Why Can I Not Mount a Fifth Wheel Hitch so that the King Pin Sits Behind the Rear Axle of the TRuck

Question:

i have a 02f350 superduty with the 7 1/4 foot bed. i am aware that the kingpin should be mounted above or in front of the rear axle. would mounting the king pin behind the rear axle cause any stablity or sway problems? i am not concerned about the added weight to the rear of the truck because i have installed airbags for extra load capacity. just want to know if it is highway safe. my king pin weight is 2,300 lbs on a 35 camper 8,500 lbs total.

asked by: Mothman

Expert Reply:

The main problem with mounting the hitch so that the kingpin falls that far back in the bed is that having all that weight behind the rear axle would lighten the load on the front axle to the point that steering control and braking power might be compromised. A much better alternative would be to use a hitch with a slider such as part # RP30051 or a Sidewinder rotating pin box.

expert reply by: Mike L