5th wheel front to back pivot question!!

[D White]

Is there a formula for determining the amount of front to back pivot a 5th wheel should have? Holding the plate level, I'm getting 20 degree's to the back which I believe is fine, but only 10 degree's of front pivot. Is 10 enough? If not I can modify the underside of the plate and get 20 both ways. The hitch is only 5 inches high from the base to the top of the plate. I have raised it an inch off the bed to gain this much motion. I used this low profile unit to let me drop my 5'ver back down to earth were it belongs. Sick of looking like the Clampetts with blocks under all the stabilizer jacks, and luggin around extra steps just to get in the thing.



Thanks

Doug

 

[dmurdock]

20 degrees will be pushing it very close...



any way you can raise the hitch and then suck the pin box up to maintain the attitude?

 

[R Temple]

You need about 7 inches between the trailer and the bed rail or you will hit and do damage.

 

[D White]

I have 18" between the trailer and bed, no chance of hitting there! My hitch is a full size, Holland 5th wheel. Not the smaller, higher RV type. It doesn't seem to have the same amount of pivot that the RV ones have. Just wondering when backing into camp sites that drop down a little or are up hill, how much pivot do I really need.



Thanks,

Doug

 

[dmurdock]

(check doug's sig. . he's got a flatbed so no bed rail clearance problems... )



Doug, I guess you could just try it and "see what breaks". .

 

[D White]

dmurdock,

Guess that's what I'll do, just try it and see what gives. Think I should be ok, I looked at a truck with a pick-up box and 6" between trailer and box, at about 8 degrees it would hit the back of the box. I have more motion than that, if they don't have any trouble, I should be fine.



Thanks,

Doug

 

[dmurdock]

I'm bringin my trailer to the house tomorrow to re-pack the wheel bearings. I have an extended pin box, so I can't get in trouble (not tilting forward anyways... ) However,I'll guesstimate what pitch would get me in trouble if I didn't have an extended pin and let you know...

 

[D White]

dmurdock,

My trailer has an extended pin also, its a short 25 footer. I'm afraid of bending something on the pin box if the 5th wheel hitch itself tips to far foreward to the end of it's travel, like say backing up onto a site that's higher than road. Trailer up and truck down on the level. That's where my real concern is.



Thanks,

Doug

 

[R Temple]

Years ago we did not have any side to side movement in the hitch plate and we never bent any pins.

I think there is enough play so you don't have to worry about bending anything.

Hey, it's too cold to get the trailer out up there. I'm not rubbing it in or anything but it has been camping season here all year.

 

[D White]

Hey temple,

Stop rubbin salt in the old wounds. We just got 6 more inches of snow here over night:--) Can't wait for May to get here.



Doug

 

[Steve M]

R Temple,

We're north of you and suffering from this cold front that just came through. It's 65*F outside. I even had to put shorts on to go out and get the paper! We're up in the Tampa Bay area!

I wouldn't be too overly concerned about the amount of pivot in the 5th wheel hitch. I opted for the non rocking Reese and we take out 5th wheel off road through dips and even a shallow drainage ditch that just barely allows clearance of the bed rails and the rear bumper of the trailer. The pin will allow a lot more pivot than the head will. I don't like to see it but it will lean up on one side or the other as much as the play in the pin will allow. We haven't bent anything doing this. I have our 5th wheel's jake plates adjusted to their highest level for clearance off road.