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5th wheel hitch on Tacoma

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by joesmith123, Nov 29, 2023.

  1. Nov 29, 2023 at 2:55 PM
    #1
    joesmith123

    joesmith123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    5th wheel hitch on 1st gen Tacoma
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2025
  2. Nov 29, 2023 at 3:01 PM
    #2
    Squirt

    Squirt Certified in forklifts and meme stealing =)

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    What are you planning on towing that requires? These trucks arent exactly towing rigs o_O


    Is it Friday?:wink:
     
  3. Nov 29, 2023 at 3:03 PM
    #3
    joesmith123

    joesmith123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I need to move RV's/any trailer that takes a fifth wheel around properties (not on road or highway)
     
    Squirt[QUOTED] likes this.
  4. Nov 29, 2023 at 3:05 PM
    #4
    Squirt

    Squirt Certified in forklifts and meme stealing =)

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    Ahhhh okay.
     
  5. Nov 29, 2023 at 3:17 PM
    #5
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

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    For non stock applications there are other things to consider… this is a fixed unit so be damn sure of your hitch to cab clearance for turns. All of the important stuff goes on under the bed. Going to need doublers under the bed and L brackets to the frame. The steel in the bed isnt that thick. Where are the bed rails that bolt into the bed?


    How heavy of a load are you expecting and what tongue weight are you anticipation. In real world scenarions the pin box MUST be either directly over the rear axle or up to 1“ in front.
     
    koditten, Squirt and joesmith123[OP] like this.
  6. Nov 29, 2023 at 3:24 PM
    #6
    joesmith123

    joesmith123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    QUOTE
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2025
  7. Nov 29, 2023 at 4:13 PM
    #7
    1blink

    1blink Well-Known Member

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    Storm Mtn, CO
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    You aren't going to get this done with pre fabricated parts designed for your truck and bought from a store. Nobody puts a 5th wheel on a Tacoma. This is a custom project, someone will have to cut these parts and fabricate them to fit.
     
  8. Nov 29, 2023 at 4:38 PM
    #8
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Retired cat herder Moderator

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    This is just not a good idea even on private property. Your 1st Gen taco is not designed for any kind of weight like that.

    For instance, the pin weight on my trailer is 1050 empty. When I put my chains, straps, battery/hydraulics in the bins it jumps up another 100 lbs. pretty light for a 24' trailer. So call it 1150 lbs empty. Any kind of load and the pin weight goes up pretty quickly. IMG_2385.jpg

    The 5th wheel hitch you have needs to be on top of the frame rails, and I'm willing to bet it's not even close. This would have to be a total custom job.
    Another option is to cut up a GN hitch, install it between the frame rails, then get a 5th wheel hitch that connects to that. Not sure the bed sheet metal strength is up to the task.

    If I were you, and this is happening on a farm, use a 3 point hitch on a tractor. You will be money ahead.

    https://www.bellprecisiontool.com/product-page/3-point-fifth-wheel-trailer-mover-category-1
     
  9. Nov 29, 2023 at 4:42 PM
    #9
    joesmith123

    joesmith123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Moved it a bit
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2025
  10. Nov 29, 2023 at 4:47 PM
    #10
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Retired cat herder Moderator

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    Look at where my pin is in relation to my rear tire. You should be centered or 2" forward of the rear axle.
    The new GMs are doing some kind of voodoo and mounting the hitch 2" behind the rear axle.
     
  11. Nov 29, 2023 at 4:52 PM
    #11
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Retired cat herder Moderator

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    Fleetwood Regal...good lord. Those are heavy campers with usually pin weights of over 1800 lbs.

    :rofl:

     
  12. Nov 29, 2023 at 5:12 PM
    #12
    joesmith123

    joesmith123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ok yes it was moved

    painful part of the experience: anytime I had to give it some torque, it would creek, digging into the truck bed

    Future: definitely need to figure out the proper frame mount, I'm now gonna read yalls advice and figure out a plan
     
  13. Nov 29, 2023 at 5:14 PM
    #13
    50Buck

    50Buck Living rent free Timmy the Tool's head

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    No. Future, definitely need an HD truck. :rofl:

    Good luck, but this is nuts.
     
  14. Nov 29, 2023 at 5:15 PM
    #14
    joesmith123

    joesmith123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yes
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2025
  15. Nov 29, 2023 at 5:21 PM
    #15
    joesmith123

    joesmith123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    ColoradoTJ[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Nov 29, 2023 at 5:29 PM
    #16
    MadNachos

    MadNachos Well-Known Member

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    Good luck. My truck was bought to be a workhorse on our property and it has towed a lot of stuff that was 'questionable' but that was all off a hitch and nothing was as heavy as what you want to tow. If it was a big tow job on our land we would use our 4WD Diesel Kubota tractor.
     
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  17. Nov 29, 2023 at 6:02 PM
    #17
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Retired cat herder Moderator

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    Exactly. I have one for my tractor and it works well. 3 point hitches usually can pick up some weight.
     
  18. Nov 30, 2023 at 7:03 AM
    #18
    scocar

    scocar hypotenoper

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    Please tell me this TRD is not a manual 4x4. Please.
     
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  19. Nov 30, 2023 at 7:42 AM
    #19
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    I've been wanting to do this for years.

    As a builder of utility trailers, I always wanted to build a 5.5 x 16' 5th wheel utility trailer.

    It's complete feasible. The only fab work would be to narrow the bed plates. The saw horse will fit between the wheel wells just fine.

    There is nothing special about the L brackets that bolt to the side of the frame and connect to the bottom of the bed rails. The bed sheetmetal is the same thickness as an F-250. The rails are not bolted to the bed. The bed is sandwiched between the 4 L brackets and the hitch bed rails.

    As far as using it around the property, as long as you have room to make sweeping turns, who cares how close the RV is to the cab if the Taco.

    I can tell there are some peeps here that do not know how a 5th wheel hitch is mounted to the truck, but they do have some good things to say about safety.

    You can plan on the truck squatting to the bump stops, so no fast travels, something will break.

    I've been wanting to do this with my open bed Tacoma so I don't have deal with putting my hitch in the tundra during the off season as well as make a light duty trailer.

    I own several of this generation Tacomas, so I know what you can haul.

    Don't let the negative comments discourage you.

    I'm going see if I can find those rails and L brackets.
     
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  20. Nov 30, 2023 at 7:42 AM
    #20
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    Why would that matter? Run in 4 low and you can move a house.
     
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