How to Position Fifth Wheel Hitch and Rails in Flat Bed
Question:
I have a 1971 D300 dually with a school bus service bed, which is a low deck steel flatbed, 31inch deck height, with raised wheel wells about 6 1/4, 88inch wide, 104 1/2inch long, 7 1/2inch step bumper, 58inch from front to center on rear wheel and 46 1/2inch to rear. The hitch I have is a Reese 30031,300*7,30726. I need to know where I should place the front rail and if I need to make mounts to go from the frame to the bottom of the bed to bolt through for the rails. Thanks
asked by: John L
Expert Reply:
You will need to determine where the axle center is and locate the fifth wheel hitch so that the king pin will be centered above it. I can't give you specific measurements for where that would be in your truck bed, but you would want to mark the axle center in the bed of your truck and then set the fifth wheel hitch on the bed and position it so that the center of the fifth wheel jaws are right above the axle center. From there you would need to mark where the tabs are for the hitch that would install in the fifth wheel rails and then attach the rails in that position.
You will need the rails to attach directly to the truck's frame.
