Loading Gear in Truck Bed

[RobWNY]

How much camping gear do you put in your truck bed when you go camping. Obviously the 5th Wheel hitch takes up a lot of room, but do you pack gear all around it or just closest to the cab, closest to the tail gate, none at all?

[goducks10]

Last trip I made a week ago I had a Traeger Jr, 2 seven gal water jugs, a 5 and a 2 gal gas can, large tote with tarps in it, 4' ladder and a large aluminum frame fold out canopy in a bag. All between the 5th hitch and cab. Behind the hitch I had 50' 240V elec cord, 32"x32" slat floor board for our hand was station, 2 - 4"x6" blocks and some firewood.
Zero issues with wind turbulence.

[3_dog_nights]

only thing I carried was 20 4x6x12 blocks. Used for cribbing under the landing pads. Less extension of the legs, less movement. Just piled 10 on each side between cab and wheel well. Most times they were still in the same place when I arrived, but they were always still in the bed.

[ependydad]

It stays pretty full. Most recently, this is what it looked like:


In the past:


I'll agree that you have to be careful with what you carry back there. In 6 years and hundreds of moves, I've never had an issue until just the other day. I was backing out onto a 45mph road from a friend's lane and it pulled. That SUCKED. Took me what felt like forever to figure out how to get the pin back in with the fancy pinbox shroud/cover in the way (even tearing a section of it off, I still struggled!).

[RobWNY]

SabreCanuck wrote:
Agree with above wind stuff but also keep in mind the brake cable and the electrical cord. You need to ensure they don't get snagged on anything in the back of the truck. I have seen one idiot load firewood between fifth wheel and tail gate, then turned a corner and brakes locked up on trailer. Took that d-ass quite a few minutes blocking traffic to figure out the brake-away cable had snagged on firewood and locked up the brakes.

Signed,
Above mentioned idiot.

Duly Noted!
Signed,
Knucklehead

[SabreCanuck]

Agree with above wind stuff but also keep in mind the brake cable and the electrical cord. You need to ensure they don't get snagged on anything in the back of the truck. I have seen one idiot load firewood between fifth wheel and tail gate, then turned a corner and brakes locked up on trailer. Took that d-ass quite a few minutes blocking traffic to figure out the brake-away cable had snagged on firewood and locked up the brakes.

Signed,
Above mentioned idiot.

[ford_truck_guy]

I really do not put anything back there UNLESS we are going to the beach.. If so, I will toss in some crabbing gear.. hand nets, ect.... perhaps 2 additional beach chairs if the kids are coming

[FF286]

I put my cooler between the cab and hitch, if I take fire wood it goes between the hitch and tailgate. 1st up tent goes beside the hitch, 6x6 blocks for front legs go on the side of the hitch. Like others said if you have the tailgate on the truck anything can blow out of the bed.

[RobWNY]

Thanks everyone. Payload isn't an issue. I have 3,990# capacity and a pin weight of about 2,000# give or take. I wouldn't be putting too much in the bed of my truck. Portable 3100W Champion Generator, a filled cooler or two, firewood if not going far and within the legal range for transport. That kind of thing. I just wasn't sure if there were restrictions because of the hitch and kingpin swivel. Obviously you can't pack stuff so high or close to the hitch that it interferes with that motion but otherwise pack it up with what will fit with whatever isn't going to blow out?

[laknox]

RobWNY wrote:
How much camping gear do you put in your truck bed when you go camping. Obviously the 5th Wheel hitch takes up a lot of room, but do you pack gear all around it or just closest to the cab, closest to the tail gate, none at all?

Personally, when loading for our annual family boondocker, I carry 5 gal of diesel, shovels and rakes and other implements of destruction (maul, wedge, 3 lb shop hammer), chain saw and accessories, 50' 3/8 steel cable and sometimes a popup awning. When going to a campground, usually only a shovel and rake, but that can depend on the CG. I =always= have that 5 gal of diesel, though.

Turbulence is a huge issue and that's the only real reason I like using my v-gate, though my new KZ seems to have much less turbulence than my old Komfort. Lost a nice set of chocks out of the bed on a 15 mile move once, which really pissed me off. Never got above 60, too.

Lyle

[Super_Dave]

Smaller, irregular shaped stuff goes up by the cab. Large ice chest goes by the tailgate.

[mat60]

And don't forget the low life that steal anything of value.

[agesilaus]

Yes it is very turbulent. But don't forget that you probably will hit rain so you don't want some things to get wet. They either have to be packed in waterproof containers or bag or stored elsewhere.

[Halmfamily]

We have an 8' bed. 90 gallon aux fuel tank next to cab. We then stack our firewood in between the tank and around the B&W Hitch. Last will be the 27 gallon sewer tote next to the tailgate

[BB_TX]

I have put stuff in front, back, and sides. But am careful about too much weight. And be careful of things blowing out. It is turbulent back there and can blow out things you might think too heavy.