Recommended Clearance Dimensions for 5th Wheel Trailer Towing

Products Featured in This Question

Ranch Hitch Universal 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Coupler Adapter

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$599.98

Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit

(729)

$74.94

Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit

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$82.97

Question:

safe distace from back of cab to front of 5th wheel trailer and referece also distace from front of truck bed to 5th wheel hitch in truck bed

asked by: Peewee R

Expert Reply:

You can refer to the linked diagram to see the recommended minimum clearance dimensions for 5th wheel trailer towing.

The specific design of the trailer's nose - is it tapered for better turning clearance or is it a flat-nose design? - affects your required cab-to-overhang clearance. You can use this formula:

(A + B) - C = Clearance

A = Distance from center of fifth wheel hitch jaw to truck cab
B = Length of Sidewinder arm (16K = 22", 19K = 22")
C = Width of trailer divided by 2 (to get half)

In cases where there is not enough height between the bottom of the trailer overhang and the top of the bed rails it is possible to install an axle over-under kit (sometimes called an axle flip) that reverses the positions of the leaf spring stack and axles, lifting the trailer's height. Kits # K71-384-00 and # K71-385-00 do this for 2-3/8-inch and 3-inch axle diameters. The height gain they provide is equal to the axle diameter plus the height of the leaf spring stack.