Posted 2013-02-25 8:22 AM (#150138) Subject: What is the limiting factor on angles?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
I just got my first flatbed pickup, in the past trying to avoid a big crease in my pickup box usually determined how steep of an angle or a draw I might try and cross when the trailer was hooked up. Now that I don't have that concern I am wondering how much of an angle the ball\hitch can safely take? I am specifically thinking about a friends driveway which I would have never considered pulling through with my trailer in the past because of the angle but now think I could with the flatbed.
Posted 2013-02-26 6:50 AM (#150180 - in reply to #150138) Subject: RE: What is the limiting factor on angles?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
Your only limiting angle now would be the coupler coming in contact with the hitch. I can't imagine that driveway being bad enough to cause that. Unlike 5th wheel hitches, the angle of movement on a gooseneck is so broad it's not even mentioned in the manuals I found. My advise would be to have someone watch the hitch as you enter the driveway, as long as the trailer coupler doesn't contact the ball mount, you shouldn't have any issues.
Posted 2013-02-26 7:17 AM (#150181 - in reply to #150138) Subject: RE: What is the limiting factor on angles?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
The two limiting factors, IMO, is that you might think about the nose hitting the head ache rack of the flatbed. We had a short box ranch pickup that the top front of the nose off the trailer would brush the top of the head ache rack going thru a fairly large ditch in a pasture. Bigger problem was that the rear of the trailer than became an anchor as soon as the trailer tires hit the ditch....
If it is a hump that you are going over, the trailer floor dragging off the hump between the pickup rear tires and the trailer tires, would be more of a concern.
If the sump (ball area) of the flat bed is big enough to accomodate the hitch components, you should be fine.
What is the limiting factor on angles?
