would be in relation to that line. That's the center of where the kingpin will be when the trailer is dropped onto the hitch - not the center of the bed rails.

Quote:
Do we need to get a slider hitch or a new kingpin even though it shouldn't be necessary?
Who said it shouldn't be necessary? If you have trailer to truck contact while turning, then either a slider hitch is necessary, or you need to reinstall the 5er hitch in the Ram to move it back towards the tailgate.

I've never heard of a slider hitch being necessary for a long-bed pickup. But Ram does some unusual things with its trucks, so you may own one of the exceptions.
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Old 09-28-2017, 05:33 PM   #11
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Thank you. Let me clarify that we have not yet installed the 5'er hitch. I was only eyeballing where it would sit based on where the ball is in the bed of the truck. I think our major issue is we have a pretty large rear bumper not a stock bumper. I can remove & replace with a stock bumper if necessary and then I'm sure it will be fine. I will try to take a picture of it better when I get home & post. Once we get the hitch installed and actually attach the trailer to the hitch, then we can test it with a spotter to see what kind of clearance we have.


I was actually talking about the king pin on the trailer. It doesn't seem like it is far enough forward (not enough distance between the front of the king pin and front of the trailer compared to many we have seen that show it sticking pretty far out front of a 5'er. I'll try to get a picture of that too.
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Old 09-28-2017, 06:39 PM   #12
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Here are some pictures of the truck and trailer kingpin. I suspect I will have to replace the bumper with a standard bumper although we really like this one.
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Old 09-28-2017, 07:21 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SLAJMARTIN View Post
I was actually talking about the king pin on the trailer. It doesn't seem like it is far enough forward (not enough distance between the front of the king pin and front of the trailer compared to many we have seen that show it sticking pretty far out front of a 5'er.
Yeah, various 5ers have an extended pin box from the factory. Those are usually less-expensive and lighter 5ers. Extending the pin box on most 5ers will void the warranty on the trailer. Because you change the stress on the frame of the trailer.

Luxury 5ers such as a Travel Supreme often have the pin box located so that the king pin is a coupla feet or more behind the leading edge of the 5er. My mid-priced 5er has the kingpin about flush with the leading edge of the 5er.
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Old 09-28-2017, 08:24 PM   #14
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That bumper looks like it is only a few inches (If that) longer than a stock bumper. I do not think it will be a problem.
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