Sliding fifth wheel questions?

[sbatson]

My fifth wheel sits about in the middle, why would I need to slide it to the front or back? Is it a ride difference or weight difference, because I was told by this guy that it did not do anything for weight.

[JeffTheTerrible]

Sliding it to the front shifts weight from your drives to your steers, and sliding it back shifts weight from your steers to your drives.
When I drove the Freightliner Century and Columbia tractors, pulling a trailer which didn't have sliding tandems (be it a tanker, flatbed, or end dump), I would always keep the fifth wheel slid all the way to the back, because the fuel tanks on those Freightliner models were so far forward, that all the weight from the fuel was put on the steer axle, which made it much easier to be heavy on the steer, naturally.

[matcat]

He is wrong. Moving your fifth wheel forward will put more weight on the steers and less on the drives, whereis moving it farther back will take less weight off of the steers and more on the drives, vs moving the trailer tandems forward will put more weight on the trailer tandems and less on the drives, and moving the tandems back will take weight off of the trailer tandems and put more on the drives. Ultimately there is a sweet spot on the fifth wheel that you should never really have to move it at all unless you get a load that is right there at 80,000 and you are having trouble getting it distributed correctly. I had a load like that once, where I just had to keep my fuel lower then 75 gallons to stay even barely legal.

[sbatson]

Well the rig I have is a 05 Century with 2 100 gallon tanks and I do some heavy loads sometimes but it seems to weigh out , so it haves nothing to do with the ride? I guess I should leave it where it is?

[JeffTheTerrible]

He is wrong. Moving your fifth wheel forward will put more weight on the steers and less on the tractor tandems

Actually, that's what I said, albeit with slightly different wording...

Well the rig I have is a 05 Century with 2 100 gallon tanks and I do some heavy loads sometimes but it seems to weigh out , so it haves nothing to do with the ride? I guess I should leave it where it is?

If there's no real need to, I don't see why you would.

[matcat]

He is wrong. Moving your fifth wheel forward will put more weight on the steers and less on the tractor tandems

Actually, that's what I said, albeit with slightly different wording...

Yeah we posted at the same time, when I started writing no one had posted yet :P

[matcat]

Well the rig I have is a 05 Century with 2 100 gallon tanks and I do some heavy loads sometimes but it seems to weigh out , so it haves nothing to do with the ride? I guess I should leave it where it is?

Generally if you are feeling anything, your weight is not distributed correctly. If your weight is heavyer on the trailer then the drives, you will got a bumpyer ride.

[JeffTheTerrible]

Yeah we posted at the same time, when I started writing no one had posted yet :P

Ah, alright then. Good thing you posted that, because I was preparing to settle this with a battle rap. Fear my skillz!

[sbatson]

Ya when i do heavy loads its not to bad , I dont remember the exact numbers but I was like 11,600 on the steers and mid 33,000 on the drives and tandems, so I guess I,ll leave it where it is.

[carlos64030]

I drive an '07 Volvo VN 670 and I never have to slide my 5th wheel.... even when I pull 46,000 lb. loads. I found a sweet spot for it last year right after I got the truck and made a few runs. It's been in the same position ever since.

[Uturn2001]

If you get your 5th wheel set properly it will be somewhat unusual to ever have to touch it again. If you get a truck where someone has slid the 5th wheel all the way forward or back and want to guesstimate where to set it start with it centered over your drives on most trucks. If you are driving a Volvo though you want it slid back of center as those trucks are very heavy on the front end.

[sbatson]

Ok I have another question, I have this bottom feeling in the rear of the truck and I have posted on here and came to the conclusion that my ride height is set wrong but my manager tried to tell me another driver said that I had my trailer tandems all the way back, that was the cause but isnt that how you adjust your weight so youre not over or am I missing something? I was over on my tandems so I moved them.

[BanditsCousin]

When I'm hauling tradeshows (light) I try to keep the 5th wheel slid up all the way to minimize the gap between the trailer and tractor. It is supposed to help fuel mileage (I hear).

[Lunker]

I've found that some trailers I pull have the kingpin further back and cause the trailer to be closer to the cab. This also causes the nose to swing out further on tight turns. This is about the only time I'll move the 5th wheel back and try to get the nose of the trailer even with the quarter flaps.

[JeffTheTerrible]

Ok I have another question, I have this bottom feeling in the rear of the truck and I have posted on here and came to the conclusion that my ride height is set wrong but my manager tried to tell me another driver said that I had my trailer tandems all the way back, that was the cause but isnt that how you adjust your weight so youre not over or am I missing something? I was over on my tandems so I moved them.

All the way back? As in, well past the 41 ft bridge which you're legally allowed? Don't get caught driving like that...

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

i keep my fifth wheel all the way back ...i do this b/c of all the personal items i carry with me ...but one thing no one has mentioned rgarding the 5th wheel position is that it directly changes over all vehicle length so a 5th all the way forward is going to make fitting in a tight spot easier ...also the further forward the faster he tuck turns.

[headborg]

there's also: besides weight reasons as stated--

setting the 5th wheel all the way back-- allows you to fit your Bike behind your cab as well as tool box etc...

the ride is generally smoother-- less bone jarring when you hit pot holes- with the 5th wheel back

I once had a trainee that weighted in excess of 500 lbs-- and we had to set the 5th wheel back to stay legal.

In winter-- setting your 5th wheel foward-- is safer -- helps lessen the possibility of power skid.

Noisy reefer or smelly livestock--- 5th wheel all the way back! or unhook! LOL.

Remember when sliding your 5th wheel-- to lower your landing gear- take some of the weight off- before sliding

if teeth: 200 lbs a tooth( generally)
if the 5 slot type: 500 lbs each slot