Will Nose-High 5th Wheel Trailer Sway During Travel

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Question:

Hello, I have a Demco sliding hitch on my Ram 2500 with OEM automatic-leveling airbags. The trailer sways when I go over bumps and at times when changing lanes while pulling my 2022 Jayco 36 foot RV. I checked the clearance between the bedrail at the bottom of the front nose and the end of the bed rail. The front nose of the RV to the bedrail is 7 1/4, and at the end, of the bedrail, is 5 1/2. It seems the nose is up slightly. Would this cause it to sway? Thank you,

asked by: John H

0

Expert Reply:

Thanks for all of the info and the research you've already done!

Dropping almost 2" from about the point where the king pin connects to the Demco Hijacker 18K # DM69GV or 21K # DM89GV back towards the end of the bed is definitely enough to cause your trailer to sway. A level trailer that is properly loaded will give you the best towing performance.

To level things out you have a few choices:

1. Move the pin box up to a higher set of bolt holes
2. Install an Over-Under Kit like part # K71-384-00 or # K71-385-00
3. Install a Correct Track Kit, part # RR23QX for tandem or part # RR55QX for triple axle
4. Cut off and weld on new, taller, hangers to your frame

The order listed above is the most cost-effective to the most expensive solutions. The only time I really recommend going with step 4 is if you literally have no other choice or if your factory suspension is in really bad shape. If you're able to adjust the pin box to a higher set of bolts that would be the best-case scenario.

expert reply by: Jon G

0

Answer 1

We do offer a Pace Edwards UltraGroove Electric Retractable Cover part #311-KEFA19A45 and the BedLocker Electric Retractable Cover part #311-M-BLFA19A45 in matte black. The difference between the UltraGroove 311-KEFA19A45 and BedLocker…

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Answer 2

There is indeed a Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th wheel hitch that fits the factory puck system of your 2022 Ram 3500 so you do not have to use an adapter. In fact there are two, with the only difference being the capacity; one has an 18,000 lb capacity…

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Answer 3

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 4

I recommend the Demco Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch #DM89GV as the best hitch for your 2023 Ram 2500 short bed. This will drop into the factory bed mounts you have without the need for an adapter. This helps to reduce a lot of the noise other hitches get…

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Answer 5

I can help but unfortunately, I can't really give you an exact psi to tow your 3,500 lb - 4,000 lb trailer as there are just too many factors that go into selecting the correct air pressure. The most important of which however is ride height.…

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Answer 6

Yes, it is true that most types of 5th wheel to gooseneck adapters will cause stresses on the trailer's frame and in some instances may actually void the warranty on the trailer frame. However, there is one type of 5th wheel to gooseneck adapter…

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Answer 7

Most likely the Dexstar Conventional Steel Wheel #AM20766 will work for you, but I would first recommend you determine the wheel bolt pattern of your trailer. The #AM20766 has a bolt pattern of 8 on 6-1/2 inches and as long as your wheel has this…

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Answer 8

It is certainly possible for the Gen-Y Hitch Shock Absorbing 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Pin Box #GY58GR to work on your 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty short bed, but there are likely going to be clearance issues as these are meant for long bed trucks. That…

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Answer 9

If you take a look at the linked diagram you can see the minimum recommended clearance distances between truck and trailer for 5th wheel towing. It is recommended to have at least 5-inches from the top of the bed rails to the bottom of the trailer…

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Will Nose-High 5th Wheel Trailer Sway During Travel

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