Setting Up Ford To Tow Fifth Wheel

[PeterThePlumber]

Good Morning All,
So my question is specifically for the Ford driver/owners out there. Where; in relation to the rear axle; did you set up the center of the fifth wheel hitch? ie Directly over the axle, 1.5", 3" ahead of the axle, etc and why. How do you think it affects the ride?

I've settled on a Trailersaver TS3, with a Simpleslide for our 2007 F250; pulling a 2014 Palomino Sabre 36QS2B7; and would like to know how others have set up theirs and how it worked out. We are going with in the bed rails. Once that is set up we wil be going on a shakedown cruise and; among other things; deciding whether to install airbags or Timbrens. Thanks in advance!

[Kenny kustom]

Not to be a meanie, first thing in the morning. But.....


1. Way too much trailer for that truck.

2. Way more hitch than you need.
..... You sure you can use a slide with the underbed mounts?

I have a 16 36qbok and use the bd3 hitch and a 3500 srw CUMMINS.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[riversedge]

Not going to get into a discussion on truck vs trailer, however you can find the installation instructions for your vehicle at https://www.curtmfg.com/masterlibrar..._16100_INS.PDF I believe your ford is page 11.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Not to be a meanie, first thing in the morning. But.....


1. Way too much trailer for that truck.

2. Way more hitch than you need.
..... You sure you can use a slide with the underbed mounts?

I have a 16 36qbok and use the bd3 hitch and a 3500 srw CUMMINS.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

Kenny- you claim to work in the automotive industry and should therefore know that with a simple suspension mod the OPs truck will be identical to a SRW 1 ton. Of course, many people would claim that makes no difference because of the sticker on the door jamb. You can actually buy an F350 SRW with a 10k GVWR "package" which gets you a derated sticker. Now- you could argue that the dually would be a better option, but he won't likely be over the GVWR of a SRW 350.

[Kenny kustom]

OP.
Tell us more about the truck.
Cab, drive?

I go by sticker. Dry trailer will likely be over his gross.
His is a large fifth. Heavier than mine.

Do the suspension mod, and go back to the dealer and ask for another sticker. Let us know what they say....
2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

OP.
Tell us more about the truck.
Cab, drive?

I go by sticker. Dry trailer will likely be over his gross.
His is a large fifth. Heavier than mine.

Do the suspension mod, and go back to the dealer and ask for another sticker. Let us know what they say....
2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

He also has a sticker telling him not to deviate from the stock tire size and load rating. Do you religiously adhere to that as well? Just to try to make sure I understand you correctly- If you had a SRW 1 ton with a GVWR of 11,500 and I had the IDENTICAL truck that was derated to a 10,000 GVWR, would you say I'm being unsafe if I load to 11,500? If so, there really is no logic to that stance and we'll just have to agree to disagree on it. I don't even know that you are legally required to have that sticker- you can probably remove it. I know that is doesn't say anything on the sticker itself about not removing it. My understanding is that some locations will actually let you register your truck for whatever GVWR you want.

[peterbilt]

I thought he was asking about where to put rails for fifth wheel not what his truck can pull

[doc73]

Originally Posted by peterbilt

I thought he was asking about where to put rails for fifth wheel not what his truck can pull

He was and I have learned that is all they need answered..

Not worth trying to make sure they realize a possibility of an over weight or safety issue, since many only know what a dealer tells them. I have learned to let them drive on with whatever they want, not worth it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[OldCoot]

11 replies and not one addressed the op's question. Just get into another senseless argument about stickers and goofy claims about what is legal without a shred of proof.

[Kenny kustom]

Well, there isn't really a question....

According to the instructions, with a short bed, there's only one place to put it.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[doc73]

Did he say what truck? Other than just f250?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by doc73

Did he say what truck? Other than just f250?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

He said he was going to use a slider.
So, short box?


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Well, there isn't really a question....

According to the instructions, with a short bed, there's only one place to put it.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

The question was directly over the axle, 1-1/2" ahead or 3" ahead. There is plenty of room to put the hitch either on ahead or behind the axle even in a 6.5' bed.

[Kenny kustom]

When I put the rails in my 2008.
There was no option.
Instructions said, put it here.

I put it there.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[Kenny kustom]

I also used the no drill brackets.

That could be why there was no location option on mine.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[phillyg]

OP, put the hitch where the installation instructions mandate. In my experience, that will be directly over or a hair forward of the axle.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by PeterThePlumber

Good Morning All,
So my question is specifically for the Ford driver/owners out there. Where; in relation to the rear axle; did you set up the center of the fifth wheel hitch? ie Directly over the axle, 1.5", 3" ahead of the axle, etc and why. How do you think it affects the ride?

I've settled on a Trailersaver TS3, with a Simpleslide for our 2007 F250; pulling a 2014 Palomino Sabre 36QS2B7; and would like to know how others have set up theirs and how it worked out. We are going with in the bed rails. Once that is set up we wil be going on a shakedown cruise and; among other things; deciding whether to install airbags or Timbrens. Thanks in advance!

Peter,

My hitch is installed with the pin directly over the axle.
For my hitch/rails, that position evenly locates the pin weight dead center on the springs that ultimately carry that weight.

I always use my trucks for hauling a lot of other things besides towing my 5th wheel. In my experience when carrying other heavy loads, (pallets of heavy material) in the truck bed, I don't believe 1.5" ahead of the axle will have much bearing on the suspension characteristics and probably not 3" either.

I've toyed around moving a pallet forward and back of the axle by small amounts with little difference in handling. Now certainly if you move that weight clear to the front or clear to the back of the bed that is another story but that's not what we are talking here.

I think the clear advantage to the pin directly over the axle is, it gives you the maximum spacing between the cab and front of the 5th wheel for turning. With that said, I bought a slider hitch but have never slid it with any of my 6.5 beds. Never got in a tight enough spot in 10 years to do so. (3 different trucks/2 different 5th wheels)

Also, I have Timbrens on mine. Unless you go with an on-board compressor system for air bags, you spend more time adding or removing air for my liking.


EDIT:
I should also add...
I've never driven a truck/5th wheel with the pin 1.5" or 3" ahead of the axle so I can't attest to the driving/handling. I will say mine tows straight as an arrow and if moving the pin forward would make mine handle better... that would really be doing something because mine has always handled like a dream.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Well, there isn't really a question....

According to the instructions, with a short bed, there's only one place to put it.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

That is not true at all. I just had my rails installed on a 2007 f-250, because of the frame change they had to move it a little forward of the axle, my 2004 it was installed over the axle. Impossible to do with the change. Tows just fine. A 250 will tow the same as a 350 if you squat add air bags, but I don't even think that will happen. BUILT FORD TOUGH. It's not a RAM....

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

That is not true at all. I just had my rails installed on a 2007 f-250, because of the frame change they had to move it a little forward of the axle, my 2004 it was installed over the axle. Impossible to do with the change. Tows just fine. A 250 will tow the same as a 350 if you squat add air bags, but I don't even think that will happen. BUILT FORD TOUGH. It's not a RAM....

It wasn't the choice of where to put them. Because of the frame change, you had to put them in a certain position.

Don't think 2500 lbs is going to squat it?


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[j free]

My hitch was installed factory on my 2014 f350 and it is directly over axel. So I would guess that Ford Motor would know the best location of this hitch on there trucks.
As for 250 vs 350 don't sweat it. Before my 350 I used a 2500hd with air bags. And the 2007 2500hd actually showed a higher tow raiting than the 3500hd. This was printed in my owners manual. So don't sweat it.