Towing 5th wheel

[wademartin]

Camper is a Gulfstream Innsbruck M-26FRBW 28’ 5th Wheel, dry weight 7297 lbs. Truck is a 2008 Ford F-250 XLT Super Duty 6.4L Diesel Crew Cab short bed with trailer towing package and Reese 15K hitch. I have towed with the hitch in tow and maneuver positions and cannot notice any difference in handling. Comments or opinions welcome.

[kaydeejay]

wademartin wrote:
......... I have towed with the hitch in tow and maneuver positions and cannot notice any difference in handling. Comments or opinions welcome.

Consider what would happen in an emergency stop with the hitch toward the rear. If the locking mechanism did not hold, the hitch would slide forward to the towing position. I doubt the hitch would stop there as there would be quite an impact! Chances are you would rip the hitch out of the truck as the trailer slammed forward and the trailer would keep going. Maybe the back bumper of the truck would stop it, maybe not. At best you have a loose fiver ending up who knows where.
Bottom line DON"T DO IT.
I agree with Webefulltimers on this one!

[WeBeFulltimers]

DO NOT DO IT....IT IS DANGEROUS! Yes, I know that all caps is considered screaming.

[Dayle1]

With the hitch in the towing position, if your hitch is say 2 inches ahead of the axle, you have less than 100 lbs of pin weight on the front axle, probably closer to 25 lbs. But, those are static numbers and moving to the maneuver position is not going to change how the rig feels under normal driving conditions.

However, having the pin weight 9-11 inches behind the axle may impact driving characteristics much more significantly in emergency and/or low traction conditions and this is the danger. Now if we only knew in advance how to avoid those situations.

[JIMNLIN]

Just be aware towing with the hitch in maneuver position you have unloaded your trucks front axle. Not the best idea especially on wet pavement and highway speeds.

Also be aware your hitch maker warns against towing the trailer in maneuver position.

If your happy and the combo doesn't have any bad habits then go camping and enjoy your rig.

[JIMNLIN]

delete...jim