How Far Should The Ball Be From The Cab?

[Nessmuk]

Hi All,
I am in the process of buying a 1985 F1850 gooseneck Sunline.
I need to add a gooseneck hitch to my Ranger. I hear that all hitches should be mounted an inch or two ahead of the axle but remember someone telling me that he mounted his 37 1/2" from the cab and did not hit when turning. He said that the manual said to do that.
I don't have a manual.
Does anyone here have one, or know?
I am getting the mount put on in NH then going to CT to get the trailer. I want to be sure I get it mounted properly so I don't have to redo it or hit the cab when turning.
Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

I don't want to add a sliding mount for $800 or so.
The pin weight is about 600 loaded and the GTW is about 3800 when loaded. Not that much for a gooseneck.

Thank You!

[Sunline Fan]

Hi Ray,

I honestly have no idea. I have so little experience with the gooseneck side. I just know they exist and know the trailer models, but I don't know much at all about the hitching process for them. I would try to avoid were the trailer could come in contact with the cab, so I'd move it back if it were me.

I know a lady who had a '82 SunRider V 21' Deluxe and she pulled it with her Dakota. I could contact her if you can't find any hitching places that could tell you. I think your best bet would be to contact some place that sells horse trailers, since many of them are gooseneck to this day.

Jon

[Nessmuk]

Hi Jon,
Thanks for getting back to me. I have tried a couple of places but a lot of places that deal with goosenecks deal with the heavy ones for full size trucks and many don't even know these small goosenecks exist let alone the dimensions.

I think it might be okay behind or over the axle where it is so light but am not sure and don't want to create a danger to anyone else on the road. If she might have any info that would be helpful.
Thanks for your help.

[EMD_Driver]

Just my humble opinion, but I would seriously stay away from putting it anywhere behind the axle. Doing so, would take weight off the steering axle. The farthest back I would put it, is directly over the axle. If the camper gets close to hitting the cab, just don't turn so sharp.

[Jim-Bev-2363]

Can't you measure from about where the pin should mount in the bed of the truck (in front of the axle) and the cab and then measure from the pin on the camper to the outside corner of the overhang? Compare the two numbers. There are some pin box extenders for some units instead of a slider but it your truck bed is to short you might have to get the slider.

Or you rtruck might be to small to handle a fifth wheel trailer. Just because you have the capacity to tow doesn't mean you have the size to tow.

[Nessmuk]

Originally Posted by EMD_Driver

Just my humble opinion, but I would seriously stay away from putting it anywhere behind the axle. Doing so, would take weight off the steering axle. The farthest back I would put it, is directly over the axle. If the camper gets close to hitting the cab, just don't turn so sharp.

Thanks EMD Driver, I think you may be right but 600# an inch behind the axle probably won't be worse than 250 hanging 3 1/2' behind the axle off the hitch. I am not arguing your points. these were just my thoughts.
I did not like having a heavy trailer on my receiver hitch. Scary. I think you are probably right.

[EMD_Driver]

No problem man...

I just like to err on the side of caution. Problems can arise quickly and I'd rather be safe, than sorry.

[Nessmuk]

Originally Posted by Jim-Bev-2363

Can't you measure from about where the pin should mount in the bed of the truck (in front of the axle) and the cab and then measure from the pin on the camper to the outside corner of the overhang? Compare the two numbers. There are some pin box extenders for some units instead of a slider but it your truck bed is to short you might have to get the slider.

Or you rtruck might be to small to handle a fifth wheel trailer. Just because you have the capacity to tow doesn't mean you have the size to tow.

Thanks for the input Jim-Bev. That sounds like a good idea. I took measurements when i was at the camper. I was not sure exactly how to work it as far as having the corner swing by the cab. It is 7' wide, so 42" to the outside. It was 56" diagonally to the corner from the center of the ball mount but I'd have to estimate the angle, and it is changeable. The problem is that the trailer is 3 hours away so I can't just go check and compare.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by EMD_Driver

No problem man...

I just like to err on the side of caution. Problems can arise quickly and I'd rather be safe, than sorry.

H'mm saw this "Coming soon: 1999 Ford F350XLT DRW Crew Cab, Long bed 7.3 PSD "

Gary, I take it you found one the right color?

