Need Help With My 5th Wheel/Truck

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

If the trailer is the 30GT model with a published dry weight of 8199 lbs, then the trailer GVWR is over 11,700 lbs. Even if you add minimum cargo rather than the full CCC, you are still going to be in excess of the truck's tow rating (which must be reduced by all weight of cargo, passengers, etc. that is added to the stock truck).

theoldwizard1 wrote:
Very simple, the hitch was installed too far back. Period. END OF DISCUSSION ! Why it was installed there is a different question.

Changing springs (adding air springs) will NOT help.

Really not enough info to know for sure, but I would disagree 100%. Having the pin weight 4-6 inches behind the axle (if it really is) will only unload the truck's front axle by 100 lbs or so, but that is static weight. However, dynamic unloading can be more significant and part of the solution for reducing that effect is better damping of the truck's rear suspension. The truck likely has too much pin weight for the soft suspension and 'P' series tires. It certainly isn't doing 'wheelies' but it feels that way due to excessive suspension travel at the rear axle. And this can occur even if the pin weight is placed correctly.

Then there is also the impact of leverage on the truck since the fiver mass is acting thru the pin height which is about 30" higher than the axle centerline. That 30" lever is roughly 20% of the truck's wheelbase. Bumps and pot holes will have the fiver pushing and pulling on the truck. And with a light weight engine, front suspension will also experience a lot of travel.

Again too little info, so I'm just guessing, but an 8000+ lb dry trailer and maybe 9500 lbs loaded is going to have a big influence on a 1/2 truck that weighs probably less than 5000 lbs with soft suspension and 'P' series tires.

Pictures of your hitch set up would help a lot. As well as pictures of the stickers inside you truck door, and a picture of the weight sticker of the trailer.

Did it just feel like It was lifting the front end off the ground or was it actually doing so?

Without some facts, I can only assume that your truck is not near enough truck.

Very simple, the hitch was installed too far back. Period. END OF DISCUSSION ! Why it was installed there is a different question.

Changing springs (adding air springs) will NOT help.

Doing a wheelie initially intrigued me. Wish my 6.2 Ford had the ponies to do a wheelie. :h

romore wrote:
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.

Extension :h How about the Revolution pin box, maybe that would be better. :)

Jerry

romore wrote:
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.

X2^^.

Rob

We need your trucks GVWR and RAWR from the drivers side door post....and the trucks rear axle gear ratio (such as 3.31 or 3.55 or 3.73).
We also need your trailer GVWR.
Without these were only guessing.

According to Fleet Fords weight specs the 2.7 EB engine comes with only a 3300 or 3800 rawr.
The 3800 rawr is good for about 1400-1500 lbs payload in the bed.
The 3300 rawr is good for about 900-1000 lbs in the bed.

The same spec sheets shows the '15 2.7 engine has 3.31 or 3.55 or 3.73 rear axle ratio with 7500-8300 lb tow ratings all depending on the trucks GVWR/RAWR/gear ratio numbers requested.

Keep in mind the truck has to have enough rear axle capacity to carry all the load in the bed.
And enough engine/drivetrain/gear ratio to pull the trailer in the hills/mountains and flats.

We also need the trailers GVWR and mfg dry weight.

This combo sounds like it has a serious problem with the trucks front axle doing wheelies so I wouldn't make any long trips till you find out why.

TerriASelf wrote:
Not sure about the weight of the tires but we did buy new ones for that purpose. Sorry, I am a lady and do not know too much but my husband doesn't ask questions.

Your tire load rating plays a HUGE part of how the truck responds to overpasses and crappy roads!

"P" load range tires inflated to MAX will still be a bouncy ride!

romore wrote:
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.

Going back to the dealer and raising holy heck is a good idea, but I don't think it's going to make a difference. This happens a lot and it ultimately comes down to the buyer. How do I know? Because it happended to us. We ended up going to a 1 ton diesel for our FW from a 3/4 ton 6.8L V10. Sounds like a lot of truck, but it wasn't for our FW. Your last line is what makes the most sense.