Percent of Pin Weight on Each Axle

crcr wrote:
Thanks for all your responses. As far as where exactly the fifth wheel hitch should be placed in relation to the axle, I'm not hearing any consistent number: some say right over the axle, some say 1" in front of the axle, some say 2" in front, and I have read on this forum as much as 3" in front of the axle. I would never ever consider mounting a fifth wheel hitch anywhere to the rear of the axle.

I always assumed that for a particular truck and / or a particular fifth wheel hitch, that there was a consistently recommended position in relation to the axle, but perhaps not. Is the position of the center of the fifth wheel in relation to the axle in fact just a personal preference thing?

As you indicate pin placement depends on the length of the bed.
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If its a long bed then the hitch can be several inches in front of the rear axle.

If its the short bed Dodge/Ram (6' 4") with a sliding hitch the better choice is zero over the axle that way you get the full benefit of the sliding hitch with a short bed Dodge.
I've used as much as 4" in front of the axle with a 5th wheel/GN trailer with a long bed.

My current '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins 6' 4" short bed pin is zero over the rear axle. Zero weight is transferred to the front axle and my sliding hitch gets all 10" of its sliding length behind the axle for quicker steering reaction when backing in tight conditions and max distance from cab.

My long bed 3500 DSRW chevy 4x4 is 3" in front of the axle. With a 16k GN stock trailer the truck front axle gains 60 lbs.

Wifes 1500 crew cab chevy GN hitch plate in the bed places the ball zero over the axle. No front axle weight gain.

I keep a certified front and rear axle scale ticket in each truck.