Fifth Wheel Questions

[Steve Ekstrand]

You have to remove your tailgate or use a custom gate for towing a fifth wheel?

I've always wondered if this was for clearance, or just convenience on hooking and unhooking the trailer.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Reason for asking is that I want to get a retractable bedtop and close it up when I unhook the trailer. But if I have to use a special tailgate, I'm not sure how to lock things up.

[John Prosser]

I think it depends on the specific application / combination of truck / trailer.
Most people find it easier to remove the tailgate and leave it off.
To hook up the trailer you have to drop the gate. With the gate dropped, clearance between gate and trailer as you back can get tight.
Also with the gate down turning radius is compromised.
If you are careful (checklist), you can leave the gate on, moving it up and down as necesary. This would seem to meet your needs.
Caution; if going to a fifth wheel use a long wheelbase truck or a hitch that automatically adjusts.
The manual adjust hitches are okay if you are stationary at curbside, but I speak from personal experience that they won't help if you need to make a tight manouver and can't stop first.

Happy Trails (trailers)

JP

[Steve Ekstrand]

I'm looking at getting the Pullrite Superglide 18k
The 14K would probably be fine....
These are SOOOOO expensive. And I'll probably pay through the nose for installation. Stacey doesn't trust me to do it.

I'm nagged by the special capture plate add on. I hope it can come off in an emergency to have another truck tow the trailer.

I'm wondering about the hitch sliding back so far the back of the pinbox striking the gate.

Just new to all this.... As a kid racing we skipped from the big box truck with a tagalong for the 2nd car straight to a 4 car semi.

Never did the fifth wheel boogie....

Drove the Ram 3500 Mega cab. Damn it was a smooth ride. Better than the Durango. ???? And room for fat guys and their 6'5" 8 year olds (he's only 4 but growing fast).

[Pat McBride]

Steve go to turbo diesel register.com towing&hauling

[Steve Ekstrand]

Thanks Pat. I was wondering what the good forums are for the CTD crowd.

[David Avard]

I'm looking at getting the Pullrite Superglide 18k
The 14K would probably be fine....
These are SOOOOO expensive. And I'll probably pay through the nose for installation. Stacey doesn't trust me to do it.

I'm nagged by the special capture plate add on. I hope it can come off in an emergency to have another truck tow the trailer.

I'm wondering about the hitch sliding back so far the back of the pinbox striking the gate.

The capture plate is held on by four set screws.

And the price is cheap the first time you need to hang a quick turn in a tight place, or you are tired and forget to manually move the hitch and crush the trailer or back of the cab.

I think that even with your limited mechanical ability, you could do it. Only takes drilling a few holes and measuring precisely. But, if someone else installs it and screws up, they're liable. If you do it, you are.

Most of the videos show the pinbox easily clearing the tailgate. And you just have to remember to open and close the tailgate at appropriate times.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Camping World will install and guarantee it at $309. So, I'll just do that.

Where do you normally place the in bed 7-pin plug? They want a $107 total for that and I thought I saw the reese kits for $38. And $71 to install the capture plate. I can do that one. Especially, given that I can't get the trailer to them without having it on first....

[Steve Ekstrand]

And hey!!! Limited mechanical ability!!! pfft

[David Avard]

Camping World will install and guarantee it at $309. So, I'll just do that.

Where do you normally place the in bed 7-pin plug? They want a $107 total for that and I thought I saw the reese kits for $38. And $71 to install the capture plate. I can do that one. Especially, given that I can't get the trailer to them without having it on first....

Most people install in the sidewall of the box, often above the wheelwell or adjacent to it.