5er hitch questions

[JPLB22]

Right now I have a 29' TT, but I want to upgrade next year to a 5th wheel toy hauler. I don't know much of anything about 5th wheel hitches, so here is a few questions...



I'm under the impression that you need to be fairly level when hooking up the 5er ? If so I may have an issue with my RV pad. The RV pad sits level, but my driveway leading up to the RV pad is inclined. My RV pad is 45' long, the toy hauler I want is 34', so I can't get the truck all the way on to the level RV pad to hitch up.



Can you use a goose neck adapter on most 5er's ? I thought that could be a solution to my problem. But the RV dealer said not to use the goose neck adapter on the heavier 5er's, said it could cause cracking on the underside of the front of the trailer.



Also, does anyone know anything good or bad about the 34' Sandstorm br Forrest River.



Sorry if my questions aren't very clear, I really don't know much about 5er's at all.



TIA



Jeff

 

[RGrizzle]

you can hook up a fiver with the truck and trailer at different angles . i do it every time i hook mine up to take it out of the shed . the fifth wheel pivots back and forth to compensate for different angles . if you were at a severe angle you might have a problem but , you can hook up at an angle . if you couldn't then you wouldn't be able to hook and unhook at a lot of campgrounds .

as far as the goose adapter goes , you will most likely void your warranty on a new trailer . when you put the adapter on , it is long and puts a lot of leverage on the frame of the trailer and could cause problems . with the fifth wheel , the pin box sits flat on the fifth wheel and is directly supported . the goose adapter is so long that it puts a lot of strain on the trailer frame through leverage . a lot of people use the adapters but i would recommend the fifth wheel hitch .

by the way , you will love towing the fiver . i started out with a tt and the fiver sits on the road so much better .

 

[Slow Six]

That shouldn't be a problem for hooking up. The trouble comes when the truck and the trailer are at different angles to each other for side to side levelness. A good dual pivot hitch remedies this situation. I always use a 5th. wheel hitch rather than a goose neck as I think they are much easier to use and they don't require safety chains. The only adapters I see are usaully guys that have other gooseneck trailers and don't want to change hitch set ups.

 

[CKelley1]

get the 5th wheel hitch that rocks from side to side angle wise this keeps all the side stress off of the pin you will love the ride of 5th wheel

 

[JPLB22]

Well that makes me feel a lot better, I was even thinking I may have to pour more concrete to get the trailer far enough back that I could get the truck on the RV pad as well. The angle is not too severe, so I uess I should be o. k.



Thank you very much.



Jeff

 

[Grizzly]

I agree with RGrizzle and everyone else about a good hitch for leveling side to side and and back to front. I have the PullRite 5th wheel hitch with the Super Rail Brackets, which allows you to hitch and unhitch in uneven terrain. Many other hitches allow you to do the same.



I've never tried a goose neck (GN) adapter, but I have heard many horror stories about them, especially for a 5er as big as you are talking about.



Forest River, as well as Fleetwood, are not known for quality. Some people really like them, but most have many problem with hardware, choice of appliances and slide outs. They are generally two to three star rated. It all depends on what you plan to use the 5er for. If it's just short weekend trips, maybe a Forest River is okay. But if your going to Alaska with it, you may want a more vigorous 5er that can take rugged roads and conditions. If so, I'd get a 4 star rated 5er or Toy Hauler such as a Hitchhiker, Excel, Desert Fox, or Arctic Fox.

 

[DonTX]

I have a Reese that tilts side to side, it never gives me any problems hooking up, but several times when unhooking with the truck and trailer on different angles, unhooking becomes a problem. Seems like the thing will not unlatch the pin. I have conflicting instructions on lube of the pin, I think this year I will lube the darned thing to see if it works better.

 

[SOLER]

If it won't unlatch,a Quick shot of WD-40 works. Then lube up when you get ther trailer off. I use a little grease, not so much that it makes a big mess, but just enough to do the trick. And don't leave it in the truck when the trailer isn't hooked up. Or at least put a cover on it. I learned that the hard way.



I have a Reese 22k hitch. Ain't much out there that the hitch won't handle. And no, I'm not going to pull a trailer that heavy with my truck, but at least I now that the hitch is stout. It pivots front-back and side-side. A huge plus, esp. for hooking up on an angle. You have a 4x4, so make sure you look at how high the trailer sits vs the truck height. The rear corners of the bedrails might be real close to the underside of the trailer, esp when you hook up where you mentioned.



SOLER

 

[Grizzly]

If it won't unlatch,a Quick shot of WD-40 works. Then lube up when you get ther trailer off. I use a little grease, not so much that it makes a big mess, but just enough to do the trick. And don't leave it in the truck when the trailer isn't hooked up. Or at least put a cover on it. I learned that the hard way.

