5th Wheel Turning with Shortbed
I'm going to pickup a 5th wheel today with a gooseneck adapter on my 6.5' bed Dodge 2500. What is the typical max turning angle without a setback ball? I will likely get one later but I'm just wonde...
Forum Discussion
With the Ram you probably have a 39 inch cab to axle (CA) distance and 48 inches for 1/2 fiver width. IF the front cap was totally flat, then the max angle would be 54 degrees (assuming an extended pin box with the pin at the front edge of the cap). Any notch or curve will improve on that. This is important info when making a turn greater than 90 degrees.
But for 90 degree turns you can't even get to 54 degrees while making the turn, so no problem. Your steering wheel cut is limited to 36 degrees max at full turn. So, if you started at full turn and the fiver didn't move an inch, then you would hit the 54 degree mark right at 90 degrees. But the fiver is going to move and cut inside the truck, so a more likely angle is around 45 degrees. And if you don't use the maximum steering wheel cut for the entire turn, then the real angle will be even less than 45 degrees.
Finally, if you are getting close to contact, then back up a few feet and change the angle of the turn.
But for 90 degree turns you can't even get to 54 degrees while making the turn, so no problem. Your steering wheel cut is limited to 36 degrees max at full turn. So, if you started at full turn and the fiver didn't move an inch, then you would hit the 54 degree mark right at 90 degrees. But the fiver is going to move and cut inside the truck, so a more likely angle is around 45 degrees. And if you don't use the maximum steering wheel cut for the entire turn, then the real angle will be even less than 45 degrees.
Finally, if you are getting close to contact, then back up a few feet and change the angle of the turn.
