calliopeguy
Minnesota
Senior Member
Joined: 02/04/2004
View Profile
 Offline
|
I'm sure this has been kicked around before but I need clarification. While talking to a trucker last night we were talking about my shortbed truck and the potential for damage if you don't pay attention. Backing up you can really have some problems but can be easily avoided if you pay attention. However the discussion came up about 90 degree turns while driving forward. I am under the assumption that it is NOT possible to make a 90 degree turn while driving forward under any conditions as long as the tow vehicle is pulling. If the trailer is pushing (sliding on ice, downhill skid, quick stop skid, etc) then maybe.
So question #1 is:
You cannot PULL yourself into a 90 degree turn - True/False.
Question #2 is:
If you have a shortbed truck, you cannot turn sharp enough to cause damage while driving forward - True/False
Ken and Renee
2007 Ford F-350 6.0 Lariat 4WD shortbox
18K Signature series with bedsaver
2009 Crossroads Kingston KF30SB
Semper Fi! W0CSC
|
Wavery63
Colchester, CT
Full Member
Joined: 09/06/2004
View Profile
|
#1 Yes you can do a 90 while going forward. Have done it a couple of times. Not by choice but because of the need to turn around in a tight parking lot. I do not think it was great for the 5'er tires but it can be done.
#2 Depends on the hitch and 5'er combination. I have a sliding hitch and if I did not the camper would hit the rear truck window on a hard jacked turn.
WendyBob
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 QC/SB (Yeah, it's got a Hemi)
2005 Sprinter 294FWDB 5th
Superglide 16K, prodigy
2 girls
1 dog
Lots of love
|
Dennis Bham
Alabama
Full Member
Joined: 03/13/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
calliopeguy wrote:So question #1 is:
You cannot PULL yourself into a 90 degree turn - True/False.
Question #2 is:
If you have a shortbed truck, you cannot turn sharp enough to cause damage while driving forward - True/False
1) False - You *can* pull yourself into a condition where you have a 90 degree angle between your TV and trailer. (No TV vehicle can make a true 90 degree turn going forward or backwards)
2) False - If half your trailer's width at the nose is greater than the distance between the hitch pivot point and your TV cab, you *can* turn sharp enough to cause damage while driving forward.
Dennis
'08 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 4x4, Crew Cab, Std Bed e/w 18K Superglide
'08 Cougar 292RKS, e/w 16" Sendel wheels & BFG Commercial TA tires
PressurePro TPMS
|
sbmowrey
DuBois Pa
Senior Member
Joined: 11/10/2004
View Profile
|
1. True
2. False My pin is about a foot back from the front of the 5vr and so I have about 4' 6" from the pin to the corner. I think the turning radius of a short bed would allow you to contact the cab.
2002 GMC 3500 DRW 4x4 8.1/al
1993 40ft Spinnaker 2 slides/3axles
|
mytime
Eastern North Carolina
Senior Member
Joined: 02/02/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I guess it all depends on what kind of set up you have. I have seen some of the new 5ers that have the corners clipped so that it will pass the Cab if necessary.
To answer your questions: Take your 5er into a parking lot and see how short you can turn..you do not have to turn 90 deg to contact the cab..usually around 60 deg will do the job.
If you have been around this forum very long you would know that it is very probable that you will connect sooner or later.
I have been in perdercaments where it would have been impossible to get out of with out the turn being short enough to connect the cab.
Last of all, I would not leave home without know where the contact point would be on a turn, considering it to be on flat and level ground, some times I have been on uneven ground while turning or backing and that can make considerable difference., no situation is ever the same...LOL
2005 Silverado/Duramax SB/4X4/ CC,16K Pullrite Slider, 2004 Cameo LXI 32.5 3 Slides.
.jpg)
|
|
|
elcheapo
Cocoa, FL
New Member
Joined: 12/01/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Watch this video. Click
|
beenie weenie
Indiana
New Member
Joined: 06/18/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
1. I have a short bed and when I purchased my new fiver I specifically purchased one that has a V-nose to give me much greater turning clearance and peace of mind. I just have a regular hitch, no slider necessary. It is really of no consequence if you have to be going forward or backward to get to a 90 degree angle. The important thing is that if you should find yourself there that you don't hit the cab. My old fiver had a tapered nose that was sufficient, but my current setup is much better. Here's what my fiver looks like:
2. Again I don't think it matters whether you are going forward or backwards. There is a real potential to damage your cab (or worse) if there is not sufficient clearance between the fiver and the cab. "Stuff" happens, and its often because we are trying to avoid the wreckless driving of the other guy or, we are tired from a long day of driving and forget to pay attention to what we're doing. I'd rather give myself a little wiggle room and avoid a problem down the road.
|
just me
Salt Lake City Utah USA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/30/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
After watching the video, and reading all this expert advise, where the diference is, the long wheel base of the truck and the short 5ver in the 28'wll never have to worry about doing the damage. But you take the extended cab truck and the longer trailer 34 to 38 feet, you will do damage to the cab, cause you can catch the trailer. Being a retired truck driver, city P&D driver we gotinto some pretty tight situations. We had to watch that we did not make contact. Short wheel base and long pin to axle is the difference.
95 Dodge CC #5 TST plate Flame Red/Silver
not totaly stock
2007 fiver
Tag Ma-haul [has been suggested for a name]
Note: Due to invalid formatting, all formatting has been ignored.
|
globemaster9
Georgia
Senior Member
Joined: 09/23/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I have a 34' 5th and a short bed 06 chevy. I've tried a forward turn with the wheels turned as sharp as possible. My 5th will NOT make contact with the cab. It's close but several inches to spare. The clearance is probably due to rounded front corners on the 5th.
2006 CHEV 2500HD
2006 Forest River Cherokee Wolfpack 295WP
2001 HD Softail Classic
Wife and dog 
|
FormerHR
Inez, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 05/26/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
After watching the link posted I would say #1 is true.
The answer to #2 is up in the air, too many variations of trailers trucks etc. In my shortbed dodge I'm pretty sure that without my slider I could put the camper into the cab while making a turn.
Ryan and Persephone (Seph)+ a boy (7) and girl (5)
2005 Cummins Quad Cab 2wd
2008 Terry 295BHDS
Prodigy Brake Controller
Pullrite Superglide
Dual Honda EU2000i's
|
|
|
