retired-tech
flint mi
Senior Member
Joined: 11/28/2011
View Profile
 Offline
|
the wife and i use cheap walkie talkies as she plays spotter. it helps a lot. just take your time and get some practice in ahead of time.
2000 K3500 CCLB DRW 6.5 TURBO
2009 Cougar 320 SRX
2007 atlas 24 auto hauler
1987 GMC origional low miles
|
Mile High
Denver, CO
Senior Member
Joined: 02/05/2008
View Profile
|
retired-tech wrote:the wife and i use cheap walkie talkies as she plays spotter. it helps a lot. just take your time and get some practice in ahead of time. X2. Coming from a 30 ft ball hitch trailer, this one is definately a bit tougher to park. Slower reaction as said.
2006 Ford F350 4X4 SB CC SRW Powerstroke 6.0
2013 Redwood 36RL - full paint - disk brakes
"Comparison is the thief of joy! - Theodore Roosevelt"
|
chuggs
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 06/16/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
The 5th wheel is much more maneuverable than a regular hitch...ESPECIALLY when you install a SuperGlide.
The thing that he's refering to is a simple geometry problem.
The 5th wheel hitch requires a little more anticipation than a regular hitch...
See if you follow my explanation.
When you are backing your truck with a regular bumper hitch...when you cut the steering wheel...the truck pivots --- lets say for example the nose of the truck is swinging to the LEFT...so the tail of the truck is swinging to the RIGHT. AS soon as you put in a handful of steering corection...with VERY little movement...this swing occurs. Since the hitch is on the bumper...and the pivot point is up by the rear axle...there is an ARM, so to speak. The truck might only move 6 inches...but the HITCH BALL moved 15"...because it's located 4 ft further aft. This makes it a bit easier for people to learn to back. Instant gratification!
The 5th wheel hitch is mounted directly over the rear axle...so if you want to move the KINGPIN 15"...you now have to move the whole truck 15" too!
You don't loose maneuverability with a 5th wheel...you just have to learn to anticipate the turn.
Heck...I've been at it for 19 months now. I'm just starting to get the hang of it.
The recommendation to go to a parking lot and set up cones is a good idea. If you think about it...anything you can pull out of...you can just as easily back into. You just have to figure out the geometry... overcorrection is easy to apply, and difficult to adjust for.
Another point to mention...
It's so easy to do crazy turns with a 5th wheel. The truck and trailer can be up to 90 degrees or more out of alignment with each other --- JUST REMEMBER...if your trailer has two or three axles (most do)...one axle is pivoting, and the others are scrubing sideways. You can acutally see the wheels sprung out of alignment with one another if you look in your mirror. While it's nice to have that kind of maneuverability if you really need it. Do your best to avoid it if possible. It's very stressful on your running gear and frame near the attach points. Lippert had to reinforce frame webs near the shackle attach point for this reason... frames where cracking!
I don't do it often...but occaisionally I pull a stupid stunt and get myself in a tight spot. The last time was down it the keys. They have some park & ride locations --- usually near bridges. Some have a entry point and an exit point...other's, I found out, only have one point for entry and exit. I had to do a 180 in a very tight spot. The SuperGlide make it a peice of cake. Like I say --- I try to avoid putting that kind of stress on the trailer...but when you gotta do it, it's nice to be able to. I would have been messing around for 30 minutes probably with a regular trailer.
|
valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
View Profile
|
A 5th wheel starts turning more slowly but once turning you can turn it much faster. Otherwise they react exactly the same.
Especially with a short bed, you have to watch out for the overhang hitting the truck cab. The slider helps but there are still limits.
To negate the slow start use a "z" turn to start. As you pull up to the site, stay as close to the site as possible. As your rear truck wheels get past the site turn hard away from the site. Continue until you run out of room on the opposite side then turn hard back toward the site. By this point the rear of the trailer should be just past the site and angled toward the site by 20-30 degrees (it may take a little practice to figure out exactly when to turn).
Tammy Mike & the Bilge Rat (AKA: Diego)
Ford F250 7.3L
1997 Sunnybrook 27' 5er
1995 Gemini Sail Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and 5er
|
danojeno
Corona, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/17/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
valhalla360 wrote:To negate the slow start use a "z" turn to start. As you pull up to the site, stay as close to the site as possible. As your rear truck wheels get past the site turn hard away from the site. Continue until you run out of room on the opposite side then turn hard back toward the site. By this point the rear of the trailer should be just past the site and angled toward the site by 20-30 degrees (it may take a little practice to figure out exactly when to turn).
I read this technique several weeks ago and started giving it a try. Wow, it works great. My storage lot is very crowded in all directions and used to be a nightmare to park...not anymore.
2006 Chevy 2500HD 8.1 4x4 CCSB
2012 Eclipse Stellar 28SBG, Spring Over Axle
|
|
|
remoandiris
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 07/13/2011
View Profile
|
When backing, if you want the rear of the 5er to go left, put one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, hold the wheel and move your hand up to the 9 o'clock (or more).
When backing, if you want the rear of the 5er to go right, put one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, hold the wheel and move your hand up to the 3 o'clock (or more).
2011 GMC 3500 Dually
New to me 2006 Jayco Designer 38RDQS
2 Boxers and a Maine Coon
|
pyoung47
MO
Senior Member
Joined: 02/16/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Backing and turning very sharp corners is easily accomplished with a slider hitch and especially a Superglide. Almost 90 degree turns are possible. You should be careful, though, especially in a paved area to avoid making very sharp turns any more than needed. Begin a sharp turn and then take a look at the position of your wheels/tires. You will notice a marked sideways stress on the tires and wheels. Some folks carry sand to spread beneath the wheels when making extreme maneuvers. I've not gone that far, but I'd suggest being careful.
So far, I've ruined two wheels -- not sure what the reason, but I'm suspecting either sharp turns or curbing.
|
SWD
Land of Living Skies
Senior Member
Joined: 06/07/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Vulcaneer wrote:SWD wrote:Just make sure the silder mechanism is in good working order. Have seen a few that were not and that resulted in a creased cab!
Don't let statements like this scare you. This might be an issue with a manual slider. Not really an issue with an automatic slider like the SuperGlide. The way they are built, they are pretty failsafe. Meaning, if you turn, it must slide.
The SuperGlide, like any other hitch, does need normal maintenance and lubrication. And it is a really fine hitch.
Not meant to scare , rather make individuals aware! Had a friend whose unit was the "auto" slide style and it did unfortunately bind and cause some damage to the cab. Just saying, check and double check to make sure things work.
|
JIMNLIN
out here
Senior Member
Joined: 09/14/2003
View Profile
|
I've pulled GN/5th wheel/pintle/bumper ball and as others say the 5er reacts more slowly to steering input than a bumper pull trailer as the ball can be 5'- 6' behind the trucks rear axles.
I like the manual slider when backing. Let the slider back its full 11" puts the trailers pin 11 " behind the trucks rear axles for a bit quicker reaction than a pin that sits over or in front of the rear axles.
It takes a bit of practice but you won't have any issues after some practice or trips.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 gvwr two slides
|
blue trawler
texas
Senior Member
Joined: 03/22/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I have a short bed and I have the superglide. It really works and takes the judgement out of ... Should I release it or not! It is cheap insurance. it's amazing when u see that it is bent more than 90 degrees... Sort of freaks u out. If I don't have to back up, I a very happy, not enuff Prozac and beer. I always pay extra or have ppl help me back up. I have a 38 fter, my friends sometimes get tired of helping me and just throw me out and in 2 minutes I am in.
Bruce
|
|
|