Nessmuck, I agree being behind the axle is not a good thing. If you want to know the weight changes, give me your wheel base and I can calculate the weight changes to the axles so you can see this.

[Nessmuk]

Originally Posted by JohnB

H'mm saw this "Coming soon: 1999 Ford F350XLT DRW Crew Cab, Long bed 7.3 PSD "

Gary, I take it you found one the right color?

Nessmuck, I agree being behind the axle is not a good thing. If you want to know the weight changes, give me your wheel base and I can calculate the weight changes to the axles so you can see this.

John B, Thanks!! I have a 108" wheelbase.

[JohnB]

Hi Ness

OK here is the math. On a 108" wheel base with a 600# pin weight. This is pure static weight. "Not" dynamic weight changes of going over a bump

+ 3" forward of rear axle: Rear axle gain: 583# Front axle gain: 17#
+ 2" forward of rear axle: Rear axle gain: 588# Front axle gain: 11#
+ 1" forward of rear axle: Rear axle gain: 594# Front axle gain: 6#
+ 0" Pin right on rear axle: Rear axle gain: 600# Front axle loss/gain: 0.0#
- 1" behind rear axle: Rear axle gain: 606# Front axle loss: - 6#
- 2" behind rear axle: Rear axle gain: 611# Front axle loss: - 11#
- 3" behind rear axle: Rear axle gain: 617# Front axle loss: - 17#

Each 1" of pin movement is 5.556# of change with a 600# pin. I rounded to the nearest pound. Again this raw static weight. When you ride over a bump and the suspension starts rocking the effects are different until the ride smooths back out.

I'm not a 5th wheel hitch wizard. As far as raw static weight your 600# tongue is not real heavy as compared to larger campers. You also have a lighter truck so keep that in mind. 600# in the bed of your truck is a lot. The axle weight changes get to be bigger changes if you are talking 1,500 and 2,500# pin weights and I'm sure the dynamic surges get larger as well.

Pulling a TT with a WD hitch the spring bars help ease the dynamic weight changes. On a 5th wheel being behind the axle there is no WD bars to help.

I do not know all the back ground to the rule of having the pin forward of the rear axle. It may be more from a dynamic standpoint.

I know for me, before I would alter the rule of mounting the pin being forward of the rear axle I would research it out big time. Slider hitches change the pin to axle relationship but the truck is going slow when this occurs. I'm sure the nose of the truck is high when you can be 1 foot behind rear axle but again your going slow when this occurs. I'm sure it is not at all fun running that way at highway speeds with a 2500# pin weight in the back.

Hope this helps

John

[Nessmuk]

John, Thanks a lot for that great info.
I don't think this will work unless I can get a plate that moves the weight forward of the axle while putting the trailer behind it. I wonder if something cantilevered would work, or if I am looking for something called "magic".
I realized also that if the trailer is 7' wide that means the center point is 42" if everything is level.
That means I need to be at least that from the cab if I don't want to crush anything.
My axle appears to be about 38- 39" from the cab so I need to go farther back than that.
The person I met that towed with his Ranger may have been doing something unsafe. People have some odd ideas about what is safe towing. Probably the same people who tie a mattress with twine for a trip on the interstate.

I am still researching the topic to be sure I am correct about the way the trailer moves or that it is safe to do it some other way. Thanks for all your help. Does this formula work over a certain range? When I added my tag-along to my hitch, it added 220# or so to the rear of my truck, but did not change the front weight.

Thanks again,
Ray

[Nessmuk]

Hmmm.... That means if my front is 2300 and my rear is 1300, with a pin behind the axle I will still be nose heavy but closer to even. I will need to find out if this makes sense. I have carried loads like that without issue.

Of course that is static weight. Bumps can change it I know.

Where did you get the formula, if I may ask?

[Jim-Bev-2363]

Ray,

I do'nt know if you tried it or not but You Tube has lots of videos about fifth wheel towing. It is interesting to say the least.

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...tallation&aq=f


I wonder if there are laws that you would be breaking by using such a small truck for this camper? In my mind, "if" towing fifth wheels with your Ranger is a good thing then why aren't there more people doing it? Wouldn't hitch manufacturers have specific models for your truck? There must be a reason information is so scarce.