LegacyCTransport Posted February 29, 2020 Report Share Posted February 29, 2020 I am an owner operator truck driver full time so I have plenty of HDT knowledge but I thought since folks here do this alot I would ask. What are the issues with trying to use stock commercial 5th wheel hitch instead of mounting a new 5th wheel farther back like a hauler set up? I dont want to modify my truck since I haul 53ft dry van for making a living. Thanks in advance for any help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danandfreda Posted February 29, 2020 Report Share Posted February 29, 2020 I’m not an expert but the trailer fifth wheel hitch rides on air bags and articulates side to side. Air bags take the shock of bumps from beating the trailer frame to the breaking point. Might want to go to the hdt section and ask more, very knowledgeable people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyretired Posted February 29, 2020 Report Share Posted February 29, 2020 The first problem is the side to side articulation. Unlike a semi trailer the light weight frame under a RV can't stand up to the twisting of uneven roads. The airbags soften the harsh ride for the RV and it's contents. Some have gone ahead and used the trucks hitch and it seems sometimes there aren't any problems and sometimes there are. I use an air hitch and always have. I didn't want to spend the money but after a quick investigation I felt it wasn't worth the risk. Quote Randy 2001 Volvo VNL 42 Cummins ISX Autoshift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geodog Posted February 29, 2020 Report Share Posted February 29, 2020 I would mount an air ride hitch between the frame aft of the commercial hitch low enough that tit would not interfere with your commercial setup. My ET is aft of the reR TANDEM. JMHO ShortyO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewacowboy Posted February 29, 2020 Report Share Posted February 29, 2020 Jack Mayer did a video on a build they did a while ago (maybe last year?). They left the commercial on the truck and installed RV hitch to the rear so the owner had the option. Quote Jim and Kellie 2017 DRV 38RSSA Mobile Suite 2016 Western Star 5700xe YouTube Channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaydrvr Posted February 29, 2020 Report Share Posted February 29, 2020 (edited) This is how Jack did ours last year. Edited February 29, 2020 by Jaydrvr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted March 1, 2020 Report Share Posted March 1, 2020 We used the commercial hitch for two or three years. No issues, other than things in the trailer got tossed around. With an air hitch, you can see the trailer " floating" over bumps. Things stay put now. As to the articulation concerns, a commercial hitch is not designed to capture the pin so tightly, allowing the trailer to rock side to side. The Binckly style rv hitch uses a two jaw system which clamps the pin tightly, restricting that articulation. In short, the rv style is a complicated solution to a problem that didn't exist. Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmup68 Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 HDT forum on this page is great. http://www.rvnetwork.com/forum/32-hdt/ Quote 2003 International Eagle 9200i, Cummins ISX, Freedomline 2007 Teton Scottsdale XT4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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