Fifth Wheel Hitch Install

As I'm sure you well know, one nice thing about a fiver vs conventional tow is the that crosswinds and sway are inherently better mitigated. Not eliminated, but better handled. I've I didn't have a cap and bed slide, I'd get a fifth wheel and look for a gooseneck enclosed.

I've had bad enough crosswinds with my travel trailer that it moved the whole truck a foot towards opposing traffic, but then pointed the tail of the truck in the same direction, causing the nose to point back out away from traffic. I actually had to steer a little in to traffic to keep going straight. Strangest thing, but it was from bumper pull pushing on the hitch, using the rear axle as a pivot to rotate the nose of the truck back the other direction. So you did a little dance overtime you drove past a small hill that blocked the wind: steer normal, then steer to the right as you get broadsided and the entire truck/trailer combo gets pushed left, then steer left as the nose of the truck rotates around.

 

No doubt fifth wheel definitely tows better but sway is definitely still possible. I have personally had a fifth wheel start swaying behind an f250 diesel with a pin weight of 1800 pounds with just the right amount of wind. I have plenty towing experience as a 22 year truck driver and having towed just about every combination behind a pickup (some more legal and safe than others). That said, I will never suggest a fifth wheel behind a half ton of any breed is a good idea. If you’re comfortable go for it, hope you don’t get into an accident because lawyers will show why it’s a bad idea.

 

I was waiting for the lawyer comment to come up. That’s something that started on FB and just doesn’t happen. Unless you are doing something extremely negligent and kill people, it’s never going to court. There are millions of TT and fifth wheels that are pulled over the truck’s payload numbers and the reality is that it’s just not something police are enforcing unless you are doing something extremely stupid.

 

Liability is liability. Like I’ve already said you do you. I personally won’t take the chance. Good luck

 

I could have wrote this.

I tow a very similar 5er with my double cab. I don't know my pin weight, but I know I'm 9k ish trailer weight.

Good post.

 

I've towed heavy and over limits (short distances), but I've never pulled a big box. After looking online for countless days, wheelbase is never discussed with people's opinions on acceptable v on the brink of too little truck, and I wish it was. I imagine it has more bearing on restricting sway than TV weight/class. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I need to check this hutch out. I need a hitch for my '21 Crewmax. My present hitch in my '08 double cab is a non slider, can this hitch come with slider assemblies?

 

Highest payload and towing in a light duty chassis has historically been a regular cab 8’ box - which is same wheelbase as a RCLB, DCRB, and CMSB tundra.

In the past, fifth wheels were also designed for 8’ box trucks, so no matter the cab configuration, you had a longer wheelbase than the shortest available wheelbase (even though RCRB trucks are only available on 1/2 tons). That has changed and a 6.5’ bed is pretty standard for a truck, with an 8’ bed being much less popular, so trailers and hitches have been designed to work copacetic like with the shorter box.

 

I don’t believe you can get a slider with this style of fifth wheel hitch. Check their website and reach out to customer support which is very good. You may not need a slider because it can be set up to move the fifth wheel back so you may clear the cab.

 

I sometimes run with scissors and I’m still here although Covid just about took me out this week.

 

Sometimes I wish I worked in an office so I could limit my exposure to daily risk.

 

I pick up the RV this weekend. Probably the worst conditions to be pulling any RV. There was a very strong cross wind but the Tundra handled it without issue. I’ve been planning this RV purchase for about a year so I had time to prepare the truck. Added a rear sway bar, new 10ply tires, installed the hitch and added a set of air bags. When we lowered the weight on the truck I was expecting to have to increase the airbag pressure. I only run them at 10psi. The truck sat perfect. I didn’t have to add any pressure to the bags, I’m thinking I didn’t even need them. The trip home was about a two hour drive and even with the strong crosswind, no issues. I have to set the pin box up one setting to get the RV perfectly level. I did do a braking test and it stopped very similar to my previous bumper pull which was 5,000lbs. The brakes on the Grand Design 22RK just work better. Happy camper.

 

Been there, done that on my previous TTs.

 

Not getting into a debate about what happens after an accident but that’s something that has been floating around on social media and it’s just doesn’t happen. Unless you do something completely negligent (35’ TT being a Yaris) you’re not going to have an issue. My insurance company know the RV that I’m pulling and the truck I’m pulling it with. “Not a problem sir, happy camping”.