Can I Unhook a 5th Wheel Trailer with Sidewinder at a 45 Degree Angle
Question:
`Hello I have a curt 20k slider. I have just bought a 5th wheeler w/a sidewinder on it. So I went and have a custom wedge made for it. Now my question to you is. When u park it on a 45 degree came u still pull away from your truck. What other problem might I have. Thank you
asked by: Tony
Expert Reply:
You can pull your truck away from your trailer at a 45 degree angle with a Sidewinder, but you will want to be very cautious because there are a few things that can go wrong.
First, you want to make sure the jaws are completely open and that the landing gear is raised high enough to allow the truck to pull out smoothly. If the king pin grabs on the fifth wheel hitch jaws or there is too much weight on the hitch, the trailer will be pulled to that side.
Next, when pulling away from the trailer, it is very important that the jaws of the fifth wheel hitch are inline with the truck. If the fifth wheel hitch and Sidewinder are not inline with the truck, then the king pin cannot pull straight out of the hitch.
The final obstacle is that a Sidewinder is not very easy to move by hand, especially when it is new. Once you unhitch, it may be difficult to move the Sidewinder into a position that will allow you to hook up. Remember it is important for the Sidewinder to be at the same angle as the truck when you drop the trailer and when hooking up.
A few more words of caution. Curt does not recommend using a Sidewinder with their Q series fifth wheel hitches like the Q16, Q20 and Q24. Also, when using a Sidewinder with a sliding fifth wheel hitch the hitch should be locked in the towing position at all times. Sliding the hitch rearward with a Sidewinder attached will put too much pin weight too far behind the rear axle of the truck and can cause problems with traction and steering. If possible, I recommend switching your fifth wheel hitch with a fixed hitch (no slider) that is approved for use with Sidewinder pin boxes such as the Reese , # RP30033.
