| Whether you decide to install your own 5th wheel hitch | | | | a heavy load. Your owner's manual should have a |
| or you get it professionally installed there are 5 critical | | | | diagram indicating exactly where this 'sweet spot' is |
| things that absolutely need checking before the job | | | | located. A badly balanced 5th wheel hitch will place |
| begins. These 5 things may seem obvious but you will | | | | uneven pressure on your tyres causing premature |
| be amazed just how many people turn a simple 5th | | | | wearing and poor handling. |
| wheel hitch installation into a nightmare. | | | | Securely fix to the vehicles frame |
| Let's take a look! | | | | Your 5th wheel hitch will come with a rail kit. This kit |
| Buy a frame kit purpose built for your vehicle | | | | has been designed to attach to the frame or chassis |
| You're going to be towing a lot of weight. Transferring | | | | of your vehicle. The rail kit will transfer the weight of |
| this weight correctly through your vehicle to the ground | | | | the 5th wheel trailer evenly and safely to the ground |
| is critical. A purpose made frame kit will have all of the | | | | directly through your vehicles frame. Your vehicles |
| fixing points, bracing attachments and brackets | | | | body panels or associated parts have not been |
| designed and made to fit perfectly to your vehicles | | | | designed for this so don't be tempted to use anything |
| frame. Not to mention avoiding a lot of frustration, time | | | | other than the vehicles frame to save time. |
| and money trying to make a generic frame kit fit. | | | | No plastic liners! |
| Can your vehicle take the weight? | | | | Be sure to remove any plastic liners that may sit |
| Just because your vehicle looks like a beast doesn't | | | | between any fixing points of the rail kit and your |
| mean it can perform like one. Be sure to read your | | | | vehicle. It might be quicker in the short term just to |
| owner's manual regarding the maximum tow load | | | | leave the liner in place however, over time the plastic |
| capacity for your vehicle model. | | | | liner will wear and cause the fixing point to shift. This |
| The maximum tow load capacity is the maximum | | | | will cause the distribution of weight through the vehicle |
| weight your vehicles frame or chassis can handle | | | | to the ground to be inefficient putting unnecessary |
| combined with your vehicles engines torque. If it's not | | | | strain on your vehicle and future structural problems |
| clear, call the manufacturer. It could save you | | | | for your vehicle. |
| thousands of dollars in repair costs. | | | | Owning a 5th wheel trailer will open up a world of |
| Centre the weight between the rear axle and the | | | | discovery. Travelling around the country and seeing the |
| cabin | | | | sites in the comfort of your very own 5th wheel is an |
| Your particular vehicle will include a 'sweet spot', a point | | | | amazing experience. Avoid potentially dangerous |
| between the cabin and the rear axle that will keep | | | | accidents. Make sure your 5th wheel hitch is installed |
| your vehicle evenly weighted on all tyres while towing | | | | correctly and enjoy the view. |