Forum Discussion

hammer21661's avatar
hammer21661
Explorer
Jan 12, 2018

Ram long bed rvk3600 placement?

I was setting up my hitch last night and wasn't sure about where to put the center of the jaws. Should I do over the axle 2 inches in front or behind 2 or 4 inches. 2 inches in front it'll clear according to the tape measure but I'll have plenty of room if it were to move 6 inches back and it'll be easier to back up but everything that I've read says in front is better for the highway. So should I just put it over the center of the axle and stop thinking about it.thanks in advance.

8 Replies

  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    OP, since you will not state your pin weight let's ASSUME it's 2000 lbs. Your truck has a wheelbase of 169" so if we divide 2" by 169 we get 0.0118 times 2000 lbs gives us 23 lbs difference in the amount of weight put on the front axle or taken off if you go 2" in front or behind the rear axle. Do you really think 23 lbs +/- on the front axle is going to make any difference in the handling of your 8,000+ lb loaded truck??? That's a 0.5% difference...half a percent.

    *PS: I have gone 2-4" behind on three different PUs and I'm still here and they were never hurt with a lot more than 2,000 lbs of pin weight. My current F350 CC long bed has the center 4" behind.
  • FULL Foreward with a longed truck!!! That means the side supports need to have the straight side toward the cab.

  • I don't know where it was on my 07 but it was enough room to get my butt between it so I think I am ok in that area.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Need to know your pin weight. On a FL70 MDT I mounted the center 12" behind the axle for a trailer that could weigh 12 tons...24,000 lbs.
  • While 2"s in front would make for the best tow, with a long bed, there can be tailgate lowering issues with some FW trailers. Another knowledgeable forum member, with the same hitch, and DRW long bed Ram, always says to install full forward. He may not be using a standard tailgate, not sure. IMO, over the axle center would be okay, if it makes for a better overall fit. I would not install behind axle center.

    Jerry