I have a 2015 Ford F150 2.7 eco boost and we bought a Wildcat Light Fifth Wheel. I ask several times over to make sure that we could pull it and were told yes. We just got off the first trip and every time we hit a bump, our truck would wheelie. Someone please help me understand what to do. My husband bought air bags and on the way there had them set at 15 but on way back set to 8. The trip was a scary nightmare and I do not know what to do or how to fix the problem. Someone please help.

Sounds like a dangerous situation.I can't imagine the front wheels come off the ground of a truck that has a fifth wheel attached; seeing that the fifth wheel is connected over the rear axle of the truck rather than the bumper.What is the weight of the fifth wheel and what is the GVWR of the truck? These two numbers should tell the story as to whether or not you should be using this truck to pull the fiver. Lastly, you would not be the first person to be sold a unit that their vehicle couldn't handle. Many RV salesmen really don't care so long as you can pull it off their lot. I am sorry if that was the case in this situation.

TerriASelf wrote:I have a 2015 Ford F150 2.7 eco boost and we bought a Wildcat Light Fifth Wheel. I ask several times over to make sure that we could pull it and were told yes. We just got off the first trip and every time we hit a bump, our truck would wheelie. Someone please help me understand what to do. My husband bought air bags and on the way there had them set at 15 but on way back set to 8. The trip was a scary nightmare and I do not know what to do or how to fix the problem. Someone please help.Sad fact is that a goodly number of salesmen lie to make a sale. Please post the exact model Wildcat you bought as well as the weight numbers from the sticker on the driver's door pillar on the truck. Should have front/rear axle weights, gross weight of the truck, gross combined weight and payload.Lyle

who installed the 5th wheel hitch/plate in the truck?... if it was installed in the right spot, there is no way the truck could "wheelie".... do you have a short bed pickup or a long bed?.... if the hitch is installed in the correct spot, it will be 1 to 2.5 inches ahead of the rear axle... the further the hitch is outside of these specs, the towing problem will increase exponentially.... too far the the rear and you will have a wheelie problem.. as opposed to a "BUMPER PULL" trailer, the truck should be able to tow a slightly oversized "5TH WHEEL" trailer without problems as long as the hitch is set up correctly... UNLESS its highly mismatched, in which case you would have other problems as well...

Report back with what load range and carrying capacity is on the truck tires, GVWR of the RV, what hitch and as mentioned center of axle to center of kingpin connection either fore or aft, LongBed or ShortBed and anything else you can think of.THEN we can help.

Camper Dry Weight 8147Truck shows 8500 from what I see.

Need Help With My 5th Wheel/Truck | Good Sam Community

jkwilson
Explorer III
Feb 20, 2018
cswinford wrote:
fnswhitfield wrote:
Check on the TV rear tire sidewalls for the maximum tire cold air pressure. Inflate to that number before towing.

Should you inflate to that number when the weather is hot? Just curious how you adjust as the air temp increases.

Inflate to the number on the sidewall no matter what the outdoor temp is. The sidewall will say something like "inflate to 85psi max when cold" which means when the tire is at ambient temperature.
cswinford
Explorer
Feb 20, 2018
fnswhitfield wrote:
Check on the TV rear tire sidewalls for the maximum tire cold air pressure. Inflate to that number before towing.

Should you inflate to that number when the weather is hot? Just curious how you adjust as the air temp increases.
fnswhitfield
Explorer
Feb 20, 2018
Check on the TV rear tire sidewalls for the maximum tire cold air pressure. Inflate to that number before towing.
RamTX
Explorer
Feb 20, 2018
TerriASelf wrote:
Camper Dry Weight 8147
Truck shows 8500 from what I see.

Is the weight of the trailer actual scale weight or advertised weight of the trailer? Have you weighed the rear axles of the truck and trailer hitched to determine rear axle weight?
GKAbbott
Explorer
Feb 20, 2018
I have airbags on my truck. Minimum recommended pressure is 8 PSI unloaded. When loaded with my 5th wheel, I run about 35 PSI. Although it sounds like the dealer was just looking for a sale, adding air pressure to the bags may help. Good luck.
Jim2007
Explorer
Feb 20, 2018
I agree with Romore.. have a serious talk with the dealership . ... jim2007
romore
Explorer II
Feb 20, 2018
I would suggest going back to the dealer and raising holy heck, call the BBB if necessary. Whoever set that up should be stood against a wall at dawn and given last choice of cigarette.:M That truck is far too light for the trailer and the short box makes a bad situation worse. It sounds like the hitch is mounted too far back. I don't like the idea of the Sidewinder extension, it puts far too much stress on the pin box. Upgrade the truck or forget the fifth wheel.
MFL
Nomad II
Feb 20, 2018
With that short of bed, you likely have the pin center behind the axle. With the lightly suspended truck it makes matters even worse. You may need to get a sidewinder type pin box, and move the hitch forward, to have the pin at axle center, to slightly forward.

You need to have a friend, with some FW knowledge look over your set up. It sounds dangerous as is.

Jerry
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Feb 20, 2018
That camper may be within your towing capacity, but it looks like it may be OUT of your carrying capacity..

With that RV, the DRY weight is 8,147#... that would make the GVW somewhere around 9,500# - 10,000# ??? ( NEVER GO BY DRY WEIGHT )

for arguments, lets use 10k.. your PIN weight ( the weight that will go in your bed ) is probably 20% - 25% . . lets use 20% for arguments sake,...10,000# Fifth Wheel will PROBABLY have a pin weight of 2,000#.. add your hitch, and ALL people... that trucks suspension is not up to the task...

That is the problem with the 1/2 ton lineup...

I am sorry to say... the salesman got a sale
laknox
Nomad
Feb 20, 2018
Any bets on whether that AUH is installed with the pin =behind= the axle and/or the entire hitch too far back to provide cab clearance? I didn't think so...

Lyle