towing w/ hitch slid back

JohnBoyToo wrote:
Those SILLY manufacturers !!!
Why do they waste money designing slider hitches when they are not needed !?!?

Pshaw, Pshaw, Pshaw on them !!!

And why do they put those silly warnings on them? What do they know about it? WE know a better way. And we have the right to be as lazy as we want.

Those SILLY manufacturers !!!
Why do they waste money designing slider hitches when they are not needed !?!?

Pshaw, Pshaw, Pshaw on them !!!

Higher center of gravity on a fifth wheel makes it more important that its over axle while traveling.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Just another reason I drive a long bed, no maneuvering issues!!

You got's that right Bubba!

I have no troubles maneuvering and I have a SB without a slider. That thing on the right side of the steering column is a gear selector. You can use it to go forward or reverse.

As far as weight distribution goes with the hitch behind the axle, he's what you can do.

1. measure the distance the king pin is behind the axle center to center. Let's use a random number of .5 feet.

2. get your pin weight. Another random number of 3000#

3. Measure from the center of the rear axle to the front most point on the truck. Random number of 15 feet.


Now, we will take the set-back (.5) and multiply it by the force 3000#. That will be 1500. Now, divide that number (1500) by the distance to the front of the truck from the center of the axle (15 feet.(100) that is going to tell you how much weight is being taken off the front and added to the rear.

So now instead of being 3000# add to the rear axle of the truck if it were center of the axle we will now be 100 pounds lighter on the front axle and 3100 pounds on the rear axle. At 1 foot back it will be 200 pounds. WOW!!! Look out! DANGER DANGER!!!

rhagfo wrote:
Just another reason I drive a long bed, no maneuvering issues!!

You got's that right Bubba!

Just another reason I drive a long bed, no maneuvering issues!!

packnrat wrote:
there is no problem going down the rd with the slider to the rear.

Can you reference where you read that or why you think its no problem?

My manual hitch maker says this.

WARNING !!!
"Never tow trailers in highway or high speed conditions with KWIK-SLIDE in the Maneuvering Position (rearward of the rear axle)! Towing with the trailer king pin rearward of rear truck axle can affect weight distribution and may interfere with the towing vehicle’s handling and response characteristics. Poor handling and response characteristics could result in death or serious injury."

I looked at several manual hitch makers website and they all said this or similar wording.

there is no problem going down the rd with the slider to the rear.
enfact on some of the roads i use to get there you had better be slid back.
and no mega liner could even get there....they are just too big.

only if you have a heavy trailer would you have a weight problem. but it is best to be slid forward for the open rd.

5th wheel hitches are designed to be positioned over the axle or a hair in front of it. This is to insure appropriate weight distribution between the two units while travelling. It's naturally okay to move slide for parking purposes but I have not seen a manufacturer recommend it for general travel.