Options on hitching a 5th wheel
Currently have 2016 ram 3500 cc lb TD 4x4. Truck has no prep . What sort of options do I have? Do I need to know what specific trailer I'm hooking? I'm planning on a 5th in the 12,000-16000 gross rang...
Forum Discussion
Jackfate
It's sort of a loaded question LOL, as BB_TX their are a number of good 5th wheel hitches out there, we have a curt but others like Reese an B&W, there are pro an cons to all of them :)
One thing for sure is that not knowing Dodge Rams if you have a short bed you will need what is called a slider 5th wheel hits, if a long bed then you will not need a slider...
I have seen on a couple of the RV reflectors/web sites that the newer trucks sit higher than the older ones, you need to have at a minimum 3 inches between your bed rails and your 5th wheel, most people recommend at least 6 inches as I also would recommend not 3, to me that way to close.
Make sure you have room between the back of your truck and your 5th wheel when hooked up, you should be able to walk between them, you should also be able to lower your tail gate and open the from hatch of the 5th wheel when hooked...
There are different what is called pin boxes, "short", "Medium" an "LONG" make sure the pin box is set along with your 5th wheel hitch so that the 5th wheel sits level and not noise high... As well you truck should not squat/drop no more than 3 to 4 inches when the weight of the trailer pin is on your 5th wheel, ie 5th wheel hooked an ready to travel ...
I'm sure there will be more people chim in, like I said there are may different things to look at when changing from a TT to 5th wheel. People will even tell you that they are harder to back into camping site, not true, once you get the hang of it they are far easier. I also recommend once you get everything put together and you find the 5th wheel you like go to a place with allot of room and practice backing between orange cones as if you were backing into a camp site...
Like TT there are lots of options in 5th wheel new and used, we like KZ brand other like Coachman an other like Grand Design, Montana etc, take your time as you are doing ask questions and do not let people make up your mind for you.
Most of all pick a good dealer, there is nothing worse than a bad dealer when once you have pulled off the lot they wave good bye and don't come back...
Safe travels
It's sort of a loaded question LOL, as BB_TX their are a number of good 5th wheel hitches out there, we have a curt but others like Reese an B&W, there are pro an cons to all of them :)
One thing for sure is that not knowing Dodge Rams if you have a short bed you will need what is called a slider 5th wheel hits, if a long bed then you will not need a slider...
I have seen on a couple of the RV reflectors/web sites that the newer trucks sit higher than the older ones, you need to have at a minimum 3 inches between your bed rails and your 5th wheel, most people recommend at least 6 inches as I also would recommend not 3, to me that way to close.
Make sure you have room between the back of your truck and your 5th wheel when hooked up, you should be able to walk between them, you should also be able to lower your tail gate and open the from hatch of the 5th wheel when hooked...
There are different what is called pin boxes, "short", "Medium" an "LONG" make sure the pin box is set along with your 5th wheel hitch so that the 5th wheel sits level and not noise high... As well you truck should not squat/drop no more than 3 to 4 inches when the weight of the trailer pin is on your 5th wheel, ie 5th wheel hooked an ready to travel ...
I'm sure there will be more people chim in, like I said there are may different things to look at when changing from a TT to 5th wheel. People will even tell you that they are harder to back into camping site, not true, once you get the hang of it they are far easier. I also recommend once you get everything put together and you find the 5th wheel you like go to a place with allot of room and practice backing between orange cones as if you were backing into a camp site...
Like TT there are lots of options in 5th wheel new and used, we like KZ brand other like Coachman an other like Grand Design, Montana etc, take your time as you are doing ask questions and do not let people make up your mind for you.
Most of all pick a good dealer, there is nothing worse than a bad dealer when once you have pulled off the lot they wave good bye and don't come back...
Safe travels
