5th wheel prep package and towing
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New User
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: No. Ca - Sacramento Delta
5th wheel prep package and towing
This may have been covered, but I don't recall seeing it. My question is for those that have the Factory installed 5th wheel package and the Ford / Reese 25K hitch. I pulled my 5er for the first time with this set up and the rear of the truck seems alful close to the trailer. To the point that I can't have my tailgate down when connected.
My previous truck was a chevy with the 6ft bed and the roller hitch. But even when the hitch was in the forward (towing) position, I could have the tailgate down.
This is the first time I've towed with an 8ft bed and fixed hitch, so maybe that's normal. It could be my trailer too and just need to adjust the kingpin assembly (sorry - don't know the technical term for that).
Thanks
(ps - its an F450)
George
My previous truck was a chevy with the 6ft bed and the roller hitch. But even when the hitch was in the forward (towing) position, I could have the tailgate down.
This is the first time I've towed with an 8ft bed and fixed hitch, so maybe that's normal. It could be my trailer too and just need to adjust the kingpin assembly (sorry - don't know the technical term for that).
Thanks
(ps - its an F450)
George
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,783
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From: WY
I don't have the factory prep kit, but I am going to wager a bet that Ford designed the hitch to be far enuf forward so as not to cause an issue with the sagging springs. IMHO I've heard someone else express the same concern you did about not being able to open the tailgate. I wouldn't like not being able to open my tailgate with the 5er hooked up.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 824
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From: Maryville (Mur Vul), TN
I had the same hitch put in my new truck that I had in my old. Mine seems a little closer to the 5th wheel but I can get it open. Canceled my 5th wheel prep when I found out I would have to get a new hitch.....
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2011
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I am new to the 5er and have the prep package with the 18K hitch. When I picked up my 5er I was able to have the tailgate down without any problem. I have got a 5th. wheel tailgate that I will change when I am going to be towing, doesn't take much to change the tailgate. When I will be towing quite a bit the 5th. wheel gate will stay on.
Does your 5er have an extended king pin box or an older straight doiwn box?
Does your 5er have an extended king pin box or an older straight doiwn box?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
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I can put the tailgate down when hooked up, but I have to be fairly straight aligned with the trailer. I can't hook up at a 45 degree angle because the corner of the tailgate would punch a hole in the generator door.
I have pretty much the same clearance with the 2011 F-450 as I did with my '06 F-350.
I have pretty much the same clearance with the 2011 F-450 as I did with my '06 F-350.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 167
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The location of the hitch is suppose to be just a tad forward of center of your rear axle. With an eight foot bed this means that you will never be able to open your tailgate when the trailer is at an angle with most RV's.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30
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From: British Columbia, Canada
I had the sliding 18K reese 5th wheel hitch installed with the underbed mount and I can drop my tailgate and back in with the hitch in the forward position. The pin is a tad forward of the rear axle. I bought the slider but probably didn't need to as the cap of the fifth wheel only comes close to the truck when in tight turns.
The rear back up sensors are little annoying though with the tailgate down!
John
The rear back up sensors are little annoying though with the tailgate down!
John
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New User
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: No. Ca - Sacramento Delta
I had the sliding 18K reese 5th wheel hitch installed with the underbed mount and I can drop my tailgate and back in with the hitch in the forward position. The pin is a tad forward of the rear axle. I bought the slider but probably didn't need to as the cap of the fifth wheel only comes close to the truck when in tight turns.
The rear back up sensors are little annoying though with the tailgate down!
John
The rear back up sensors are little annoying though with the tailgate down!
John
As for my set-up, sounds like I'm normal with just a short pin-box dang genetics and short things anyway). Guess I just need to buy a new 5er
Senior User
Joined: May 2012
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From: Pleasants Co. WV
Not true...
When I hook up my 5er I leave the tailgate down...
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,676
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From: Milford, MI
It varies RV to RV......The fiver in my sig seems to have a lot more room than most. I actually run one of those hitch cargo trays in the trucks reciever hitch while pulling it if needed. Currant truck is a 8' box with factory prep-the 2000 350 I had was a 6.5' box and I can not say I have more or less room pulling this same setup. Tailgate can be down at any angle with room for me to go back and forth unimpeded.
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