Fifth Wheel with 5’7” Truck Bed??

carlstone05 wrote:
So pin weight on the fifth wheel is 1053# and the axle weight is 4864#.

What got me on pin weight is full waste tanks vs truck payload and rear axle rating.

Most of the FW storage is towards the front, adding pin weight. I saw that coming. My fresh tank is above the FW axles so most of that weight (water is 8.3lb/gal) applies to the FW axles. However, my black and gray tanks are forward of the FW axles. the weight of my full black and gray tanks push me way over truck payload and rear axle weight rating. I have become sensitive to this fact.

So pin weight on the fifth wheel is 1053# and the axle weight is 4864#.

Watch your pin weight very close. Been hauling mine 12 years now.

ppine wrote:
Long beds are best for towing. It seems like a cruel joke that so many trucks now have beds shorter than 6.5 feet. Are they made to haul groceries?

Nope, not a cruel joke. Welcome to the 21st century where the consumer has the choice of 3 truck bed lengths!
(Now if there was a 4th option, an XL bed 9-10’ long for those that haul slip tanks and tool boxes permanently I’d be all over that like a fat kid on a Snickers bar for my work truck!)

Dayle1 wrote:
Another option is the Sidewinder or Revolution pinbox. A light fixed hitch will work as this pinbox moves the pivot point back while keeping the pin weight over the axle. Also makes the fiver track more like a TT that you are familiar with. May be best option when minimum weight is needed.

Agree, best option, and designed with the 5.5 bed in mind. With a lt wt hitch, and low pin wt FW, the OPs truck may work.

Jerry

Another option is the Sidewinder or Revolution pinbox. A light fixed hitch will work as this pinbox moves the pivot point back while keeping the pin weight over the axle. Also makes the fiver track more like a TT that you are familiar with. May be best option when minimum weight is needed.

Long beds are best for towing. It seems like a cruel joke that so many trucks now have beds shorter than 6.5 feet. Are they made to haul groceries?

APT wrote:
5.5' beds only came on half tons. I don't know very many crew cab half tons with enough payload to handle even 1000 pound dry pin weight. But as noted above, there is a market for technical solutions for the short bed length. 277 pounds for that Superglide, people in cab, and loaded pin weight....

It's a small niche but there's a definite overlap between the heavier rated half tons and lighter fifth wheels out there. And I mean regular style fifth wheels, not the little fiberglass jobs.

I started off with a heavy Superglide before I realized I didn't need it because of the shape of my front cap. I use a lighter Reese fixed hitch now and am happy. It's easier to work with.

5.5' beds only came on half tons. I don't know very many crew cab half tons with enough payload to handle even 1000 pound dry pin weight. But as noted above, there is a market for technical solutions for the short bed length. 277 pounds for that Superglide, people in cab, and loaded pin weight....