Getting 5er and truck level with each other.
Hello all, I know there have been many posts of getting your truck and trailer to ride level but right now I'm stumped. I have a 16 ram 2500 long bed diesel and a 16 forest river wildcat maxx 5er 242r...
Forum Discussion
I have searched for causes of sway and fishtail with 5th wheels. Over and over again I read "... the fifth-wheel hitch pin is centered over the axle, unable to move laterally, which makes the fifth wheel trailer virtually immune to this motion." It beats me how someone could make that statement.
I also read tongue/pin weight should be more than 10% of the trailer weight. We are very limited on just how much we can do to change the pin weight on a 19 foot 5th wheel. I can't find my weight notes, but as I recall the pin weight is only 320 lbs. The trailer is 5060 lbs which should have a minimum of 500 lbs (10% percent). I think I did remove about 150 lbs from the box in the rear of the trailer, which should be the same as adding 150 to the pin. If true, I should now have about 650 lbs. I think this is borderline.
Tires can have an impact on sway and fishtail. As I previously stated, the OEM tires were P215/75R15. I installed GOODYEAR MARATHON ST225/75R15D. I really don't think tires are my problem.
BenK suggested adding a Panhard Bar. I have experience with Panhard Bars for automotive applications, but not trailers. I have found no information for this application but I am open for discussion.
BenK also suggested shocks. For years I have observed trailers of different types, including RVs, may or may not have shocks. I do find them more often on high end trailers. I have read high psi in tires stiffen the sidewalls, but also tend to make the tires bounce. The shocks dampen the bounce. There is very little if any effect on sway of truck Campers in my experience, could be different with 5th wheels, I am open for discussion.
At this point, I think my 5th wheel was designed for a 1/2 ton truck in 1988, with a minimum amount of pin weight. I see my only option is to do some fabrication work, such as a spare tire mount above the pin, and maybe move the propane bottles to the front. I think that would add about 150 lbs to the pin and remove about 100 lbs from the rear. That would give me about 800 lbs total pin weight plus the removal of about 250 from the rear.
I am open for suggestions or comments. Links to shock and/or Panhard install or discussion would be appreciated.
Wayne
I also read tongue/pin weight should be more than 10% of the trailer weight. We are very limited on just how much we can do to change the pin weight on a 19 foot 5th wheel. I can't find my weight notes, but as I recall the pin weight is only 320 lbs. The trailer is 5060 lbs which should have a minimum of 500 lbs (10% percent). I think I did remove about 150 lbs from the box in the rear of the trailer, which should be the same as adding 150 to the pin. If true, I should now have about 650 lbs. I think this is borderline.
Tires can have an impact on sway and fishtail. As I previously stated, the OEM tires were P215/75R15. I installed GOODYEAR MARATHON ST225/75R15D. I really don't think tires are my problem.
BenK suggested adding a Panhard Bar. I have experience with Panhard Bars for automotive applications, but not trailers. I have found no information for this application but I am open for discussion.
BenK also suggested shocks. For years I have observed trailers of different types, including RVs, may or may not have shocks. I do find them more often on high end trailers. I have read high psi in tires stiffen the sidewalls, but also tend to make the tires bounce. The shocks dampen the bounce. There is very little if any effect on sway of truck Campers in my experience, could be different with 5th wheels, I am open for discussion.
At this point, I think my 5th wheel was designed for a 1/2 ton truck in 1988, with a minimum amount of pin weight. I see my only option is to do some fabrication work, such as a spare tire mount above the pin, and maybe move the propane bottles to the front. I think that would add about 150 lbs to the pin and remove about 100 lbs from the rear. That would give me about 800 lbs total pin weight plus the removal of about 250 from the rear.
I am open for suggestions or comments. Links to shock and/or Panhard install or discussion would be appreciated.
Wayne
