King pin/axle Alignment

[cmhbob]

Our first hitch was a Reese Pro Series 15K. I tried to hook up one day with it closed, and bent it all to crap. A nearby RV shop sold me a used Husky 16K S hitch for $400.

When we hooked up with the Reese, I could open and close the both the pickup gate and the forward cargo hatch, even while hooked up. I can't do that now, as the rig is about an inch farther forward toward the truck than it was on the Reese. The pin is about 1 ½ or so in front of the axle, but there's another set of holes on the back part of the hitch A-frame so I can move it if it should be moved.

My question then is where is the kingpin supposed to be in relation to the axle? Directly over it? A little forward? I didn't notice where it rode on the Reese, and I'm not sure I can feel any major difference between the two hitches in the way it pulls. I'm considering moving the hitch back so we can gain better access to the cargo compartment, but not at the risk of screwing up the weight distribution.

[M109Rrider]

Right over the axle is what I was taught.

[Acableguy06]

I was always told just forward of the axle to put a lil weight forward

[crocus]

It is supposed to be a bit forward for weight distribution and for stability in an emergency evasive manouver. But you could probably get away with it directly over the axle. Just make sure it isn't even a fraction of an inch behind.

[froggy]

Reese installation calls for the king pin 'directly over' the axle.