3500 Dually bed height

[sdriv]

Well after all you guys put me at ease about switching over to the Dodge my truck arrived this morning. My question now is have any of you had any problems with your fifth wheels being that you need a ladder to get into the bed of these things. I was shocked, the top of the bed is at least 6"-7" taller than my Ford. I know it will squat a bit when I hook up but I am thinking that my coach is going to be pitched backward too much. I see that there are 3- 1/2" shims on each spring pack. Has anyone removed these to lower the bed a bit?

 

[GaryCarter]

They are tall. On our last fifth wheel I moved the trailer axles from over the springs to under the springs and raised the trailer about 5-6".

 

[SearsK]

I moved them to the top of the axle, works fine.

 

[sdriv]

Yeah mine are already on top so there is no where to go from there. I haven't got the hitch installed yet but I was just curious if anyone ran into a problem.

 

[stick]

Haven't had a bit of trouble with my truck and fifth wheel, and the axles aren't flipped. Get a AMP Research bed step, and you won't need a ladder.



Stick

 

[ktimmer]

I have a brand new AMP bed step that I had on my 2011 3500 2 weeks and need to sell it. Bought it from Geno's before I put my Torklift tie downs for my Lance camper. The amp bed step will not work with these and they mount in the same place. If you are interested send my a pm. Stick is correct, they are great. 1/2 price plus shipping



ktimmer

 

[SearsK]

Any way the bed step will work on the side of the truck instead of at the bumper? Would help getting to the 5W hitch release.

 

[crispyboy]

SDRIV,
I would modify the springs of the truck before I would change the height of your fifth wheel. A higher trailer height is more susceptible to winds, higher center of gravity and makes it tougher for your to get in and out of your fifth wheel.

I had the spacers taken out my 2500. The truck sits much more level now. The one thing that I really dislike about the Dodge is how high they sit. My truck is not a toy, it is a vehicle used for daily driving and towing a trailer.

 

[SearsK]

Any way the bed step will work on the side of the truck instead of at the bumper? Would help getting to the 5W hitch release.

Talked to Amp Research today, guess what, they are coming out with a step for the side of the truck, probably around Sept.

 

[sdriv]

yeah I'm thinking that taking the spacers out is the route to take. It looks like that will lower it about 1-1/2", but I think I will need new u-bolts if I want to do it.

 

[crispyboy]

I was lazy and had a shop do the work. They installed new u-bolts and handed me the spacers. I believe there is also some studs or bolts that hold the leafs together that you will have to deal with.

Remember to re-adjust your headlights.

The shop also mentioned that if the driveshaft had a center carrier bearing that it would also need to be shimmed to keep the correct angles on the driveshaft. I have a short bed truck so this was not an issue.