5th wheel hitch extender

tbirdrick · #1 (**permalink**) 05-27-2004, 02:53 AM

Anyone ever seen one yet? I am told they have only been out a few months.

Just bought a new short bed SD deisel for my 25' 5th wheel, and found out the hitch had to be mounted about 4" ahead of the axle rather than over it. That wiped me out for clearance, so I sprung for a new Reese slider hitch that removes completely from the bed (another new release).

Anyway, the trailer had to be raised 5" to match the new truck, and they slid back the hitch nose inside it's housing to help level it. This shortened me up some 4" more, in addition to the 4" mounting location above.

Bear with me, I'm getting there as fast as I can. The trailer place had a new device called a hitch extender, that gains me 10". It is a simple box made of 1/2" steel plate, and is 2" high and about 12" long. One end clamps to the hitch pin on the trailer with a humongous clamp, and the other end has a new pin to go into the trailer hitch on the truck.

I have only driven home with it, but it seems to work just fine. The sucker costs $400, but it can be taken off and moved to the next trailer. It must weight 60#, and is very sturdily built.

So....between the extender, and the slider, I should be ready for most anything.

Rick

SoCalDesertRider · #2 (**permalink**) 05-27-2004, 07:21 PM

Not trying to rain on your parade here... Maybe I can offer a different perspective than you have on the situation...

Before towing with the hitch extension, I would consult with the manufacturer of the hitch box on your trailer about that hitchs' suitability for use with a 12" extension. The extension acts like a giant prybar on the hitch box and the box may not be designed to handle the added stress. Over time, you could end up with a hitch failure.

I would give the same note of caution to anyone towing a pull-behind trailer with an extension in the reciever hitch. Those extensions lower the weight ratings of any reciever hitch. With your fifth wheel trailer, you're dealing with alot more weight on the pin/hitchbox than a pull-behind trailers' tongue weight.

You may be better off with a long bed truck...

johnsdiesel · #3 (**permalink**) 05-27-2004, 07:59 PM

I totally agree. It doesn't sound like the solution to the problem.

NoMo · #4 (**permalink**) 05-27-2004, 09:48 PM

I was wondering why the original hitch had to be installed 4" in front of the rear axle. Is this an issue with the '04 truck frames?

I had a 2000 F250 short-bed. My "regular" Reese hitch was installed about 2" behind the rear axle. Didn't need a sliding mount or any kind of extension on the trailer pinbox.

johnsdiesel · #5 (**permalink**) 05-28-2004, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMo

I was wondering why the original hitch had to be installed 4" in front of the rear axle. Is this an issue with the '04 truck frames?

I had a 2000 F250 short-bed. My "regular" Reese hitch was installed about 2" behind the rear axle. Didn't need a sliding mount or any kind of extension on the trailer pinbox.

I would say that your Reese hitch was installed incorrectly. Fifth wheel hitches should not be mounted behind the rear axle. That's the only way to make sure some of the weight is transferred to the front axle.

NoMo · #6 (**permalink**) 05-28-2004, 12:50 PM

It was "necessary" because of the short-bed to ensure cab/trailer clearance. Back then, I had a significantly lighter trailer, so weight wasn't an issue.

With my long-bed, the hitch is a couple of inches in front of the axle. Still, it's not 4" in front of the axle. That sounds excessive- unless the frame design requires it.

johnsdiesel · #7 (**permalink**) 05-28-2004, 03:41 PM

NoMo, it's standard practice to mount a fifth wheel hitch in front of the rear axle. If you have a short bed that's why they make slider hitches. Mounting any fifth wheel hitch behind the rear axle is not the correct way to install it.

tbirdrick · #8 (**permalink**) 06-01-2004, 02:22 AM

About the pry bar analogy....I agree it would put more stress on a hitch already fully extended to its limit, but mine was slid back inside itself to raise it for the truck, so I was simply regaining what I lost. My hitch is the extended nose type, that extends down as it extends out, with four or five different settings possible. It actually was slid back over 6", and it wasn't all the way out to start, so I doubt there is any safety issue there.

I experimented with tire pressures a bit, and ended up using 50 rear, 45 front for towing. My trailer has a gvwr of 7000# and only has about 600# of hitch weight. The tires still don't have any bulge or obvious flex to them.

By the way, the tires that came with the trailer are rated at 60#, and the recommended inflation for them on the trailer sticker is 35#. I ran them at 60 for a while and the trailer bounced so much it knocked a chair over. Running them now at 45# and it rides much better, and I am still 10# over the recommended pressure.

The truck seemed to tow fine, and I have almost 1000 miles on it now. I am gonna change the oil before the 4000 mile trip in a couple weeks, then run it over the Rockies a couple times.

Rick