How to Determine If Fifth Wheel Trailer has Clearance to Not Hit Cab When Turning

Question

Question:

what is the safe minimum distance between the back of the truck cab to the center of the hitch jaws when towing a big fifth wheel camper using a 1-ton truck.

asked by: Frank S

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

That depends largely on the measurements of the trailer nose and whether or not it has an extended pin box. Here is a formula though that you can use to determine if you have clearance.

The formula you are referring to is this:

(A + B) - C = Clearance
A = Distance from the fifth wheel jaw center to the truck cab
B = Offset used (slider clearance or Sidewinder offset)
C = Width of the nose of the trailer divided by 2.

You really want a minimum of 4 inches of clearance to be on the safe side.

Generally speaking if you have a long bed truck a stationary fifth wheel hitch will work fine in terms of cab clearance, but if you have a short bed you most likely will need a slider hitch or Sidewinder pin box installed.

I attached a couple help articles for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C

1

Answer 1

There is no difference between the #BWRVK3400-5W and the #BWRVK3400, other than the fact that we offer the #BWRVK3400-5W as a 5th wheel hitch and #BWRVK3400 as a Gooseneck to 5th Wheel Hitch Adapter. It's the exact same sliding fifth wheel hitch…

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Answer 2

Hey Mike, so I found some online Keystone manuals that detail how to link to the Bluetooth speakers. 1. Power on each Keystone by pressing their power buttons. You will hear "Power On" for confirmation. *2. The speakers will automatically,…

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Answer 3

Great question, Bret! The Timbren Kit #TFR250SDJ is for a standard pickup while the Timbren Kit #TFRTT350J is for Severe Service vehicles so you would want the 250 in this case. Since you said you want to retain a factory ride quality when unloaded I…

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Answer 4

Resetting the #FR33PR requires pulling the power from the thermostat. However, it is unlikely this will fix your error code. The E3 code means there is a loss of communication between the thermostat and control box. Double check your wires and make…

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Answer 5

The Demco Underbed Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider #DM8550022 is actually designed to only work with Demco 's Underbed Mounting System (UMS) so it isn't going to work with industry standard rails like your Super Rails. Instead,…

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Answer 6

The SumoSprings Solo Custom Helper Springs #SSR-121-54 will include 2 sets of M10-1.5 bolts for mounting in place of the factory bump stop. The lengths are going to be 55mm and 80mm to account for the different height spacers that you may need.

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Answer 7

I can help you navigate those tight turns in your 2014 Ram 2500. Since the Convert-A-Ball Cushioned 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapter #CAB-C5GX1216 that you referenced does not move the pivot point further back you really do not gain much clearance for…

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Answer 8

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 9

Thank you for the photo of your 2016 Ram 3500's bed rail which sits 59-inches above ground. You are correct that the recommended minimum clearance between a bed rail and the underside of the trailer's overhang is 5 to 6-inches, as shown in…

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Answer 10

There are two options for Sidewinders to replace a Lippert 1621 pin box. For a 16k rated Sidewinder we have the part #RP61422. If you need more capacity than that you would want the 19k version which is part #RP34FR. The first option listed above is…

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Answer 11

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 12

In regards to fifth wheel base rails, the way the fifth wheel hitch attaches to them will be the same across brands but not the way they attach to the frame brackets therefore you cannot mix and match base rails and frame brackets. If you already…

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How to Determine If Fifth Wheel Trailer has Clearance to Not Hit Cab When Turning

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