Factory Installed 5th wheel
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
I got my answer. Went to the dealer this morning and talked to the commercial truck guy. He kept trying to show me where the F-450 has a tow rating of 24,000 lbs in the book, so the hitch must be 24,000 lbs. I argued that they were two different numbers until I finally gave up. Went to the parts department and they pulled up the numbers and gave me a printout that says all the factory installed fifth wheel hitches are 25K with a 6250 pin weight capacity.
Then, just to make me feel really humiliated, while we were test driving the truck, the wife complained about a rattle in the passenger side door. She reached down in one of the door compartments and pulled out a plastic bag with the wrench and an owner's manual for the fifth wheel hitch. Right there on the front cover it says "25K Fifth Wheel Hitch."
And FWIW, my 19K fiver with 4,500 lbs pin weight caused the F-450 KR to squat 1 1/2 inches at the rear bumper. The rear of the overload spring is in contact with the overload stop, but the front of the overload spring has about 1 1/2 to 2 inches before it hits the stop. I'm thinking I won't have to install air bags on this one.
Then, just to make me feel really humiliated, while we were test driving the truck, the wife complained about a rattle in the passenger side door. She reached down in one of the door compartments and pulled out a plastic bag with the wrench and an owner's manual for the fifth wheel hitch. Right there on the front cover it says "25K Fifth Wheel Hitch."
And FWIW, my 19K fiver with 4,500 lbs pin weight caused the F-450 KR to squat 1 1/2 inches at the rear bumper. The rear of the overload spring is in contact with the overload stop, but the front of the overload spring has about 1 1/2 to 2 inches before it hits the stop. I'm thinking I won't have to install air bags on this one.
BTW I have the same Ford / Reese hitch setup and love it.
Last edited by srosa; Mar 25, 2011 at 03:36 PM. Reason: forgot something
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
Likes: 4
I've had the '06 F-350 dually with this fiver for almost 5 years. We full-time and the weight keeps adding up. Last scale ticket was 28K+ for truck and trailer. I'm within all my ratings except GCWR. I'm thinking the new F-450 will leave some growing room. I'll put it on the scales first time I hook up.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 832
Likes: 110
Can anyone with the Ford 5th wheel hitch prep and ford 25k hitch take a picture of the Ford hitch in the bed in a manner that will show the location of the hitch's pin recepter in relation to the centerline of the rear axle? or just describe how far it is from the rear of bed? Please be specific as to the centerline if the pin versus its front or rear. Thanks.
I have a 3rd party adapter for my air hitch the seems to sit too far to the rear, i.e., barely at the centerline of the axle. This ends up with the rear spring overload being engaged at the rear but not the front and headlights into the sky with a mere 16k 5er. My 08 handled it easily but had traditional aftermarket rails installed, but not sure where pin was in relation to axle.
I found TSB on 2010's that delt with shudder that said that both goosneck and 5er pins should be 2 inches in front of axle centerline, but adapter folks say they only make one (the wrong one?), and want more than an "old" tsb to motivate them to make it right. Yes I have shudder too that airbags will fix, but I still want the pin where it should be so overlaods engage in proper sequence in extreme conditions.
I have a 3rd party adapter for my air hitch the seems to sit too far to the rear, i.e., barely at the centerline of the axle. This ends up with the rear spring overload being engaged at the rear but not the front and headlights into the sky with a mere 16k 5er. My 08 handled it easily but had traditional aftermarket rails installed, but not sure where pin was in relation to axle.
I found TSB on 2010's that delt with shudder that said that both goosneck and 5er pins should be 2 inches in front of axle centerline, but adapter folks say they only make one (the wrong one?), and want more than an "old" tsb to motivate them to make it right. Yes I have shudder too that airbags will fix, but I still want the pin where it should be so overlaods engage in proper sequence in extreme conditions.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
Likes: 4
Wish you had asked for the photo earlier today. I had the camera in my pocket all morning, but only had the truck for a couple of hours for a test drive.
I'm glad you mentioned the pin to axle relationship though. With the Ford (Reese) Elite hitch, if they've got the base of the hitch in backwards, I can reverse it and shift some weight forward to lift it off the rear of the overload spring.
I'm glad you mentioned the pin to axle relationship though. With the Ford (Reese) Elite hitch, if they've got the base of the hitch in backwards, I can reverse it and shift some weight forward to lift it off the rear of the overload spring.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Can anyone with the Ford 5th wheel hitch prep and ford 25k hitch take a picture of the Ford hitch in the bed in a manner that will show the location of the hitch's pin recepter in relation to the centerline of the rear axle? or just describe how far it is from the rear of bed? Please be specific as to the centerline if the pin versus its front or rear. Thanks.
I have a 3rd party adapter for my air hitch the seems to sit too far to the rear, i.e., barely at the centerline of the axle. This ends up with the rear spring overload being engaged at the rear but not the front and headlights into the sky with a mere 16k 5er. My 08 handled it easily but had traditional aftermarket rails installed, but not sure where pin was in relation to axle.
I found TSB on 2010's that delt with shudder that said that both goosneck and 5er pins should be 2 inches in front of axle centerline, but adapter folks say they only make one (the wrong one?), and want more than an "old" tsb to motivate them to make it right. Yes I have shudder too that airbags will fix, but I still want the pin where it should be so overlaods engage in proper sequence in extreme conditions.
I have a 3rd party adapter for my air hitch the seems to sit too far to the rear, i.e., barely at the centerline of the axle. This ends up with the rear spring overload being engaged at the rear but not the front and headlights into the sky with a mere 16k 5er. My 08 handled it easily but had traditional aftermarket rails installed, but not sure where pin was in relation to axle.
I found TSB on 2010's that delt with shudder that said that both goosneck and 5er pins should be 2 inches in front of axle centerline, but adapter folks say they only make one (the wrong one?), and want more than an "old" tsb to motivate them to make it right. Yes I have shudder too that airbags will fix, but I still want the pin where it should be so overlaods engage in proper sequence in extreme conditions.
Last edited by srosa; Mar 25, 2011 at 06:53 PM. Reason: mispelling
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 824
Likes: 0
From: Maryville (Mur Vul), TN
Deleted the fifth wheel prep package from my order. I have a perfectly good Reese slider and it will go in my new truck. Lived with the set up for 5 years with no problems. I am all for saving $2000 and still having my slider, saves rear windows....
5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: British Columbia, Canada
Just had my 18K Reese Slider hitch installed last week. Looks like my 4 plugs are flush with the Line-X coating and look forward to no rail obstruction in the box. Looking forward to trying out the new truck hauling the 5'er and wondering how it compares to the 7.3 L......Paid thru the nose here in Canada for the hitch.
John
John
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 0
From: Upstate, NY
Fifth wheel prep is less than $400 and does not include a hitch. You can use your old hitch by buying the adapter from Hensley. Having a flat bed is worth the $$ to me...I hate tripping over those rails all the time.
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