With fifth-wheel travel trailers, most manufacturers recommend a long-bed full size truck with a bed 8 feet long. Anything less than 8 feet is a short-bed truck, according to etrailer website. Although if you have a short-bed trailer, using a slider fifth-wheel hitch and an extended pin box helps prevent hitting the cab of the truck on sharp turns and creates needed space between the truck cab and the trailer.
When considering purchasing a fifth wheel travel trailer, the first thing you should think of is the towing capacity of your vehicle. The most popular size of fifth wheels is 32, 34 and 36-foot.
Ensure the fifth wheel you plan to buy matches the towing vehicle regarding weight. Most hitches carry up to 15,000 pounds of gross trailer weight and the hitch weight of the fifth wheel is 20 percent of the trailer weight. The tow vehicle must have the performance capability to climb mountain grades without loss of speed, according to RV Towing Tips. (See Reference 2)
Because safety is a concern, install a weight-distributing hitch with a 2-5/6-foot ball. This enhances the stability of the travel trailer and towing vehicle. A weight-distributing hitch distributes the tongue weight between the trailer and the tow vehicle. The tongue weight is the downward force extended on the hitch ball by the coupler, according to Crossroads.
When adding hitches, consider a sway control system, which is a device designed to lessen the pivoting motion or sway between towing vehicle and trailer.
Sometimes it is necessary to adjust the height of a fifth-wheel box to a get a level position, because not all fifth-wheel hitches are the same height. If the fifth wheel is too high, the rear of the travel trailer has too much weight and causes sway. If it is too low, more weight bears down on the towing vehicle.
To fix this situation, adjust the pin box by removing the bolts attached to both sides of the pin box holding the sections together and reposition the pin box to an acceptable height.
Avoiding hazards on the road begins with proper hitching and weight balance of towing vehicle and towed vehicle. Always check your vehicle before traveling to ensure proper placement of the hitch, bolts and check electrical system for proper in synch signaling with brake lights, stop lights and directional between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle.
