Some 5er questions

[Blakers]

Hello all,



I'm considering purchasing my first 5th wheel camper and I have a few questions...



How is the 5th wheel plate mounted in the bed? Is it attached to the frame through the bed?



What is the standard level high of the 5th wheel pin on the trailer?



Are all 5th wheel hitches universal?



The camper I am looking at today is a little Terry Taurus - 20 ft. Just a little one, but it's just my wife and I. My truck probably wouldn't even know it's there.



One concern I have is the height - will my truck be too high for it?



Thanks a lot!



Oo. BlakeOo.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"How is the 5th wheel plate mounted in the bed? Is it attached to the frame through the bed?"



Partially, usually - depends on the type of hitch used - mine is an older Reese type that has 2 rails attached to the bed with 4 bolts each, 2 on each side bolt to the bed only, and on the underside of the bed, an additional heavy bracket then bolts to the frame to the other 2 - that's done in case a circumstance arises that would allow the bolts to pull outta the sheetmetal in the bed, safety insurance in other words...





"What is the standard level high of the 5th wheel pin on the trailer?"



Probably varies from one trailer to another slightly, dunno what is the most common height. They ARE adjustable on most trailers, so it's pretty hard to make hard and fast statements as to a "standard"...





"Are all 5th wheel hitches universal?"



All the ones *I* have seen in the last 20 years or so - so yes, if you're set up for ONE RV, chances are another will hook right up mechanically.



The camper I am looking at today is a little Terry Taurus - 20 ft. Just a little one, but it's just my wife and I. My truck probably wouldn't even know it's there.



"One concern I have is the height - will my truck be too high for it?"



Dunno, how high is yer truck, and how high is the trailer pin? Most 4x4's DO have height problems that then require that the trailer be raise on it's suspension to allow for height differences.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Fiver ?

Hitch is mounted on rails most time with quick pins drilling in bed and on side or frame needed . You can do your self. Try REESE Hitches at www.reese.com for more info. as to hight the trailer will in most cases have to be lifted . again www.dexteraxel.com for info on over/under kit . Puts spring on top of axel Pin box have some adjustment some of them. You have a auto and a exhaust brake would require trans mods ,but with only 20 ft trailer you could get by with good trailer controler and good trailer brakes. No standard as to hitch hight normal is from about 45 -50 in . Always try to tow level with 20% pin waight of trailer on truck . You may want to visit www.irv2.com and wwwGoodsamclub.com Bouth give a world of information that is what you are looking for . Hope this helps Ron in LOUISVILLE KY Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[TowPro]

The only thing I can comment in is your truck WILL be to high for a standard 5th wheel.



I had a 1500 96 4X4 with 265. 16's on it (I see your tires are larger?)



You can adjust the level of the 5th wheel plate to lower the front of the camper, but it decreses the distance between the bottom of the camper overhang and the top of the rear truck bed.



I "could" tow the 5th wheel with my high (stock) 96 but the bed to trailer clearence was very low (maybe 3 or 4") and I did hit the bed corner on the camper one time, but thats all it took to scratch the hell out of the truck corner.



Even with this low clearence the front of the camper was pretty high (out of level) in the front which did cause sway at times. (5th wheels normaly don't have any sway)





I ended up getting these kits from Dexter that allowed me to mount the trailer axles under the springs of the camper. this gave me about 3-4 more inches of trailer hight which fixed the problem.



To make a long story short, remember the RV dealer will sell you the camper anyway saying "we see these things towed out of level all the time" and they do see it all the time, but its not right!



Make them put the Dextor kits on for you to raise the 5er as part of the deal. If I am not mistaking, Terry may have several bolt locations on the spring shackles to raise the camper, see if it does and have the dealer raise it for you, But let the dealer know if that's not enough they will add the kits for you.



In 96 the kits were around $25. 00 per axle, but the can be a ***** to put on as you have to jack up the camper to lift both axles off the ground, its only time and if its the difference between a deal and no deal they will go for it!



Just a note: You will read about people "turning over the axle" one can only hope they really mean they are moving the axles under the spring and rewelding on the spring perches.



The RV axle has a spring affect to it, and the wheels will actualy be cambered in at the bottom with no load on the axle, if you actualy turn the axle over the tires will stick out at the bottom like an old VW bug with 2 fat people in the back seat!

I saw one the guy really did "flip the axle and turn it upside down" man it looked scarey how bad the axles were bent. You could see the bottom of the tire was about 2" out further then the top





Something else, you want the hitch that rocks side to side as well as front to rear, I have the Reese 20K classic and love it! I have had one side of the camper up on 7" of blocks to get it level and still been able to un-hook, and hookup when I left because the hitch can pivet side to side.

 

[Blakers]

Thank you for the replies and advice guys!



I've decided not to get that 5th wheel trailer as it is too small and I see no advantage whatsoever in a 5th wheel that size. Perhaps that camper is made for an S-10 or Ranger. Very small. It's only 7 feet wide.



I think I am better off getting a medium sized hitch-mounted trailer as my truck is already set up with a receiver. Plus my truck is high and I want to be able to raise it 6 inches and get bigger tires in the future.



As far as my transmission goes, the TC clutch is already slipping under load, so I'm ordering a rebuilt Goerend transmission with a triple disc clutch.



Blake