We are considering the purchase of our first fifth wheel. I have read all the posts about pin weight, Gross vehicle weight etc. I believe with a little common sense, I can safely tow this unit with my truck. My question is how is the ride towing a fifth wheel? I have read many posts at some of the camping forums about bucking and jerking. Is this a common problem/occurance with fifth wheels?

Considering:
2003 Wildcat 28BH, Dry weight 7,520#, Hitch weight 1,100#, GVWR 11,260#
Tow vehicle:
2004 F250 CC SB 6.0 4x4, Scale weight 7520# w/ me & fuel, GVWR 8800#

 

this isn't common if the trailers loaded properly. your truck is big enough in my opinion. it's not just 5ers it's anyting you put behind your truck. my boat will do this sometimes if not loaded properly. my flatbed gooseneck will too. so it's not just 5ers. Just my $0.02

1978 F-250 Ranger Explorer 4x4


Drive It Like You Stole It!!!

 

Ditto above, 10,000 with no problem with a properly loaded trailer and rubber ball time @ 1750 to far back in the trailer or off center (*&#$ loaders @ the airport). I've had to pull over and reload on the side of the road several times.

 

I had some jerking and bouncing before I installed a pair of airbags to help out my rear springs. During my first tow, I still had some jerking but it felt different. After experimenting with less air in the bags, the setup tows very nice and smooth. Once I got it set where it felt best, I measured the distance between my fender and tire and now fill up my airbags to obtain the same gap each time I tow instead of filling up the airbags to a certain pressure. On my truck the gap is 9 3/4" from top of my wheel well to the cast ridge on the sidewall of my tires.

 

I am with Gchavez, except I have a set of gauges in my cab that monitors the air pressure in each bag. so I know what pressure rides the best for my 5er no bucking here.

Fire Rooster

 

I have a 2003 27 1/2' Wildcat 5er with the superslide. Almost identical to what your looking at.
Pulling with my 94 F250 4x4 Ford SC is like riding in a nice big Buick. No bounce, no tug, just a nice smooth ride. The only changes that I made to my suspention was a new set of gas shocks as at a 160,000 I figured that the old ones were probably not to good anymore.
With my wife and myself plus all fulids and gear we scale out at 15,750. You should be good to go. Enjoy
Dan

 

I don't know the chances but I heard to stay away from 5th wheelers with short beds pickups.

 

Primarily because of turning clearance conflicts ... With the right hitch, a little care and common sense, and a good installation it can be done ... and done well.

Regarding the jerking of a fifth wheel/gooseneck type trailer it usually happens only with: 1) a load out of balance/misloaded/overloaded, 2) too light a tow vehicle, 3) an incorrectly installed or loose hitch mount, 4) bad road with cracks/joints whose spacing matches with the axle spacing of the truck and trailer, 5) others .....

Probably the worst ride I've ever had was hauling a tractor on a flatbed gooseneck. It literally beat the hell out of us until we pulled over and rechained the tractor ~18" further back on the deck.

My ~30 year experience with 5th's/gooseneck's ... other than above ... has been 100% positive I personally wouldn't go any other way. Ride, handling, stability, maneuverability, operation under adverse conditions (wind, rain, traffic, etc.) ... all are, IMHO, superior over a standard trailer.

Pony Power compares his ride to a nice big Buick. My Clyde cruises like a Grand Marquis with the air-ride suspension when pulling my Hitchhiker 5th wheel. [how's that for "one-upmanship"??]

Roger




64,500 original miles (and counting)

 

I guess you got me there on the ride Clyde. I agree, weight distributation is the key to success for a smoothe ride. I forgot to mention that I have a long wheel base also and that helps contribute to a better ride.
Personally, I think that it would be more hassle than it's worth using a short wheel base for a big 5er but it certainly can be done if that's all one has.
I don't know if they make a long slide fifth wheel plate like used on semi's for a pickup, but it would really help a short box for turning and stretching out the rig when you get out of town or need to make a tight turn. Back in my driving days we would shorten up for the scale and then stretch back out for a better ride.
Dan

 

Check this out ... a self adjusting hitch for short box fifth wheel towing. It automatically moves the pivot point away from the cab during a turn and snugs it up for better weight distribution on the straight. A little pricey I understand, but you don't have to worry about caving in a cab corner going into a filling station.

http://www.pullrite.com/SuperGlide.html

Clyde is a lwb also but many of the short bed extended cabs have a longer wheelbase than my long bed regular cab. Supercabs with the 8' box can have a better ride but the "school bus wheelbase" can make maneuvering a challenge in tight places.

Roger

 

My long bed crew cab rides rally sweet but remember the old truck driving song, Just Give Me 40 Acres and I'll Turn This Rig Around. That's what it's like especially in town with anything behind. But will I give it up, HELL NO.

 

Roger,
Mine is a SCLB also, so it helps to make for a good ride. I used to have a 220" WB semi and pull a 48'x102" wide trailer. We had a slider on the trailer tandoms that would suck up around three feet or so for in town use.
After that it's all fun nowadays with the "little rig".
That super slide setup fo pickups looks pretty cool. Spendy but good if your already into a short truck.
How do you suppose it anticipates when your going to make a turn? And what if you change your mind at the intersection?

 

great tread guys, do ya have any tips for proper load distribution? I have a 35' toy hauler (fiver) that I question my load distribution with. I only haul bicycles and tools in the back.....less than 200lbs.

 

Zirius,

How does the trailer and truck feel when you are towing? If it feels good do not mess with it. If you need to make an adjustment, do but not all of them at once. Toy around with it a little and see what feels good. The best advice I can offer is try and load as much directly over the trailers axels as possible that way the trailer carries the load and not adding to the pin weight. Shift the weight forward and backward as needed, for the best feel.

Fire Rooster

 

Excellent advice, I could not have said it better.
I would only add, take advantage of the closed state weigh stations and keep track of how you are loaded. Do not travel with full fresh water tank unless you have to. Always empty black and gray tanks before traveling also.
Plan your trip and don't take anymore stuff than you really need.
Clean out storage and interior closets regulary, we all tend to accumulate to much stuff, the extra weight adds up quickly.
Dan