Newbie to 5th wheel, question about unhooking on unlevel ground.

[Coalsmoke]

Well, my family is finally in the market for a 5'th wheel trailer and a truck to haul that trailer (CTD hopefully ). We will take this trailer on highway but also offroad to camping spots. What I am wondering is, will there be a problem hooking / unhooking on unlevel ground (when the truck and trailer are sitting at different angles) and if so, what can be done about this? I thought I read here once that some of the better 5th wheel hitches have a plate that pivots a few degrees to either side for this very purpose, but I can't find the hitches or the post and now I am wondering if I'm just imagining things



Thanks guys

 

[Turbo Thom]

The first thing is make sure the wheels on the trailer are chocked. Don't ever think the trailer won't roll away after it's unhooked. There really is not a secret to uneven ground other than leveling the trailer first. That I know of anyway.



. . Preston. .

 

[klenger]

Most of the hitches being sold today have a 4-way pivot for this purpose. I have the PullRite Super 5th, and am very pleased with it. The hitch and rails can be removed w/o any tools for a clean bed. I had a Drawtite (same as Reese) slider in my 01. 5 that also had a 4-way pivot. See http://www.klenger.net/dodge/pullrite/index.html for my comments and pics of the PullRite setup.

 

[JeffWhite]

I don't know how close the clearance is on most 5th wheel set ups, but

would say be very careful going offroad - saw an ugly incident with a gooseneck

cattle trailer and new truck one time. went over a terrace in pasture with truck

turned at an angle and DESTROYED one corner of the bed. And this was a guy

who does this for a living. In his defense, his old setup must have had more

clearance, and stuff can happen to anybody!

 

[Coalsmoke]

jeff, I thought that 5'th wheels were locked in more than that during normal travel, but goosenecks allow that kind of pivoting. But, I could be worng. Good advice regardless.



Klenger, thanks for the good info, that's what I needed

 

[RJOL]

The 4 way pivot hitch is a big help. I'd stay away from a "bar" lock hitch. They have a tendency to bind up on uneven ground. I had a Reese Trailboss on my 2001 (bar type) and it would bind up at times so I'd have to move the truck slightly forward of aft to get it to unlatch. My 2005 has a B&W Companion hitch, and it does not bind up, as it has a "split jaw" lock. Lots better then my old Reese...

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

If you're going with the 5th wheel hitch, the 4 way pivot is great. Had one in my old truck(short bed) w/slider. Only problem was removal and reinstall. Hitch was very heavy. If you have a long box, you might think about a gooseneck. I have one in my truck now and love it.

 

[K5IP]

I do lots of camping on forrest trails and jeep roads. My small Nash 21 ft unit works well for off road camping. (the axels are turned for extra clearence).

I have used both the slide bar style, which only swivels a few degrees sideways, and the 4 way pivot type. The 4 way jaw types allow much flexability to connect on uneven ground and that happens a lot! Boondocking----Go for it!

Rog