SOLER

I don't mess with grease, I use a nylon disk. It works well and it's clean.

 

[bigdaddydieseldan]

good fifth wheel is the only way to go with a good fifth wheel hitch [reese] is one of the top of the line hitches I have had 2 reese hitches and never ever had a single problem with either one of them

 

[DonTX]

I use the nylon disc also, but I think what is hanging up is the latching mechanism on the bottom of the pin. I have found that having the wife pull the lever, and I get in and put some pressure on it by using reverse, and it comes loose.

I don't mess with grease, I use a nylon disk. It works well and it's clean.

 

[MMerlino]

I see by your signature that you have a short bed truck. You will be far better off with an automatic sliding hitch or it will most likely be only a matter of time before your trailer "kisses" the back of you cab ($$$). A good hitch for this is the Super Glide. However, you must make some minor modifications to this hitch or risk loosing your entire 5th wheel and possibly hurting someone. The modifications can be found and seen through pictures on the following thread. Please reply back on this thread as it will get the information out to others who might share the misfortune of not realizing they need to make a few simple modifications. This hitch also has a pivoting head as recommended by previous replies to your request. Good luck:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...1465-super-glide-5th-wheel-hitch-concern.html

 

[SOLER]

I see by your signature that you have a short bed truck.

I think in his sig his new truck is a long bed. And as to the teflon disc, absolutely. But it has nothing to do with keeping the latching mechanism lubed.



If it is hanging up, WD-40 works short term. Spray some in and let it sit a bit. But, if this is happening, grease is the answer. Not too much. squirt a little in, work it in there (a toothbrush works well), and then work the mechanism. Then repeat. Wipe up any mess, and you're good to go.



What also works is motorcycle chain lube. You can spray it in the tough-to-reach places. I would do this with the hitch taken out of the truck and with plenty of cardboard pieces controlling the overspary.



SOLER

 

[AABEN]

The nylon disc is the way to go. But don't use any lude on the fithwheel plate! Use a spray lub that is very light on your latch I use very little that way rain will wash it off and that keeps it from getting dusty. You can lube it when ready to use it. ----GOOD LUCK----BEN

 

[JPLB22]

My new truck is a long bed, I wish it was a 1 ton dually though, vs. the single rear wheel 3/4 ton.



I will definately be getting a hitch that tilts front to back as well as side to side. The trailer will be mainly used for weekend trips, but at least once or twice a year we'll take it for a week to somewhere out of state. I definately want it to last a long time, with the cost of these things it has to last for me.



I went out yesterday doing some early research. I looked at a 37' Recon by Jayco, it seemed to be a very nice trailer. But at 18,000 lbs, gross I'll be over my trucks GVCWR, and I'm pretty sure the hitch weight would also put me over my trucks GVWR.



I've never looked at Hitchhiker, Excel, Desert Fox, or Arctic Fox. But I have until next spring, so I'll make it a point to look at those as well. The dealer I was at yesterday had some pretty good prices, but I think I can do even better next spring. If the price of fuel continues up, and the economy continues down, I don't think expensive toys like these will by flying off the lots. But on the same token I really hope fuel comes back down some and the economy stops sliding. I know a lot of people are getting hurt right now.



Jeff

 

[Grizzly]

A 37' 5er is way too big for weekend camping and one or two week long trips. Our 27' with two slide out is big enough. Maybe even too big for just my wife and I. The bigger it is the harder it will be to tow and the more fuel it will use. To tow a 37' 5er you may need a 3500 or a 4500 DRW.

 

[icman95]

Don/Tx: I have an 18k Reese hitch and sometimes have similar unlatching problems. While lubing the jaws is a good idea-mine even had a grease fitting-I think the problem happens when I pull out from the trailer too slowly. I know this sounds rediculous, but if I happen to slow or stop just as the pin is coming out, the jaws lock around it again. If I pull forward with just a little bit more speed, then it comes out just fine. Kinda weird, but very manageable.



Grizzly: I agree with you that a 37' is too much trailer for a 2500, but he did mention that he wants a toyhauler. We have a 33ft one where the back 10 feet is the garage so the living space is about 23 feet. All of a sudden a 33 or 37 foot trailer for just a few people doesn't seem that big. We do make use of the garage when it is empty. There are couches bolted to the walls that fold up when the bike is in there. They come down and convert into beds as well for 2 extra sleeping spots. In general I believe that a 30 something foot toyhauler isn't too big by itself. One just has to make sure that the tow vehicle is up to the task.