Hitch Confusion

Thanks dballentine for the great info! Coming from a TT I have never paid much attention to all the requirements and parts for the fiver hitches.

Also, thanks goducks10, the Anderson hitch looks interesting and is light.

Much more research to do.....

With a Clear....Concise answer like you had.....You may be MODERATOR material....:C

Awwww, shucks... Thank you all for your kind words.

Dave

dballentine wrote:
1. The King Pin is a round tube (or rod) that is permanently attached to the FW. When placed in a fifth wheel hitch, the hitch encircles the kingpin, allowing the trailer to rotate, but not move fore and aft relative to the tow vehicle.
2. The hitch in the bed of the TV is located directly over the rear axle (+/-). If the distance from the hitch to the back of the cab is too small, in extreme turns (close to 90 degrees), the front corner of the FW might hit the corner of the cab. A slider allows the pivot point to be moved rearward (a foot or so) thus increasing the cab-FW distance. This is only for low speed maneuvers, such as backing into a sharply angled camp site.
3. The picture frame is basically an adapter to allow standard design hitches to be used with the RAM mounting system.
4. I don't know. About the lowest rated hitch I've seen is 16K lbs.
5. There are both gooseneck extensions and gooseneck adapters, such as the Andersen Ultimate. There may be issues with FW frame strength if you use a gooseneck. This is a topic with many opinions. Use the search box to find many threads which discuss this issue.

With an excellent answer/post like that, you have my vote to be instantly catapulted to "Senior" status on the forums!.:C

~

45Ricochet wrote:

dballentine wrote:
1. The King Pin is a round tube (or rod) that is permanently attached to the FW. When placed in a fifth wheel hitch, the hitch encircles the kingpin, allowing the trailer to rotate, but not move fore and aft relative to the tow vehicle.
2. The hitch in the bed of the TV is located directly over the rear axle (+/-). If the distance from the hitch to the back of the cab is too small, in extreme turns (close to 90 degrees), the front corner of the FW might hit the corner of the cab. A slider allows the pivot point to be moved rearward (a foot or so) thus increasing the cab-FW distance. This is only for low speed maneuvers, such as backing into a sharply angled camp site.
3. The picture frame is basically an adapter to allow standard design hitches to be used with the RAM mounting system.
4. I don't know. About the lowest rated hitch I've seen is 16K lbs.
5. There are both gooseneck extensions and gooseneck adapters, such as the Andersen Ultimate. There may be issues with FW frame strength if you use a gooseneck. This is a topic with many opinions. Use the search box to find many threads which discuss this issue.

Very good answers, I couldn't have said it better :B

X2
That covered it!

dballentine wrote:
1. The King Pin is a round tube (or rod) that is permanently attached to the FW. When placed in a fifth wheel hitch, the hitch encircles the kingpin, allowing the trailer to rotate, but not move fore and aft relative to the tow vehicle.
2. The hitch in the bed of the TV is located directly over the rear axle (+/-). If the distance from the hitch to the back of the cab is too small, in extreme turns (close to 90 degrees), the front corner of the FW might hit the corner of the cab. A slider allows the pivot point to be moved rearward (a foot or so) thus increasing the cab-FW distance. This is only for low speed maneuvers, such as backing into a sharply angled camp site.
3. The picture frame is basically an adapter to allow standard design hitches to be used with the RAM mounting system.
4. I don't know. About the lowest rated hitch I've seen is 16K lbs.
5. There are both gooseneck extensions and gooseneck adapters, such as the Andersen Ultimate. There may be issues with FW frame strength if you use a gooseneck. This is a topic with many opinions. Use the search box to find many threads which discuss this issue.

Very good answers, I couldn't have said it better :B

DwnSth wrote:
Well, 2nd post in Fifth-Wheels as we continue our research - great responses on earlier post on F150 as tow vehicle.

So, we think there are a few options out there for us that will keep us within our available payload. One thing that is of concern is the weight of the hitch. The terminology of fifth wheel hitch parts and pieces have become confusing. So I have a few questions:

1) Is the King Pin the part that attaches to the fifth wheel for connection to the hitch in the bed of truck? Is this typically included in the PIN weight from manuf.
2) What is the purpose and would I need sliders if I have a 6.5 bed?
3) What is the 'picture frame' (think I've only seen this with RAM but not sure).
4) Is there a light weight hitch that can handle a sub 10K fifth?
5) I like the idea of a goose ball but they seem to be frowned upon. Is it an option if I want to keep payload weight down.

Thanks in advance and sorry if I have messed up any terminology or concepts.

you might try this for a light weight 5th hitch. Watch the video.
http://tweetys.com/andersen-ultimate-5th-wheel-connection-gooseneck-mount-1.aspx?gclid=CMaOprTu07wCFRSPfgodE14AUA

1. The King Pin is a round tube (or rod) that is permanently attached to the FW. When placed in a fifth wheel hitch, the hitch encircles the kingpin, allowing the trailer to rotate, but not move fore and aft relative to the tow vehicle.
2. The hitch in the bed of the TV is located directly over the rear axle (+/-). If the distance from the hitch to the back of the cab is too small, in extreme turns (close to 90 degrees), the front corner of the FW might hit the corner of the cab. A slider allows the pivot point to be moved rearward (a foot or so) thus increasing the cab-FW distance. This is only for low speed maneuvers, such as backing into a sharply angled camp site.
3. The picture frame is basically an adapter to allow standard design hitches to be used with the RAM mounting system.
4. I don't know. About the lowest rated hitch I've seen is 16K lbs.
5. There are both gooseneck extensions and gooseneck adapters, such as the Andersen Ultimate. There may be issues with FW frame strength if you use a gooseneck. This is a topic with many opinions. Use the search box to find many threads which discuss this issue.