Hey Everyone,I am considering moving my 5th wheel hitch to another truck. The challenge with this truck (E450) is that it has a 10' flatbed.I cannot mount the hitch directly over the axle unless I cut almost 2' off of the bed. Not a good option.The obvious alternative is to move the hitch back far enough that the trailer clears the back end of the bed. I know that this is NOT ideal but I have little clue as to what the down side to this move other than reduced tow capacity. Given that I want to tow a 14k trailer with an E450 I am hopeful that the weight won't be an issue.What other concerns should I have?Thanks.S.

PNW_Steve wrote:Hey Everyone,I am considering moving my 5th wheel hitch to another truck. The challenge with this truck (E450) is that it has a 10' flatbed.I cannot mount the hitch directly over the axle unless I cut almost 2' off of the bed. Not a good option.The obvious alternative is to move the hitch back far enough that the trailer clears the back end of the bed. I know that this is NOT ideal but I have little clue as to what the down side to this move other than reduced tow capacity. Given that I want to tow a 14k trailer with an E450 I am hopeful that the weight won't be an issue.What other concerns should I have?Thanks.S.Been there, done that... 11 ft flat bed, 30,000 lb trailer, no problem. Makes the front slightly lighter but nowhere near as much as a bumper pull. takes off the front axle approx what a Diesel engine puts on extra over the gas and adds it to the rear. Makes for a puller in soft soil or snow. I have towed gooseneck/5th wheels with the hitches 9 inches forward to 2 foot behind the axle and heard all kinds of claims from experts who knew it all. Smile, shake your head and walk away. Trying to reason is a waste of time especially when on the clock and time is money.

Well, my thought would be that if it was no big deal you wouldn't see all the hitches mounted over the rear axle. Two feet behind the rear axle is a lot, IMO. And I always figured one of the things that makes a 5th wheel tow better than a bumper pull is the location of the hitch weight.

You can try it but I don't think you will enjoy the ride, it will likely porpoise and make the steering squirrely.

Ask your question on the Escapees HDT forum (and the MDT forum)The HDT folks have lots of experience with the hitch -for very heavy 5th wheel trailers- well behind the axle of 'singled' trucks (not tandem).It's pretty much SOP for them.Some (genuine) engineers over there may be able to do front axle weight calcs for you.Another issue:Don't rely on what others have done in OTHER states!Depending on where YOU live and *travel*, your flatbed *may* require you to stop at scales. Even a pickup with a flatbed is req'd to stop at scales in CA.Good luck with your project.:C

Towing a 5'er with a 10' flatbed truck? | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

PNW_Steve
Explorer
Mar 29, 2017
rjstractor wrote:
PNW_Steve wrote:
From the back of the drivers seat to the back bumper is approximately 14'. You are correct. It is not all bed though.

Makes sense, you must have a sleeper cab or something. Do you have a picture of your truck? If you could cut a couple of feet off the frame it might make a great fifth wheel hauler. V10 or diesel?

Correct again. Almost 4' of storage/sleeper space behind the seats.

My fuel tank is mounted behind the rear axle. If I wanted to shorten the frame enough to accommodate placing the hitch directly over the axle it would be major surgery and require relocating the fuel tank and fill. That would also cost me some utility value. I can haul 16' lumber reasonably well. If I take 2+ feet off of the back end I will have to build some kind of extendable support to make up for it.

It is a diesel. Yes, I have upgraded the EGR, oil cooler and added a coolant filter. :)
rjstractor
Nomad
Mar 29, 2017
PNW_Steve wrote:
From the back of the drivers seat to the back bumper is approximately 14'. You are correct. It is not all bed though.

Makes sense, you must have a sleeper cab or something. Do you have a picture of your truck? If you could cut a couple of feet off the frame it might make a great fifth wheel hauler. V10 or diesel?
hard3
Explorer
Mar 29, 2017
I had the same type of problem with the F550 I bought. It had a 9ft long 8 ft wide flat bed made by Knapheid. I ended up cutting 10 inches off the back of the bed and cutting the corners back 12 inches at a 45 degree angle. I have a turnover ball hitch with a B&W companion 5th wheel in it. The turnover ball receiver is mounted about 1 inch forward of the axle center line. I could not turn with out the corner of the bed getting into the front of the camper. It really didnt take much to cut down the bed and miter the corners off about 10 ft of 3x6 steel tube.
James57
Explorer
Mar 29, 2017
on my 2016 3500 dodge cab & chassis the bed is 9ft and my 5th wheel hitch
is right over the rear axle
PNW_Steve
Explorer
Mar 28, 2017
rjstractor wrote:
PNW_Steve wrote:
I have not made it down to the scale yet but I did get a bit of measuring done.

Wheelbase: 158"
Center of axle to rear of bumper: 74"

This is odd, the numbers don't add up. Cab-to-axle measurement on an E450 with the 158" wheelbase is 100", so that's about 8 feet of bed in front of the axle. With 6 feet of overhang that adds up to 14 feet. Is your bed actually 14 feet?

From the back of the drivers seat to the back bumper is approximately 14'. You are correct. It is not all bed though.
rjstractor
Nomad
Mar 24, 2017
PNW_Steve wrote:
I have not made it down to the scale yet but I did get a bit of measuring done.

Wheelbase: 158"
Center of axle to rear of bumper: 74"

This is odd, the numbers don't add up. Cab-to-axle measurement on an E450 with the 158" wheelbase is 100", so that's about 8 feet of bed in front of the axle. With 6 feet of overhang that adds up to 14 feet. Is your bed actually 14 feet?
PNW_Steve
Explorer
Mar 24, 2017
I have not made it down to the scale yet but I did get a bit of measuring done.

Wheelbase: 158"
Center of axle to rear of bumper: 74"
PNW_Steve
Explorer
Mar 24, 2017
justafordguy wrote:
What about an extended pin box?

I also think cutting the back corners off the flatbed would be a good option.

I considered the extended pin box and asked at a local RV service shop and the gent there told me that they do not make them that long and that even if they did it would place too much stress on the trailer frame. It made sense to me.
justafordguy
Explorer
Mar 23, 2017
What about an extended pin box?

I also think cutting the back corners off the flatbed would be a good option.
PNW_Steve
Explorer
Mar 23, 2017
Thank you All for the responses.

Yes it is a two door E450 and the frame is long enough that in order to shorten the bed I would have to cut the frame rails and modifying the fuel tank mount.

If I can get some time next week I will run down to the scales and get axle weights empty and measure wheelbase etc. That may help with the E450 vs F450 weight distribution question.

Thanks again.

S.

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Towing a 5'er with a 10' flatbed truck?

25 Replies

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