Course Topic: Fifth Wheel Towing
Instructor: Dick Fullhart, Reese Products
Do NOT mount fifth wheel hitched rails over bed liners! The drop-in bed liners can't be adapted. Even when spacers are used, the liner will eventually disintegrate and the hitch will become loose. The Rino-Hide liner is an exception -- it's okay to install the rails over it. Underneath the box, the hitch bed rails are attached to the frame with L brackets with two bolts. Two bolts are essential to ensure the bottom of the truck bed won't be damaged.
A short bed truck has some inherent disabilities, and are not suited for fifth wheels. The unit needs to be mounted from 2 to 4 inches ahead of the axle -- and never behind it. 52" is required from back of the cab to the pin -- and this can't be achieved with a short bed. Short bed solutions: include moving the hitch at the axle center line; use an extended pin box on the trailer; and consider using a Kwik-slide as well as the extended pin box.
Step side pickups are not suitable or usable with fifth wheels. The bed is too narrow, and the bottom of the hitch will collide with the truck side.
There are benefits of the "rocker" hitch, such as the Reese models which permit movement. On uneven surfaces it won't bind. However, the reported disadvantage is that with certain applications it can invite a bit more trailer sway. The newer models have a feature which "lock", and prevent the rocker type hitches from swaying while its going over the road.
The Reese suggested procedure for hooking up: Adjust the trailer height so that it is 1/2 to 1 inch below fifth wheel hitch head. Some vertical load will enhance coupling and uncoupling. Block the trailer wheels securely, and lower the tailgate. Back in carefully until the king pin is securely seated in the hitch head. Close the safety latch. If the safety latch is down, there isn't any way the pin get out of the jaws. If the latch is not down, it CAN work its way out -- particularly on older models. Plug in the cord, and hook up the safety cable. Then VISUALLY inspect to ensure the jaws are properly closed.
Next lift the landing gear about one inch above the ground. Use the manual brake feature to hold the trailer in place, and pull forward slightly with the truck. If for some reason the hitch is not properly attached, the unit will fall harmlessly back on its landing gear. Assuming all is well, put the tail gate up, retract the landing gear to its running position, and put away the blocks and chocks.
Detaching is essentially the reverse of this process: Lower the landing gear until most of the weight is removed. There should still be approximately 1/2 to 1 inch of vertical pressure on the hitch. Lower the tailgate and block the wheels. Disconnect the electric connection and safety cable; lift the safety lock and pull out the latch handle. Pull the truck out from under the trailer, and remember to unlatch the handle to let the jaws close again.
Note: It's a good idea to "lock" the hitch with a padlock so that a prankster can't unlatch the hitch, leaving you to drive out from under it.
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