leavingsoon Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Hey guys,Back with a couple more questions concerning proper measurements. I am getting closer to being ready to place/install the 5th wheel hitch on our Freightliner FL60. We are removing the old service body that is currently on the truck and will be either cutting the frame rails or adding to them at the rear of the truck....whichever is best or necessary. The two dimensions I am hoping to learn are....1. what is the measurement from the center of the kingpin to the rear of most typical truck bumpers? I want to cut (or add) to the rear of the frame rails and add a bumper set up of some sort with a receiver2. what is the height from the ground to the top of the typical 5th wheel plate? I am trying to determine where the hitch will be placed on the frame rails...whether we will need to shim up or install below the frame rails.I hope my questions make sense. Thanks again, Phil 2000 American Coach Heritage 45' motorhome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 On an FL60 you probably need to place the hitch over the axle or close to it. Most hitch plates run 47-48" off the ground. Jim's Adventures Old Spacecraft.... Who knows whats next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leavingsoon Posted July 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 Thanks Alie and Jim. I measured and found that with my trailer sitting level on the concrete floor it is 48" to the bottom of the 5th wheel plate. So I am thinking I will mount the Trailer saver hitch at approx. 51" to the top of it ..... giving me a few inches of squat for the truck. Does that sound reasonable? Phil 2000 American Coach Heritage 45' motorhome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted July 26, 2017 Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 Does your truck have air ride suspension on the rear? If so it will self-level. If the 5th wheel plate is at 48", that's where I would put the hitch. Jim's Adventures Old Spacecraft.... Who knows whats next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leavingsoon Posted July 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 Thanks....good to know....yes, the truck does have air ride suspension on rear. 2000 American Coach Heritage 45' motorhome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooter51 Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I think the info I need is here. Could I get some receiver pin clamp center to bumper measurements? I'm placing a Reese double oscillating receiver on my Isuzu NPR, I have the table height correct (48" + - 1 ") The rear corners of the flat bed are cut to 45°. I'm looking for the optimum setback (actually forward) for the receiver. I've installed a slider with ~ 30 inches of travel and need to set the forward placement of the pin clamp. I'll resize and post a pic of what I have . Thanks, Paul If it turns $$$$$$$ dollars into smoke and noise, I'm there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 12 minutes ago, shooter51 said: I'll resize and post a pic of what I have . Use this site to get a URL for your photos to paste her and you do not have to resize them. It is quite easy to do and works well on this forum. With this method, you can post as many pictures as you want without running into size or storage issues on the forum. 2009 Volvo 670 with dinette/workstation sleeper - Walter 2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard 2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan 2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage) 2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage) My First Solar Install Thread My Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the build My MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet! chadheiser.com West Coast HDT Rally Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooter51 Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 Wow, that was easy. Thanks Chad If it turns $$$$$$$ dollars into smoke and noise, I'm there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooter51 Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 one more tonight If it turns $$$$$$$ dollars into smoke and noise, I'm there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefneon Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 Howdy! On both of the MDT’s that I’ve had I moved the hitch (TrailerSaver) as far to the rear of the truck as I possibly could, give me as much room on my bed as possible for use. I’ve never had a problem with kingpin weigh issues. I also like the way the 5er tracks and backs with the hitch far to the rear. ” Happy Trails” Chiefneon "Class of 2007 Fulltimer's" Gary & karen Smoochie & Michaela (fur babies) 2018 Chevorlet 3500 HD/LTZ 2L Custom Hauler 2014 Heartland Cyclone 4000 2016 Smart Car Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 35 minutes ago, chiefneon said: Howdy! On both of the MDT’s that I’ve had I moved the hitch (TrailerSaver) as far to the rear of the truck as I possibly could, give me as much room on my bed as possible for use. I’ve never had a problem with kingpin weigh issues. I also like the way the 5er tracks and backs with the hitch far to the rear. ” Happy Trails” Chiefneon Chief- Shooter51 is using an Isuzu cab over deliver style truck as his mode of toter. He doesn't have the front end weight to offset large pin weights. Shooter- I would set the forward stop of the slider at the tightest turn radius you can. Even if its ahead of the axle. That would make the shortest turning radius possible for backing into convoluted sites. Measure from the RV pin to the main body of the 5th wheel- overhang distance This distance is the max that you can move the hitch forward on the truck. Measure it in an arc from the center of the hitch jaws to either the rear of the truck or the nearest truck body panel at the rear. Jim's Adventures Old Spacecraft.... Who knows whats next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooter51 Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 Hi Chief, My goal was to allow the pin to move from 10 inches or so forward of the axel centerline, to as much as 16 inches behind the axel. I tow several different 5th wheels and goose necks so adjustability and weight balance are imperative. I too have found much easier backing , with a 5'er, with the pin well behind the axel, and better steering and following with the pin forward enough to properly load the steer axel and transfer weight to the drive wheels when road conditions warrant (heavy rain and snow/ice.) The Isuzu NPR has a much smaller turning radius than it's wheelbase would suggest and backs the trailer much like a forklift. (essentially a rear steer like motion) I haven't pulled a 5er yet, but a couple boats and a tag stacker car trailer had pretty good road manners. What I'm looking for in this thread is the minimum clearance between the rear bumper of the truck and the fifth wheel. I assume there is a standard distance, just like the 48 inch table height. I just need to find it and set the hitch pin center accordingly. The 120 inch wheelbase leaves ample room for a genset, an aux fuel tank, tool boxes,a small air compressor, extra pair of "house" batteries, 30 gallon propane tank, as well as a bunch of stuff I probably really don't need to carry... I'm building this rig to drag whatever I hook it to, with confidence and safety. Such are the advantages of that "outside the box" stuff. Paul If it turns $$$$$$$ dollars into smoke and noise, I'm there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beemergary Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 Do some careful measurements. Better to far back than forward. Friend bought an Fl60 from a guy that pulled a big off shore boat. Bought a car hauling living quarters trailer. Never took any measurments and hit the back of truck turning. Had to move hitch back from stock location. If its got air bags with a leveling valve it Will Not go down. You could adjust it but more than likely goof up the universal angles of the differential and transmission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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