Should I Expect 5th Wheel Chucking With Mopar 5th Wheel Hitch in Ram Truck
Updated 08/11/2021 | Published 08/10/2021
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Question:
Is it typical to have clanking noise during fifth wheel use. I have the ram fifth wheel hitch, which I do believe is the curt. It seems awful clanky when braking, turning, and acceleration.
asked by: Chaz S
Expert Reply:
To a certain extent, this is completely normal and should be expected since the trailer and the vehicle are not one piece; the connection between the two isn't perfect, so it's inevitable that there's some slop between them. You could look at getting a new 5th wheel hitch that has a single piece locking jaw, which would be an upgrade to your Ram/Curt hitch that likely has a 2 piece jaw that doesn't make complete 360 degree contact with the kingpin.
If you wanted to go that route you would need to provide the year, model and bed length of your Ram truck, but something like the Reese M5 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Ram Towing Prep Package - Single Jaw - 20,000 lbs # RP30918 would be a great solution that fits some of the Ram OEM puck systems (depending on the year of your truck). The M5 has a single piece jaw that would provide 360 degree kingpin contact to limit a lot of the chucking that you're experiencing now.
The other option would be the go with a cushioned pinbox like a Trailair Flex Air 5th Wheel Pin Box # LC328492, which is designed to replace Lippert 1621 model pin boxes and has an air spring that helps provide added cushion in the hitch to pinbox connection that can also help reduce chucking. Your pin box number can typically be found on the spec sticker on the arm of the pin box, above the kingpin; you'll need a replacement that matches the same model number on your pinbox.
There is nothing wrong with using the standard pin boxes and 5th wheel hitches, but to help provide a much more smooth towing experience you may want to look into one of these options. If you can provide the pin box number or the information about the truck I can help you locate the appropriate replacement options for each of these.
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