Determining Pin Weight for 8k Trailer and Fifth Wheel Hitch Recommendation for 2014 Ford F-150

Question

Question:

Reading your article ,you said you could figure the pin weight with the dry weight and model# of truck. Mine 5th wheel is 7990 UVW and and pulling it with a 2014 F-150 6cyc. eco boost. 66inch bed, 4x4 and does not have the HD tow Package

asked by: Curt H

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

There is not an easy way to verify the tongue weight of a fifth wheel trailer if you do not already have the trailer. The best way to find the tongue weight of your fifth wheel trailer is to use a commercial scale like those at truck stops or at material supply centers. First you should weigh your tow vehicle without the trailer connected. Next, connect your trailer to your tow vehicle and drive it on the scale. The difference between the two weights is the tongue weight.

Since you do not have the trailer yet, you will want to do some calculating. A general rule is that the tongue weight of a fifth wheel trailer is typically about 20 percent of the gross trailer weight. You will also want to know the approximate weight of everything that you plan to load into your trailer before calculating the estimated tongue weight to ensure you are getting the tongue weight of the trailer when it will be at its heaviest weight.

If your trailer is right at 8,000 lbs that means the pin weight should be right at 1,600 lbs. But that just an approximation.

For your 2014 Ford F-150 with a 5-1/2 foot bed the only sliding hitch solution we are going to have is the Demco Hijacker Auto Slide part # DM8550041 as it is the only one capable of sliding far enough to allow your truck turning clearance. It can slide 22-1/2 inches.

For a rail kit you will want to go with the Demco kit part # DM8551001 which is a custom fit.

expert reply by: Jameson C

1

Answer 1

I looked up the owners manual for the 2014 Ford F-150. On a 4x4 SuperCrew with the 3.5 liter EcoBoost, 145 inch wheelbase, and 3.55 rear end the gross combined weight rating will either by 13,400 pounds (for limited models) or 15,500 pounds. If you…

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Answer 2

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 3

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 4

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 5

Most fifth wheel rails are made to the same industry standard dimensions. They aren't all though. If you measure 22 inches on center between the two rails and they look like the rails of the #RP30035 that you referenced they would be the industry…

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Answer 6

To get the B&W Patriot #BWRVK3200 to work with your 2006 Dodge Ram you're going to need a set of 5th wheel rails #DM8552016-71. These rails are custom fit to your vehicle so they'll just bolt right up to the frame. It is worth mentioning…

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Answer 7

You do not have to use a sliding 5th wheel hitch in a short bed truck. In many cases, truck beds shorter than 8 ft do not have enough clearance between the trailer and truck to execute sharp turns. This is why sliding hitches were invented. Due to…

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Answer 8

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept a…

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Answer 9

The Patriot Slider part #BWRVK3270 might be a bit more noisy than the Companion slider part #BWRVK3400 due to the increased number of mounting points, 4 at the corners vs. 1 in the center. Probably not that noticeable and certainly not something…

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Answer 10

Yes you are - all 5th wheel hitches are going to require some type of rails in order to be used. So you'd need #DM8552016-71 for your 2006 Dodge Ram.

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Answer 11

It sounds like you could have a set of standard fifth wheel rails that most manufacturers use for their fifth wheel hitches to install into. The different manufacturers all make their own brand of rail kit, but they all have basically the same…

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Answer 12

Increasing the tire and wheel size can increase the height of the trailer but it's usually quite minimal. Before you do anything else you should see if the pin box can be adjusted. Although you have to be careful here since This will lower the…

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