Backing a 5th wheel up a Steep Driveway
I will be purchasing a HD diesel dually from one of the big 3 in addition to a 35' to 37' 5th wheel trailer. At least the desired length.
I'm sending this post to ask for feedback.
I have a 40' length cement driveway that leads directly to a side house RV parking space where I will store my 5th wheel. The driveway is sloped upward from the street to the highest point of the driveway by about 3'. The side house RV parking is flat.
In the past, I had a 23' travel trailer and was able to routinely and successfully back the trailer up the sloped driveway as long as I backed the trailer in a gradual 90 degree long sweeping turn versus backing up straight back. Backing straight caused the lower rear trailer bumper/frame to drag for a short period of about 2'.
The challenge and concern is backing a 5th wheel up the sloped driveway without:
1) Dragging the rear bottom back of the 5th wheel on the sloped driveway causing damage to both the trailer and driveway
2) Hitting and damaging a truck bed rail from the 5th wheel trailer overhang
3) Lifting trailer wheel off the ground putting pressure on the axle
I recently had a neighbor test this concern with his 2018 Ford F350 SRW backing his approximate 40' toy hauler 5th wheel. The above three point concerns happened. Though, we did not proceed up the driveway when noticing the issues began to occur. No damage occurred, though definitely would have happened if we proceeded.
My question is more of a mathematical question.
How do I figure out what length of 5th wheel I'll be able to buy that will not drag the bottom rear end of the 5th wheel and will not hit the truck bed rail? I've searched the internet with limited success. Others have posted similar questions, though no viable answers were given other than what I have mentioned in this e-mail.
There are at multiple variables involved, some that I probably haven't even thought of:
1) Most truck DRW's that I will purchase will be lower than the F350 SRW my neighbor used.
2) My neighbor's Toy Hauler at 40' is longer than I will purchase at 35'-37' or if needed smaller.
3) I realize that there needs to be at least 7" clearance between the truck bed rail and the 5th wheel overhang. Are there 5th wheel hitches/pinboxes that off greater clearance. I'm interested in 5th wheels ranging in GVWR between 16k and 20k lbs.
4) When measuring my neighbors 5th wheel bottom rear end to the rear axle, it measures 11'. Will 5th wheels with shorter measurements improve the odds of avoiding the rear trailer drag?
5) My neighbors 5th wheel has a triple axle. Will the 5th wheel I purchase have better likelihood of not dragging with double axles?
6) If appropriate, adding trailer drag wheels if the bed clearance and trailer wheel lift issues are resolved.
Thank you for any answers and input!
Mike
I'm sending this post to ask for feedback.
I have a 40' length cement driveway that leads directly to a side house RV parking space where I will store my 5th wheel. The driveway is sloped upward from the street to the highest point of the driveway by about 3'. The side house RV parking is flat.
In the past, I had a 23' travel trailer and was able to routinely and successfully back the trailer up the sloped driveway as long as I backed the trailer in a gradual 90 degree long sweeping turn versus backing up straight back. Backing straight caused the lower rear trailer bumper/frame to drag for a short period of about 2'.
The challenge and concern is backing a 5th wheel up the sloped driveway without:
1) Dragging the rear bottom back of the 5th wheel on the sloped driveway causing damage to both the trailer and driveway
2) Hitting and damaging a truck bed rail from the 5th wheel trailer overhang
3) Lifting trailer wheel off the ground putting pressure on the axle
I recently had a neighbor test this concern with his 2018 Ford F350 SRW backing his approximate 40' toy hauler 5th wheel. The above three point concerns happened. Though, we did not proceed up the driveway when noticing the issues began to occur. No damage occurred, though definitely would have happened if we proceeded.
My question is more of a mathematical question.
How do I figure out what length of 5th wheel I'll be able to buy that will not drag the bottom rear end of the 5th wheel and will not hit the truck bed rail? I've searched the internet with limited success. Others have posted similar questions, though no viable answers were given other than what I have mentioned in this e-mail.
There are at multiple variables involved, some that I probably haven't even thought of:
1) Most truck DRW's that I will purchase will be lower than the F350 SRW my neighbor used.
2) My neighbor's Toy Hauler at 40' is longer than I will purchase at 35'-37' or if needed smaller.
3) I realize that there needs to be at least 7" clearance between the truck bed rail and the 5th wheel overhang. Are there 5th wheel hitches/pinboxes that off greater clearance. I'm interested in 5th wheels ranging in GVWR between 16k and 20k lbs.
4) When measuring my neighbors 5th wheel bottom rear end to the rear axle, it measures 11'. Will 5th wheels with shorter measurements improve the odds of avoiding the rear trailer drag?
5) My neighbors 5th wheel has a triple axle. Will the 5th wheel I purchase have better likelihood of not dragging with double axles?
6) If appropriate, adding trailer drag wheels if the bed clearance and trailer wheel lift issues are resolved.
Thank you for any answers and input!
Mike
