Measuring for 5th Wheel Turning Clearance

Published 01/27/2022

Question:

I have a 6 1/2 foot bed hd truck with gooseneck hitch. I am wanting to switch out the pin box to a gooseneck box on my fifth wheel. I was wanting to know how to measure for turning clearance to make sure I wont need a sliding hitch/can get by without one. I am just wanting to use the gooseneck ball itself. thanks

asked by: Ben

Expert Reply:

The formula to determine 5th wheel turning clearance is pretty straightforward and is expressed as:

(A + B) - C = Clearance

A = Distance from center of fifth wheel hitch jaw to truck cab
B = Length of Sidewinder arm (22-inches) as with part # RP34FR
C = Width of trailer divided by 2 (to get half)

For an example, if the distance from the center of the hitch to the cab is 36", 36" + 22" = 58". If your fifth wheel trailer is 102" wide, take half (51"), then plug in: 58" - 51" = 7" of clearance. At least 4 inches of clearance is recommended to safely execute a 90 degree turn.

You can refer to the linked article for additional information.

expert reply by: Michael R