Sliding fifth wheel question

Are you guys that like to run with your fifth wheel all the way back running less than 80k gross?
Not sure how your getting things to scale maybe spread axle trailer? How’s that work in the winter with less weight on the steer axle?
Not trying to criticize anyone, just wondering how you make it work.

 

All depends on the setup of the truck.
When I was pulling a refer a lot of loads were frozen and fairly lite.
Even heavy meat loads I would slide it to the legal weight. I don’t ever remember going all the way forward with the fifth wheel.
Now pulling tankers I normally keep it mid ways since you can’t slide tandems on a tanker.

 

I set mine for max weight on all axles which is 12 inches ahead of between tandems.

14,600 lbs front
40,000 lbs drives

Then put fifth wheel back for the short gooseneck low boy we have.

The other truck I drive is just a few inches ahead of center between drives. This one is heavier than the primary one I drive

 

All the way forward?
Check your mudflaps and make sure they will clear trailer landing gear.
Probably not an issue, but I 've pulled some oddball trailers.

 

Probably more of an issue on stepdecks and lowboys then other trailers.

 

I have a spread. When I got rid of my bulkhead for a headache rack, that put all my chains and stuff about five feet forward, so I slid my fifth wheel all the way back in the interim to compensate. Then I realized it caused me to stay lighter on the steer than I expected, but I've left it like that literally because I think it looks cool. We'll see how it handles in the Winter.

 

My fifth wheel is pretty much always centered over the rear drive axle. Our long sliders are installed as far back as the factory will allow. Bobtail, full of fuel I’m actually overweight on my front axle. The only time I slide forward is if I’m loading heavy and need to put some weight on the front end. I can slide just ahead of center and split out at 13k/45k.

rides nice, never had any issue with the front end pushing, even with the 385 tires on the front end. In my option fifth wheel position has almost zero effect on maneuverability.

 

Y'all need to keep in mind sliders are different length too. I have 60" of slider rail, and all the way back would be about 2" behind the center of back axle, all the way forward about 2" forward of the front

 

For me "all the way back" is actually dead center of the tandems.

 

Regular van freight. For the longest time I never had more than 20k probably close to a year running all light loads 7-14k. Had the 5th wheel about 8in back of center. Now I've been running a lot of 40-44k loads and moved it back to center. You're right about not getting it to scale when the it's back