5th Wheel Hitch mounting

[gregb]

I'm getting ready to install my 5th wheel hitch in my ex-cad short bed, should I center over the axle or somewhat forward?



Thanks...

 

[Turbo Thom]

Center pin 6" s forward of center axle.

 

[DRR-24V]

Center It !!

On a short bed I would place it at centerline, as you will need all the clearance you can get. On my longbed I went 2" forward for a little better ride.

 

[D White]

I agree with centering directly over the axles. With a short bed you will want all the clearance you can get, especially if your not using a sliding 5th wheel. Thats what I did in my 2500 and never had to use the slide, but it was there just in case. Even in my 3500 it's centered over the axles.



Doug

 

[dremelts]

TDR Issue 35 has an excellent article by Jim Anderson about GAWR, GVWR, GCWR etc, etc. But he also says in the article to put the king pin right over the rear axle. The idea being that the heavy cummins engine already puts the front axle near its GAWR and you don't need any more weight distributed up front by putting the king pin ahead of the rear axle.



That being said, sometimes it can't be helped depending upon the make/model hitch that you're putting in. Sometimes the combination of the of the hitch configuration and the location of the bed cross rails dictates where the king pin will be relative to the axle.

 

[CPH]

Hitch placement

You can place it safely 2" in front of or behind the rear axle. Of course it is best directly over. With your short bed you will not have a problem directly over if you have an extended pin box. The extended pin box will allow full rotation of your rig up to 90 deg. angle. It is the safe way to go with a short bed. Your rv dealer should be able to get you an extended pin box.



Cph

 

[Turbo Thom]

After reading the article in TDR and seeing the logic, I stand corrected as to my post. I have installed many hitches in the past but not on CTD. When I was in business There was no pick-up diesels. Heck, I bought the first year pord dually with a wide fender. 1980. I am ever gratful for the post correcting my statement. I would fill liable if I steered anybody wrong.



Oh as to the pord, I hit a very large oak tree one nite and totaled the truck. I wish for some luck like that again. That truck was an experience from hell.



Thanks much.



. . Preston. .

 

[gregb]

Thanks everyone

Thanks to everyone for all the advice. One more question about my fifth wheel hitch, what would be the minimum clearance I should have between the camper and the side of the pickup bed?



Thanks...

 

[Turbo Thom]

Greg:

I'm almost afraid to say. On mine I have 6" to bed rail. I read on here where one feller had 18". To me that's a bit much. I drive a 4X4 and so far I have found 6" has caused me no trouble. The only time you will ever have a problem is in an extreme dip such as off the road. I had one at the race track where I stilll had clearance. A lot of folks like more but I want the trailer as tight to the truck as I can stand for the dynamics of air flow.



What I say works for me and may not be the most popular.



. . Preston. .

 

[pwr2tow]

I think the instructions for most is 5 1/2 inches camper to bed rail. I use a camp ground that has very steep angles comeing out and turning at the same time, thats the one that will get you every time, turning and the truck leaning one way and the camper the other comeing off a grade. I had scuff marks on truck bed from doing this with less than 5 1/2 inches clearance, with 6 inches i no longer have that problem.



18 inches:--) I hope that wasn't a full stand up 5th wheel.



Ron

 

[RThompson]

I installed a 16K Husky slider a few months ago in our 2002 SB and encountered some problems with interference on the 2" crossmember under the bed floor. Ended up with hitch directly over the axle centerline but I had to drill thru the center of the 2" crossmember and put a spacer in there to keep from collasping it. Worked out very well but it was several hours extra work. Most hitch brackets are meant to be bolted to the frame. Very few Rv shops will do it that way. Their 'better' idea is to arc weld brackets to your frame without regard to frame intergity or weld separation. By the way the, the hitch being on axle centerline works out really well. This is third hitch that I have located this way and it will work just fine for you. The previous posters comment about motor weight is very valid point.



I like about 7-8 inches of trailer to bed clearance. Enough to get my head under to look for things.

 

[D White]

Ron,

The 18" clearance is what I've got now with the flatbed. Actually, I now have the 5'ver down were I like it. An expensive way of going about it, but I like my set-up. I put in a full size Holland fifth wheel with 22" plate, that only stands 6" off the bed. Definate Overkill, but a rugged looking setup Got sick of only have'in 5" clearance, even rubbed a time or two Didn't really want to flip the axles. Like it lower.



Don't rub now



Doug

 

[D. Showan]

When I installed my Reese 15K hitch the directions said it should be centered several inches foreward of the axle centerline. The local dealer also told me the same thing. As I recall, about 2 inches foreward worked out well with the reinforcing rails under the bed. I wanted to put it back of centerline a few inches to give me easier access to the front compartments but they advised me against it.