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T10 Fifth Wheel Hitch | TULGA

T10 Fifth Wheel Hitch | TULGA

As TULGA Fifth Wheel Hitch family, a product that should be of particular concern to us has been brought to our attention: the T10. A 5th wheel trailer's pin box can be replaced with this product, which also shifts the pivot point of the trailer away from the hitch jaws and toward a point behind the hitch.

According to our assessment, this setup generates stress loads that go beyond the scope of the conventional testing carried out on fifth-wheel hitches. We are worried that shifting the pivot point backward by as much as 20 inches may impose stress on the hitch (as well as the truck) that has not been thoroughly researched. Therefore, the usage of our T10 5th Wheel Hitch in conjunction with one of these pin boxes is something that we strongly oppose. It is not recommended to use the T10 with any product that has a wedge or another device that stops the king pin from spinning within the jaws of the T10 or that shifts the center of rotation to a place other than the locking jaws.

In the process of developing the T10, the industry standard for 5th Wheel Hitch products was intended to be raised as a primary design objective. We were able to accomplish this by providing a genuinely adaptable hitch with several attractive features, such as jaws that snugly fit the king and a coupler that is cushioned and pivots in all four directions. In addition, we offered this hitch at an affordable price. Additionally, we advocated for the capability of having a bed without rails when the vehicle is not being towed, with a single point of attachment to the mounting system. The end product is a robust, high-quality hitch that has an excellent track record when it comes to safety. The credibility of the T10 is in no way called into question by this document.

What are the features of the T10?

The mounting system for the T10 is mounted to the frame of the truck, which is one of the reasons why it is considered to be so creative. Additionally, the mounting system is located beneath the bed of the truck. This particular mounting method features a hole in the bed that is four inches in diameter. This hole is designed to accommodate a square post that is included with the T10 base.

Following the installation of the T10 base into the mounting hole, a lever located in the wheel well is turned to engage a pin that runs through the post. Pulling down on a draw-bolt located at the top of the post exerts upward pressure on the pin. The bolt is secured to the wall by a locking bracket.

The final step entails securing the coupler component of the hitch onto the base.

There is nothing more essential to us at TULGA than ensuring the well-being of our patrons at all times. Because of our dedication to great design and quality, we frequently come across items on the market that either refer to TULGA products or claim that they are compatible with them. This is a direct result of our dedication. Even if a product claims it can be used with TULGA products, as a general rule we do not recommend any products that are used in conjunction with our mounting system if those products have not been manufactured and tested by TULGA. This is the case even if the product states that it is compatible with TULGA products. If you do so, our warranty will be null and void, but more significantly, you run the risk of compromising product safety.

Is T10 Appropriate for the Short Bed Trucks?

To address your question in a nutshell, the T10 has been utilized well by a number of individuals who successfully pull fifth-wheel trailers with short bed trucks.

When tackling the problem of cab clearance, there are a lot of different aspects to take into consideration. Pay attention to the following in order to find the solution to the issue for your particular vehicle and trailer:

  1. Pin Box Location - Does the Kingpin sit flush with the front of the trailer, or does it retreat slightly behind the front of the trailer? Some manufacturers of fifth wheels have responded to the widespread use of short-bed trucks by developing enlarged kingpin boxes to accommodate their products.
  2. The kind of trailer and its general shape. A shorter turning radius is possible with trailers that are narrower. More cab clearance can be accommodated by trailers that are constructed with rounded corners as opposed to squared corners.
  3. In conclusion, the type of movement that will be necessary while the vehicle is being towed. When you're pulling a trailer, do you anticipate making a lot of hairpin turns, or do you plan to stick to the highway and do very little or no backing?

 

Each and every one of TULGA's 5th wheel hitches features a release for the jaws that is operated by a cam motion. When the handle of the latch is moved to the closed position and fastened, the jaws of the latch will remain locked around the kingpin of the trailer you are using for towing. Even while the jaws might not appear to be opening when the handle of the latch is shifted to the open position, the strain that was holding them closed is being released. It is possible that there will be a minor bind between the jaws and the kingpin of the trailer if your truck and trailer are on uneven ground. This is to be expected. When the cam mechanism is in its open position, there is nothing that can be done to keep the jaws together. First, make sure that the handle pin is in its correct position, which will keep the handle in the unlocked open position. Then, just pull forward. The jaws will open, and at that point you will be disconnected from your trailer.


How do I move a fifth wheel trailer without a truck?

