Fifth Wheel Report - Page 2

DigitalMat · 07-06-2007, 10:35 PM

Thanks for the replies folks! I have learned a little more. The guy who gave me the hitch with the camper had it mounted way back in the bed so he wouldn't have to use a slider hitch. This doesn't seem safe. The local hitch installer places say you can't get just the bracket kit to install the Valley rails that I have. They will only consent to install an entire Reese rail system. It will be so far forward in the bed, I will probably have to buy a new slider hitch anyway, so it seems the hitch I have is mostly useless. Kind of a pain to get set up, but I think it will be worth in in the end. Hope to take it out this fall. Thanks again folks!!

Tony · 07-07-2007, 05:14 AM

What hitch do you have?
I have a reese 15K slider mounted perfectly to the valley rails and valley bracket kit. Titan is a KC. The set-up correctly locates the pin 2" in front of the axle. I actually have never needed to use the slider feature yet.
Sorry no picture. I just traded my 04 for an 07 and have yet to install the hitch.

DigitalMat · 07-08-2007, 07:46 PM

Tony, that's VERY encouraging. I wonder if I can get just a bracket kit. I have a friend that has offered to help me install it if I can get the kit. He has all the big tools, and is going to do the wiring in any case. He also says I may be able to get by without the slider, "because nobody has any business jackknifing the thing anyway." If I can use the hitch I have, it would save me nearly $1000. Thanks for the info!

Tony · 07-09-2007, 07:01 PM

Here you go. Saves $60 if you have the rails already.
http://www.etrailer.com/p-V55000.htm

DigitalMat · 07-10-2007, 09:50 PM

Hey, thanks Tony!! That would save me some cash. I could try the original hitch, and if it's too close, I could buy a Reese slider to fit. Sounds like a plan! Thanks!!!

moore101 · 07-11-2007, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldwing

I towed my first 5th wheel this week. A 30 foot trailer at about 7700 lbs. The Titan with the Big Tow and a Reese hitch worked great! I know very, very few Titan owners have pulled 5th wheel trailers. I drove about 300 interstate miles in mountainous terrain...there was no hill that I couldn't accelerate up.

Wow a 30ft 5th is very heavy for the Titan. Hitch up and take the whole setup fully loaded and ready for the road to a truck scale, all truck stops have them. To get a actual weight on your trailer you will be surprised how heavy it is. That 7700 lbs is probably the dry weight a.k.a. the factory weight before ANY options and accessories are added.

goldwing · 07-12-2007, 11:13 AM

Well no, the trailer is not heavy for a Titan. Have you pulled one? I had a surburban with a 454 engine...it could not hold a candle to the pulling power of a Titan. In fact I was surprised that my MPG was equal if not a bit better than the same truck pulling a 5000# TT. The aerodynamics of a 5th wheel is better than a TT...less wind resistance means less load on the truck. The MPG proves that.

moore101 · 07-16-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldwing

Well no, the trailer is not heavy for a Titan. Have you pulled one? I had a surburban with a 454 engine...it could not hold a candle to the pulling power of a Titan. In fact I was surprised that my MPG was equal if not a bit better than the same truck pulling a 5000# TT. The aerodynamics of a 5th wheel is better than a TT...less wind resistance means less load on the truck. The MPG proves that.

If you notice in my signature I have a 5th wheel and I also double tow with my boat behind the trailer. Check out the what do you tow thread and my rig is listed on the first page a few posts down.

Have you taken your trailer to a truck scale, what are the weights? There is no question that the Titan has the power to pull much heavier loads than it is rated for but the payload is the trucks limiting factor. I am over weight by a 150#'s with a 21' 5th (yes it is heavy for it's size). It's not the going that will be a problem for our truck, if they are overloaded, but the stopping.

JAM21 · 07-26-2007, 08:24 AM

I have an 05 KC w/BT to pull a Flagstaff 8528RKSS 5th wheel. It is 30 ft. with a dry weight of 7200 lbs. Camping ready, I guess I'm pulling about 8200 with hitch and equipment. So far, no problems, pulling or stopping. I do have a slider hitch but have not had to use it.

moore101 · 07-27-2007, 04:30 PM

The key word is guessing, go to a truck scale and know for sure, it costs $10 and is worth it.

DigitalMat · 10-30-2007, 08:30 AM

Here's an update, folks!
On recomendation from this thread, (Specifically Tony!) I ordered the Titan custom bracket kit from Valley. It took about 5 hours, and we had to temporarily remove one shock, but got it in. The track system did not have to be removed.
Towed it the first time this weekend, and it did great, even without a slider. I noticed in the forum that those with sliders always seem to have never used them yet. We selected one of our favorite back-in spots and just parked it without even coming close to the cab.
The trailer is in amazingly great shape and everything works. (Even the furnace! Got down to 30 deg. this weekend!)
A special 'Thank You' to Tony and the others who replied in this thread. I really appreciate it!

P.S. We got 10 mpg! Yaaaaaay!

Ok-Titan · 08-08-2008, 10:50 AM

Does anyone have a link where I can order the 12k pullrite? I have an 07 CC 4x4 without the tow package.

ptgarcia · 08-08-2008, 11:07 AM

Kearbey's has great prices. $2599 for everything you need for the Titan.

Ok-Titan · 08-08-2008, 12:06 PM

Thanks for the link!