Posted by Chris M on April 06, 2003 at 22:11:23:
In Reply to: What advantages to fifth-wheel trailer? posted by ken on April 04, 2003 at 10:26:07:
Actually the reason larger RV's and even 18-wheelers use fifth wheel hitches is to move the tongue weight over the axle. A ball type hitch exerts all the force of the tongue to the absolute back of the truck, using the rear axle as a sort of fulcrum. Fifth wheel trailers use both rear and front axles by moving the weight foreward over or slightly in front of the fulcrum.