Good news is, you can move a travel trailer without a truck manually and moreover, in a few different ways: with a trailer dolly, with a leased truck, by hiring a delivery service, or in the case of some compact campers, with a little wheel that you attach on the front hitch and use to roll the camper around. This wheel is called a trailer valet. Moving a travel trailer without a truck is something that people need to do more often than you might think. Because of this, there are several good ways to move a travel trailer without a truck.

The Beast of them All: Trailer Dolly

These incredible vehicles are able to hook up to some quite hefty trailers and move them over fairly great distances. A trailer dolly is essentially a robust set of wheels linked with an electric motor to provide assistance when you are maneuvering your camper around. The dolly has a ball that attaches onto your hitch, and it also has handles that stick out so that you can control and steer the dolly as you are maneuvering your travel trailer around. If you want to move your travel trailer from one end of a large storage lot to the other without using a truck, for instance, let's say you keep it in the middle of the lot. Your best bet would be to invest in a trailer dolly. Even if you have a truck, this may be a preferable alternative because you won't have to deal with the hassle of backing up the truck, connecting it up, and navigating small areas while contending with the additional length of the vehicle. Before using any trailer dolly, you should always make sure to check its weight capacities to ensure that it can support a weight that is greater than the weight of your travel trailer.


Simple and Useful: The Trailer Valet

 In its most basic form, this is nothing more than a wheel that can be attached to the front of your hitch in order to make it simpler for you to move your travel trailer. This only applies to teardrops and popups, as these are the lightest kind of travel trailers.

It is not possible to move heavier travel trailers with a trailer valet due to the fact that they are non-motorized and frequently have low weight ratings. Instead, if you have a lightweight travel trailer that you just need to move around your yard or another small location without having to hook up your truck, you should consider getting a trailer valet. This is a fantastic choice for you. Before utilizing any trailer valet, make sure to check its weight capacities to guarantee that it can hold greater weight than the combined mass of your travel trailer and its contents.

 

A Supportive Helper-Truck

This proven method has assisted a significant number of individuals in moving into a new house, and it has also assisted a significant number of individuals in moving a travel trailer without the use of their own truck. You might be a little anxious about asking your neighbor for such a service, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, many truck owners are very proud of their trucks and would love to show this off by helping you move your travel trailer if you do not have a truck of your own. So, while you might be a little anxious about asking your neighbor for such a service, keep the following things in mind. Second, there are a variety of fantastic ways that you may compensate your neighbor for the use of their truck, such treating them to dinner, giving them cash, or providing them with some other service in exchange for their assistance. You can find these options online. And finally, if you don't already have a vehicle of your own and need to relocate your travel trailer soon, this can save you a significant amount of money compared to hiring a truck.

 

What size bed is needed to tow a fifth-wheel trailer?

Naturally, every truck has its particular capacity to tow and receive force. Therefore, choosing the right truck bed size with the right fifth wheel hitch is one of the most significant points. This issue is majorly about the features of your sliding hitches, which provide a bridge between your fifth wheel and the truck bed.

Sliding hitches, are made to operate with beds that are less than 8 feet in length, as opposed to fixed hitches, which are typically not a practical option for small beds. Sliding hitches increase the turning clearance of a vehicle by moving backward toward the tailgate of the truck whenever the vehicle makes a sharp turn. This creates more space between the cab and the trailer.

Given the significance of the sliding hitch, nor you should know the two essential truck bed types:

 

Long Bed Trucks

Towing a fifth-wheel trailer calls for a bed length of at least 8 feet, which is sometimes referred to as a long bed. Fifth-wheel hitches are required to be installed in front of the rear axle of a truck in order for the camper to be positioned in close proximity to the cab. If the appropriate towing equipment is not utilized, the trailer will collide with the cab of the truck during abrupt turns, which might create clearance concerns for trucks that are shorter. On the other hand, a bed length of 8 feet gives ample of room for making sharp turns without the need for any specialized hitches or pin boxes.

 

Short Bed Trucks

If you want to tow a fifth wheel, but the truck of your dreams has a bed that is less than 8 feet long, don't lose hope; you can have your cake and eat it too. There is a workaround that will allow you to accomplish both (preferably while sitting in your fifth-wheel trailer in the camping location of your choice). There are hookups available that provide you the option of towing with a short-bed truck, despite the fact that truck beds less than 8 feet run into clearance concerns due to the camper being so close to the cab.

 

According to your truck bed type, choose the appropriate fifth wheel hitch in order to prevent possible dispatches, wearies, and mechanical problems. Note that you are never alone in this process! Just visit our TULGA Fifth Wheel Hitch website to explore the world of the fifth wheel hitch. 

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