Hitch Question

[JanAndBill]

I have a F350 DW long bed, that I bought used. It came with the hitch rails already installed. With my reese hitch installed and my BH3260 hooked up on level ground it seems like the front of the truck is a little higher than it should be. I haven't noticed any steering or handling problems with the setup. We've been in some windy conditions with it and the unit has been rock solid. I'm wondering if I should move the rails forward a bit to transfer more load to the front or just leave it alone as it doesn't seem to be hurting anything. Another option I've considered is installing either airbags or adjustable shocks on the rear. Any comments???

 

[porthole]

The center of the pin box pin should be between 0-3" ahead of the axle center line. Closer to 3" the better. But the installation sometimes dictates where that center line will be.

Air-bags, get the truck leveled up with the trailer hitched up. Adjustable shocks will not help the issue yo bring up.

 

[JanAndBill]

Forgot to mention the rails are by Husky, my hitch is a fixed Reese. I have no idea what the previous hitch was, but I'm wondering if maybe it was a slider. Near as I can tell, my pin is in front of the centerline of the axle, but it looks more like an inch or so. I have no clearance problems now with turning and my fixed hitch. Rather than mess up the bedliner by moving the rails, it may be better to just add the air bags.

 

[Bob&Patty]

My Husky rails are about an 1" or so ahead of the axle. On this truck I installed them myself with the instructions from the Husky site. As to your question......does the trailer and truck set level when hitched up? Thats the main concern. The only way you will ever know "IF" some of the pin weight is being tranfered forward is to weigh it loaded and unloaded. Loaded (hitched) my front weighs about 400# more but does not seem raise up the front. Just makes to rear go down about 3".

Just so you know, most in bed rails are the same for universal installing of any hitch brand. The only thing that might change is the spacing front to rear.

 

[GOTTOYS]

From what I've read, moving the hitch forward 1" only transfers about 100# to the front wheels. If you moved it 4" inches ahead it would only transfer 400#. That would require relocating the bed rails. This may not be possible because many of the mounting brackets for the bedrails are designed to use existing holes in the frame of the truck. Best solution is to install some airbags. They are designed to level the vehicle not to carry any extra weight...Don

 

[For20hunter]

What you are describing sound like normal sag due to a heavy load in the bed of the truck. Airbags would be the answer to getting your bed height back up to level and the proper level position for towing and driving down the road. Leaving your truck squatted will make your suspension system not have the travel it needs when going over bumps and changes in the roadway to give you the ride quality you should have. In addition, when driving at night your headlights will be in other driver's eyes when they are in front of you if you leave your truck bed squatted with the load of the heavy 5er. I put the Firestone Ride Rites in mine and inflate them to 40 pounds of pressure when towing and down to 5 pounds when empty and it drives like a dream.

Rod Ditrich

 

[DW_Gray]

Without knowing additional details about your truck, you could very well be overloading the rear axle and maybe other load ratings. Visit Fifth Wheel St. to learn more.

 

[JanAndBill]

Got the stuff together to get an accurate measurement. Center of my pin is exactly 3/4" in front of the center line of the axle, with the Reese hitch installed. Since I plan on upgrading the hitch anyhow, I think I'll wait until I settle on the new hitch then if need be move the rails forward another 11/4" and then if needed install air bags. I'm not even close to being overweight on the rear axle with this truck, or the payload. Like a previous post said, I suspect if I weigh the front axle loaded and empty I'm probably getting some weight transfer, it's just that that the wheelbase is so long it needs a little more. As it is, the sag is not so excessive that it causes any problem, I'ts probably more of the perfectionist in me that wants to make it perfect!