Mega cab 5th wheel placment

[MLee]

You guys with a Mega cab, is your hitch centered over the axle? is it just in front of the axle?

My friend has a reese 16K hitch, 06 Mega cab gas/propane duel fuel truck and is hoping to install the hitch in the right spot. The propane tank looks to be maybe 50 gal. He may have to change it a little.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

You guys with a Mega cab, is your hitch centered over the axle? is it just in front of the axle?

My friend has a reese 16K hitch, 06 Mega cab gas/propane duel fuel truck and is hoping to install the hitch in the right spot. The propane tank looks to be maybe 50 gal. He may have to change it a little.

Ummm, how bout you guys read the mounting direstions? That's how i like to do things.

 

[mwilson]

Mine is just ahead of center, will try to find the on-line instructions from Reese for you.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Here... go to Sheets 13 of 21 and 14 of 21.



http://www.hitchpro.net/application/support/instructions/n30035.pdf



Mike.

 

[RustyJC]

Your friend does realize, I hope, that without a sliding hitch he faces a potential cab-to-5th wheel RV clearance problem on turns with his short bed truck.



Rusty

 

[Wertles]

Your friend does realize, I hope, that without a sliding hitch he faces a potential cab-to-5th wheel RV clearance problem on turns with his short bed truck.



Rusty

That's not entirely accurate. It really depends on the fifth wheel front. My old Jayco NEEDED the slider for just about any turns, my new Voltage with a curved front end can go almost 90* without moving the slider, although I still have it. With a triple axle, I wouldn't go any more than that anyway.

 

[RustyJC]

That's not entirely accurate. It really depends on the fifth wheel front. My old Jayco NEEDED the slider for just about any turns, my new Voltage with a curved front end can go almost 90* without moving the slider, although I still have it. With a triple axle, I wouldn't go any more than that anyway.

That's why I used the word POTENTIAL in my post. That means that he may have a problem, or he may not. Therefore, I believe my post was accurate as stated; I'm not in the habit of posting inaccurate information.



Rusty

 

[EricBu12]

Better to get the 5th airborne sidewinder. Eliminates the worry

 

[Wertles]

That's why I used the word POTENTIAL in my post. That means that he may have a problem, or he may not. Therefore, I believe my post was accurate as stated; I'm not in the habit of posting inaccurate information.



Rusty

You are correct sir. My bad. Missed the word potential. That will teach me to type, listen to the wife and watch TV at the same time.

 

[mwilson]

You are correct sir. My bad. Missed the word potential. That will teach me to type, listen to the wife and watch TV at the same time.

I have had to stop posting while "Modern Family" or "Gray's Anatomy" is on the TV.



Just can't do both things at the same time anymore...



Mike.

 

[MLee]

Thanks for all your answers and suggestion. To answer the potentials, the reese hitch was taken out of a 2011 1500 quad cab short box he had, couldn't afford it. So the frame brackets went with the 2011, still has the hitch and rails. The trailer has a pretty rounded nose so maybe ok here. I question it though. The sidewinder works good and he may have to go this way on this trailer we'll see. Reason I ask this of all you was the Propane tank and its potential problem of not letting the hitch rails go far enough forward.

So the question MIKE would be the measured distance from the front of the box to the front mounting rail? to see if he will have the needed room. Would you be so kind to measure this and let me know? Thanks for the install instruction and the pages. Is the frame already drilled for the brackets? I havent looked at the truck frame my self yet.

 

[mwilson]

I will gladly measure it in the morning, front of bed to forward lip of front rail???



The '06 is home today, I commute with the '97 so it is 63 miles away right now.



The frame is not drilled, I did my install and had to drill every hole. I suggest that you get a Reese mounting kit even if you already have rails so that you have the correct shoulder bolts, spacers and the other small items unique to a Ram install. There is also a special wire that comes with it to assist in pulling the shoulder bolts into place as the truck has a box style frame with no access from the back side.



Mike.

 

[MLee]

Thanks Mike I appreciate your efforts. The reason I am looking in to this situation as I have been asked to help him install and get him on the road this summer with this truck. He has a problem getting around cause he's a little over weight. Its like "i've fallen and can't get up". At lest he stayed with Dodge.

 

[mwilson]

MLee,



I am sorry, I forgot my promise to measure the bed on the '06.



Wound up changing the shower valve and related plumbing at the house.

Shower now fixed better that new, only have a wounded hall wall to repair now. .



Will get it tonight for you or if you have a little time before you begin I will have it in a nice warm shop this coming Sunday and can do it then.



Mike.

 

[MLee]

Mike;

I guess that I didn't read your whole post on the last one, and thought that maybe you were still doing plumbing projects. I know how they go.

 

[mwilson]

It's cold as the devil here today, if it's OK I still plan to take the truck down to work tomorrow and do it then.

It will be a lot easier to roll the tonneau cover up so I can measure the distance in a nice warm shop.



Mike.

 

[MLee]

It's cold as the devil here today, if it's OK I still plan to take the truck down to work tomorrow and do it then.

It will be a lot easier to roll the tonneau cover up so I can measure the distance in a nice warm shop.



Mike.

No problem mike no hurry either. I appreciate your help in what you have sent and offered already.

Looks like we maybe going to get some weather here this next week.

 

[mwilson]

I am down here now, gonna' put the old girl in the washbay and thaw it out.

Will peel the cover back and get you some photos this afternoon.



-6 below here this morning... . BRRRRR!



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Here you go, 22" from front of bed to front of fifth wheel rail.



Mike.

 

[MLee]

Thanks Mike that will help a lot. I appreciate your doing this for me, and going out of your way for the posting.

Marv.