Can a Manual Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch be Left in the &quotManeuver Position While Driving

Question:

Can u drive down the road with it in the maneuvering position? Thats the reason I want this set up, too get the trailer further away from my truck

asked by: Scott F

Expert Reply:

As long as you have at least 16" - 24" between your bumper and the trailer, at least 4" - 5" between the back of your pickup and trailer when turning, and 5" - 6" of height difference between the bed rails of your pickup and your trailer then you are good to go.

It is never a good idea to leave a manually sliding 5th wheel hitch, like the base rails # BWRVB3670 you referenced, in the maneuvering position. This will put the pin weight of your 5th wheel trailer behind the axle and will cause the nose of your pickup to point up. It will also make driving conditions more dangerous and will damage your suspension. You always want to keep the pin weight of your 5th wheel as close to directly over your rear axle as possible. The only exception is when you are in those tight maneuvering situations.

If you are simply looking to increase your turning clearance without having to get in and out of your pickup then we have autosliding 5th wheel hitches or, if you already have a stationary hitch, Sidewinder pin boxes. The Sidewinders move the pivot point of your 5th wheel back 22" and were specially designed for pickups with beds shorter than 6' long. These are specific though so you would need to know your pin box number to get the correct one.

For example, part # RP34FR is a replacement for the popular 0719, 1621, and 1621HD pin boxes. Let me know what your pin box number is and I can recommend the correct replacement if it is different.

expert reply by: Jon G