Hitch Placement

[Don Wilson]

I purchased a used 06 Dodge 3500 dually that had a B&W Gooseneck hitch. I purchased the B&W Fifth Wheel Companion Hitch that fits into the gooseneck ball hitch receiver. The hitch has three adjustments front to back from the cab on where to place the reciever for the king pin. I have installed it in the position closeset to the cab and when I towed the fifth wheel I had considerable front to back lurching. My question is if I move it back to the center position, 2 inches farther from the cab, Will that eliminate the front to back lurching??

Don

[Tim]

Not an expert here, but the kingpin should be centered over the rear axle.

[BB_TX]

Don't know about other brands, but Reese installation instructions show to center the king pin 1 1/2" to 2" in front of the rear axle.

[campswithcritters]

Most hitch placements, I have installed 3 call for somewhere between centered on the axle and 3 inches forward of it. See if one of your positions will put you in that range and try it. My Dodge 1 ton also did more lurching than the Chevy does and only way I found to reduce it was to reduce pin weight by moving items and filling my fresh water tank which is at rear most location.

[Don Wilson]

Thanks for the input!

I have the placement about two inches in front of the axle.

I had this problem with my 02 Dodge 2500 and took care of it but putting on Air lift and keeping 20 pounds of air in them when towing but was hoping not to have to do it to this 3500.

Don

[Rob & Cathy]

Don, I'm not sure what you mean by lurching. Are you referring the king-pin hitting the front and back of the hitch when stopping then accelerating?

It's been my experience, and talking to hitch people, that fifth-wheel hitches work better with more weight not less. With more weight on the hitch you are less likely to have any slapping from up-down motion when going over bumps or dips and you'll have a more comfortable ride.

Rob

[Don Wilson]

Rob,
When I am going down the road and hit any imperfection or small bump in the pavement I get the forward and backward motion in the pickup. It is fine when I stop, I do not have any what I call clunking of the kingpin hitting the front or back of the hitch.

The trailer is level with this pickup and hitch, where it was slightly unlevel on the old pickup and hitch and the air bags leveled the pickup and got it off the overload springs.

Don

[Rob & Cathy]

When I am going down the road and hit any imperfection or small bump in the pavement I get the forward and backward motion in the pickup.

Don, if it were me I would try and add more weight to the front of the trailer to put more weight on the hitch. Just a thought.

Rob

[Don Wilson]

Thanks Rob,

I'll try loading things more upfront this weekend when we go out and see if that will eliminate some of it!! This will be the first trip out, farther than from storage to the house, with the new pickup and hitch.

Thanks again

Don

[Don Wilson]

Rob,

Loaded more up front than usual and it pretty well eliminated the problem. We drove 110 miles over bad California freeways from the Central CA Valley to the Coast by Santa Cruz. The forward and back motion was barely noticable.

Don

[Rob & Cathy]

That's great Don, I'm glad to hear it worked out.

Rob

[Don Wilson]

I have discovered the motion I am getting with this pickup and hitch seems to be the worst right after I fuel up. I notice it until I use about 1/8 of a tank of fuel, which is about forty miles with the mileage I get when towing and then it seems to go away.

I am still undecided about moving the location. I called the factory people at B&W and they say if I move it to the center position I will still be 1 1/2 inches in front of the axle.

Please Give me your opinions !

Don