Forum Discussion

importman's avatar
importman
Explorer
Nov 24, 2019

Question about moving fifth wheel

Hello Everyone, I have a rather unusual question. My 06 Montana 336rlt has been parked on a permanent site for about six months. But now due to repeated problems with leaks around some of the slides I’ve decided to put one of those metal carport style sheds over it. My problem is I need to move it about 3 feet in the curbside direction. There’s not enough room on the backside for the frame of the shed because of the location of the service pole and the pole can’t be moved due to a hill right behind it. Two things that are problems in moving it are that I don’t have a truck with a fifth wheel hitch and I don’t want to pull the slides in if I can help it. (I have new carpet with thicker padding that the slides snag on). So what I’m considering and I need opinions on is this. If I take it off the blocks and pump the tires up tight, how hard would it be to slide it about 3 feet. I would pull one end at a time using a winch or a come-along and some luckily well placed trees. I should add that the surface it’s on is dirt and some gravel and it’s hard enough that the tires haven’t sunk in. So what do you guys think? Will this work and if so how difficult will it be. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
  • 4x4ord's avatar
    4x4ord
    Explorer III
    If you get someone with a truck to move it for you is there a reason the slides would need to be pulled in? Why not leave them out?
  • Any company that sells double wide mobile homes will have a set of beams and dollies that are made to move the halves sideways into places they can't back the halves into. They are competent and insured incase there is a problem. May cost a few bucks but, in the end you are insured and it is people who do it everyday. It will only take a few hours for two men.
  • The tires can be set on something slippery and soap or whatever used to reduce friction to winch it sideways. See “freezing rain” videos for tires with no traction :)

    Supporting the front will need some figuring out.
  • Ed9824v wrote:
    I guess if you put some skates under the wheels you can move. Those cheap ones from Harbor Freight. Need help with blocking so doesn’t get away.


    My thought as well, put a sheet of plywood under each sides wheels with a pair of auto dollies under the tires. You may have to add a pair in the front if you cant find someone with a hitch to support the pin and its weight.
    dollies
  • MarkTwain wrote:
    importman wrote:
    Hello Everyone, I have a rather unusual question. My 06 Montana 336rlt has been parked on a permanent site for about six months. But now due to repeated problems with leaks around some of the slides I’ve decided to put one of those metal carport style sheds over it. My problem is I need to move it about 3 feet in the curbside direction. There’s not enough room on the backside for the frame of the shed because of the location of the service pole and the pole can’t be moved due to a hill right behind it. Two things that are problems in moving it are that I don’t have a truck with a fifth wheel hitch and I don’t want to pull the slides in if I can help it. (I have new carpet with thicker padding that the slides snag on). So what I’m considering and I need opinions on is this. If I take it off the blocks and pump the tires up tight, how hard would it be to slide it about 3 feet. I would pull one end at a time using a winch or a come-along and some luckily well placed trees. I should add that the surface it’s on is dirt and some gravel and it’s hard enough that the tires haven’t sunk in. So what do you guys think? Will this work and if so how difficult will it be. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
    . Correction “I would NOT gamble on your decision!!!!

    Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen:( I would be concerned about damaging/bending/knocking out of aliment the springs/axles/wheels. Trailers were not designed with the intent of sliding them sideways on the tires.
    Options: 1. call a local RV shop which will have a truck with a 5th wheel hitch as they have to move trailers around the shops to work on them.
    2. Call Good Sam and have them locate a tow truck Company who will come out and move your 5th wheel. In both cases, you will probably have to pay out of pocket.
    3. Contact your local Elks RV Club and ask if one of the RV members will come and tow the trailer for you. A $50 tip would be in order. The possible costs of damages by sliding your 5th wheel sideways is a gamble I would want to take, but then again this America and everyone has a right to make their own decisions:)
  • I guess if you put some skates under the wheels you can move. Those cheap ones from Harbor Freight. Need help with blocking so doesn’t get away.
  • Agreed... think you made the right choice. Can't imagine a come-along and a tree being able to move probably at least 10K lbs, maybe more like 15K lbs, unless you were Superman. But then if you were, you wouldn't need the advice.

    Mike
  • Wow, thanks for the quick responses guys. And for the good advice. I’ll defer to your knowledge and start looking for someone to move it the normal way.
  • importman wrote:
    Hello Everyone, I have a rather unusual question. My 06 Montana 336rlt has been parked on a permanent site for about six months. But now due to repeated problems with leaks around some of the slides I’ve decided to put one of those metal carport style sheds over it. My problem is I need to move it about 3 feet in the curbside direction. There’s not enough room on the backside for the frame of the shed because of the location of the service pole and the pole can’t be moved due to a hill right behind it. Two things that are problems in moving it are that I don’t have a truck with a fifth wheel hitch and I don’t want to pull the slides in if I can help it. (I have new carpet with thicker padding that the slides snag on). So what I’m considering and I need opinions on is this. If I take it off the blocks and pump the tires up tight, how hard would it be to slide it about 3 feet. I would pull one end at a time using a winch or a come-along and some luckily well placed trees. I should add that the surface it’s on is dirt and some gravel and it’s hard enough that the tires haven’t sunk in. So what do you guys think? Will this work and if so how difficult will it be. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.


    Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen:( I would be concerned about damaging/bending/knocking out of aliment the springs/axles/wheels. Trailers were not designed with the intent of sliding them sideways on the tires.
    Options: 1. call a local RV shop which will have a truck with a 5th wheel hitch as they have to move trailers around the shops to work on them.
    2. Call Good Sam and have them locate a tow truck Company who will come out and move your 5th wheel. In both cases, you will probably have to pay out of pocket.
    3. Contact your local Elks RV Club and ask if one of the RV members will come and tow the trailer for you. A $50 tip would be in order. The possible costs of damages by sliding your 5th wheel sideways is a gamble I would want to take, but then again this America and everyone has a right to make their own decisions:)
  • JMO, but that is not something I would do, especially with the slides extended. You can always find someone with a FW hitch to move it, even if you have to pay someone.

    Jerry