What Causes Jerking and Banging When Towing a Fifth Wheel Trailer

Updated 09/10/2019 | Published 09/09/2019

Products Featured in This Question

B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Dual Jaw - 16,000 lbs

(773)

$699.00

Question:

We have a 2001 Ford f-350 diesel and a 29 foot 2006 outback fifth wheel. When we pull it it jerks back and forth and is a very bumpy ride even on smooth highways. We inherited this truck and trailer so we aren’t sure what kind of hitch we have but I think it’s a standard fifth wheel hitch, not sure beyond that. What do we need to get to have a smooth ride?

asked by: Leah

Expert Reply:

The biggest factor for fifth wheel towing that causes the noise you mentioned is the jaw design of the hitch used. The lower end hitches use much larger clearances in the jaws which allows the trailer to bang around when starting and stopping. The solution is a hitch with a tighter jaw design like the B and W Patriot hitch # BWRVK3200 which uses a very thick jaw that wraps all the way around the king pin to provide a super tight and smooth connection.

expert reply by: Jameson C