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Randy Q · 05-06-2014, 10:26 PM

Decided on having unit delivered and that delayed things till in the morning wed. I have a plan b that is level ground but will be a lot of walking and toting to work on unit if we can't get in driveway. Understand all the factors that enter into equation. I have a 24' pontoon that is a bear to get backed up drive due to low ground clearance it has frame between the pontoons therefore sits very low, great for launching but not going up driveway. For a brief trip of 6 miles could the hitch location be changed to increase clearance to avoid pinch point? By location i am referring to height of both the truck unit and pin box?

SeabeckS · 05-06-2014, 11:10 PM

Please let we firestormers know how it works out.

In my daily travels looked carefully at several fifth wheels on the highway. Some seemed to have a very generous rear departure angle...others not so much. Lot of variability in set ups...

Good luck!

Randy Q · 05-07-2014, 04:50 PM

Ok, went as most had anticipated, pinch point started getting close as soon as all axles got on driveway, but bigger problem was the delivery truck was not positraction and in swing out of truck passenger rear tire, the pulling wheel got off road and lost traction. Then started pulling forward and force of trailer somewhat pushed the 3/4 ton delivery truck further off the road which is heading downhill. This caused pinch point to become even closer, looked as if it was touching but you could just see light between bed and RV. Ended up pulling delivery truck out with my dually.
i will have my Reese hitch installed tomorrow and think that raising hitch in truck will allow me to get up driveway, if I do not get off road,

The joys of living on small rural road and everything is either uphill or downhill.

SeabeckS · 05-08-2014, 11:01 AM

Randy,

Thanks for the follow up...glad you're getting it all figured out, even without all of the "higher" math.

Cheers!

Bill

tuffr2 · 05-08-2014, 04:26 PM

Find a friend with a 'hauler bed' on his truck and ask him to try it. I had my 5er touch the bed rail last year...whew, just touched and did no damage. I was watching it in the mirror. Wow, the clearance between the bedrails and 5er will disappear fast. Backed up hill just a few feet it seemed like.

Be careful and good luck.

hydro45640 · 05-08-2014, 04:45 PM

A 45 degree is a rise of 45 feet per 100 feet. The maximum allowed on Interstate highways is 7% grade and that is by special authorization.

SmokeyWren · 05-08-2014, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydro45640

A 45 degree is a rise of 45 feet per 100 feet.

Apparently the civil engineers call that a 45 percent slope, but it's not 45 degrees. Look up Isosceles right triangle.

A 45° angle is a rise of 100 feet in 100 feet. Or 45 feet in 45 feet. Or 10 feet in 10 feet.

In that image, if line BC is the street, and line BA is the rise, and if both those lines are the same length, then the line AC is the driveway, and the angle of that driveway is 45°. But apparently the slope is 100%.

Nobody answered my question. If 45° is 100% slope, then what is 60°?

Highway 4x4 · 05-08-2014, 10:45 PM

How about more than 100% as the rise would be more than the base.

Randy Q · 05-09-2014, 10:01 AM

In construction rise/run is stated in increments of inches of rise relative to 12''
with a 2/12 being typical metal building "slope" and 6/12 being somewhat average for average homes. You can have about any pitch on a roof 12/12, 18/12, etc, etc
A 6" speed square has a 90 degree angle and a 45 degree angle as does a 12" speed square. On the speed squares a equal rise to run is a 45 degree angle. Once it exceeds 45 degree in construction it normally is just a 18/12 "pitch" or whatever rise to run is.
I think a lot of confusion is involved in terminology of slope, angle, pitch, then you get into included angles, angles off centerline, etc.
A circle is divided into 360 degrees, comparing to a clock 3 is 90 deg 6 is 180, 9 is 270 deg and 12 either zero or 360 degree.

I must admit calling a 45 degree 100% does not seem accurate but I think that is where "slope" terminology comes into play.
My 2 cents in higher math at no cost.

Randy Q · 05-23-2014, 11:54 PM

Tried raising 5th wheel hitch in truck, it caused rear of trailer to drop down and unit has self leveling system and rear landing gear started hitting driveway. Became apparent that I was going to need professional help with TV that had ability to raise and lower hitch as needed. Found a wrecker service that had 5th wheel attachment and they sent a roll back and wrecker with attachment. Good thing they sent two ended up having to have rollback on top of drive with winch and block and tackle to help wrecker get the unit up the hill. Will see if i can post some photos. Bottom line we got 42' 5th wheel up driveway and it is level and have it hooked up to power. Now to see what all works and does not work.

SeabeckS · 05-24-2014, 12:07 AM

WOW! That's some steep and tight driveway...what an ordeal! You're very tenacious, and I mean that in a good way. Hopefully you'll be able to find an alternative so your dually can handle that beautiful fifth wheeler without going to such extreme measures...

Thanks muchly for the follow up!

SeabeckS · 05-24-2014, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

Apparently the civil engineers call that a 45 percent slope, but it's not 45 degrees. Look up Isosceles right triangle.

A 45° angle is a rise of 100 feet in 100 feet. Or 45 feet in 45 feet. Or 10 feet in 10 feet.

In that image, if line BC is the street, and line BA is the rise, and if both those lines are the same length, then the line AC is the driveway, and the angle of that driveway is 45°. But apparently the slope is 100%.

Nobody answered my question. If 45° is 100% slope, then what is 60°?

60 degrees converts to 173.2 per cent slope...aka STEEP!

Randy Q · 05-24-2014, 12:42 AM

We will not be battling this driveway on regular basis, next time it leaves, probably by use of same wrecker crew will be final trip. From that point on we will be full time RVers. Did this to allow me to perform some minor repairs that I know of and to determine what else may be wrong. I can now fully test everything and transfer new furniture, belongings etc.

Big-Foot · 05-25-2014, 07:20 AM

Wow - what an ordeal!!!!

Presuming you had it delivered "empty" .....
I hope that you don't have any issues getting it back down once loaded with all your needs, fuel, water etc..

That sort of driveway in Minnesota where we live, would be a nightmare in the winter..