Slider Hitch = More Control Backing Up?
My limited experience of two years with a 5th wheel was preceded with 20 years of travel trailer experience. I found it much more difficult to back up with a 5th wheel, especially if you are trying to reposition the unit a few feet to the side while backing.
I have read explanations that with the pivot point for a 5th wheel being right over the axle, this makes it difficult to move the kingpin laterally to the side. You can crank the front end of your vehicle around - the center of the rear axle does not move that much to the side.
In contrast, the travel trailer has the pivot point several feet behind the rear axle. You crank your front end around and the trailer hitch pivot point moves quite a bit to the side and trailer can be backed up and repositioned to the side more easily.
Although I have a slider hitch, I never used the slider as the contoured nosecone of the fifth wheel allowed fairly tight turns without using the slider. But after several instances where I was having difficulty backing up, it finally dawned on me. By sliding the 5th wheel hitch to the rear, the pivot point is also transferred behind the axle.
I then experimented with backing up using the slider. I found I can crank my front end around and get the trailer to respond much more than when the hitch is over the axle. It is not as much as travel trailer as the distance is only 10-12". But the change in handling is clearly evident. If you are backing into a spot and don't have a lot distance back and forth, you can more easily get the trailer to move a foot or two to one side or the other.
Using the slider puts some wag into the tail like a travel trailer. Wag that makes it easier to control backing up a 5th wheel.
Users of slider hitches - do you agree?
I have read explanations that with the pivot point for a 5th wheel being right over the axle, this makes it difficult to move the kingpin laterally to the side. You can crank the front end of your vehicle around - the center of the rear axle does not move that much to the side.
In contrast, the travel trailer has the pivot point several feet behind the rear axle. You crank your front end around and the trailer hitch pivot point moves quite a bit to the side and trailer can be backed up and repositioned to the side more easily.
Although I have a slider hitch, I never used the slider as the contoured nosecone of the fifth wheel allowed fairly tight turns without using the slider. But after several instances where I was having difficulty backing up, it finally dawned on me. By sliding the 5th wheel hitch to the rear, the pivot point is also transferred behind the axle.
I then experimented with backing up using the slider. I found I can crank my front end around and get the trailer to respond much more than when the hitch is over the axle. It is not as much as travel trailer as the distance is only 10-12". But the change in handling is clearly evident. If you are backing into a spot and don't have a lot distance back and forth, you can more easily get the trailer to move a foot or two to one side or the other.
Using the slider puts some wag into the tail like a travel trailer. Wag that makes it easier to control backing up a 5th wheel.
Users of slider hitches - do you agree?
