Fifth Wheel/Truck Mating

[wgordon]

I have purchased a fifth wheel that exceeds the capacity of my 2006 Laramie. So I'm looking at a new one. My problem is that there has been discussion on the RV owners group concerning the height of late model trucks causing interference between the bed rails of the truck and the pin box/leading edge of the rv. Have you ever heard of such a thing? If so, what is the solution?

Thanks for any light you may shed on this.

walt gordon

 

[GAmes]

Don't be concerned unless you plan on a lift and big tires. 5th wheels are hooked to late model pickups every day without issues. RV forums are full of chicken littles and false info.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Tell us what your RV is.

 

[mwilson]

You do want as much clearance as possible to keep the bed from contacting the underbelly when trailer is tipped up or when going over a raised surface like a set of railroad tracks. i like to see a minimum of 4" between the top on the bed and the underside of the trailer, 6" is even better when setting up the hitch on level ground.

Look under the front of used fivers, you will see the evidence of contact on some of them.

 

[RustyJC]

Mike, the hitch manufacturers generally want 6" minimum between the 5ver overhang and truck bed rails with more clearance (8" or more) if you're going off-road. As one who has hit the truck's bed rails with a 5th wheel way back in 1996 coming off of I-75 into a fuel station, I wouldn't tow with less than 6"

Our MS was ordered with 2" risers (rectangular box section tubing) installed between the frame and the MorRyde independent suspension in anticipation of being towed by a newer 4WD dually - this is a factory option from DRV Suites. It's overkill on our 2WD dually, but I do have a ton of bed rail clearance.

Rusty

 

[mwilson]

I've got 6" on mine and I still crawl over the elevated rail road crossing on my road. If the truck bounced while going over it I would tap the underbelly with the rear of the pick-up bed.

I should have stated 6" as the minimum.

And it happens quick.....

 

[wgordon]

@Cummins...Mobile Suite 39DBRS3 GCW 21,000 lbs.

@Rusty...I just looked at my Morryde IS installation and compared it to their install instruction on their web site. It looks like I have 2" box tubing perpendicular to the frame along with some flat steel under that to which the Morryde is welded. May be the risers to which you refer.

 

[RustyJC]

It sounds like a possibility. The standard 15" DRV frame for the MS and ES is 2"x6" (bottom rail), 2"x6" (middle rail) and 2"x3" (top rail). The riser is a 2"x2" section welded below the bottom 2"x6" rail and running longitudinally along the bottom of the frame. If you have the 2"x2" box tubing between your bottom frame rail and the suspension, you have the 2" riser I referred to.

The GVWR on my 2014.5 38RSSA is 19K - weight as shipped was 15,850. The Elite Suites 38RSSA is the same 5th wheel with more foo-foo (no changes to frame, running gear or wheels/tires) and has a 21K GVWR. Maybe that's why my TrailAir tri-glide pin box is rated for 21K. Over on the DRV owners' forum, individuals have asked DRV what the differences are that result in the change in the GVWR - the answer was the label.

Rusty

 

[Cummins12V98]

Rolling Retreats and DRV convinced me I do not need the 2" riser with the MorRyde. They measures one of their rigs sitting on a level shop floor and from floor to bottom frame is 22.5". My MS is 20.5" with the CenterPoint suspension. My MS rides nose high now so the new 39TKSB3 and new RAM 4X4 with air ride should have at least 6" bed clearance and ride level.

The 2" tubing MorRyde is referring to are the ones that run perpendicular to the frame that tie the suspension together.

 

[rynosback]

Mike, the hitch manufacturers generally want 6" minimum between the 5ver overhang and truck bed rails with more clearance (8" or more) if you're going off-road. As one who has hit the truck's bed rails with a 5th wheel way back in 1996 coming off of I-75 into a fuel station, I wouldn't tow with less than 6"

Our MS was ordered with 2" risers (rectangular box section tubing) installed between the frame and the MorRyde independent suspension in anticipation of being towed by a newer 4WD dually - this is a factory option from DRV Suites. It's overkill on our 2WD dually, but I do have a ton of bed rail clearance.

Rusty

Rusty, I ordered my 2015 DRV with the 2" risers and ordered a 2015 Ram 3500 4x2 also. I would rather have 8 inches of room.

Rolling Retreats and DRV convinced me I do not need the 2" riser with the MorRyde. They measures one of their rigs sitting on a level shop floor and from floor to bottom frame is 22.5". My MS is 20.5" with the CenterPoint suspension. My MS rides nose high now so the new 39TKSB3 and new RAM 4X4 with air ride should have at least 6" bed clearance and ride level.

The 2" tubing MorRyde is referring to are the ones that run perpendicular to the frame that tie the suspension together.

You can attest to my threads on the DRV forum about this very subject. It is not rocket science, but NONE of the manufactures, did I say NONE of them really know for sure. I mean DRV has no hard specs on the measurements of there 5vers. Ram does on rambuilder.com. And by those specs and what DRV has told me, I would need 7" risers to have about 6" of clearance. I plan on taking lots of pics and measurements to help out the next person from all of the BS. Rant over.

 

[rynosback]

It sounds like a possibility. The standard 15" DRV frame for the MS and ES is 2"x6" (bottom rail), 2"x6" (middle rail) and 2"x3" (top rail). The riser is a 2"x2" section welded below the bottom 2"x6" rail and running longitudinally along the bottom of the frame. If you have the 2"x2" box tubing between your bottom frame rail and the suspension, you have the 2" riser I referred to.

The GVWR on my 2014.5 38RSSA is 19K - weight as shipped was 15,850. The Elite Suites 38RSSA is the same 5th wheel with more foo-foo (no changes to frame, running gear or wheels/tires) and has a 21K GVWR. Maybe that's why my TrailAir tri-glide pin box is rated for 21K. Over on the DRV owners' forum, individuals have asked DRV what the differences are that result in the change in the GVWR - the answer was the label.

Rusty

Rusty, your killing me. Your bringing up all the hot button issues that I have. We should be able to carry more in the MS over the Elite.

 

[NIsaacs]

Rusty, I ordered my 2015 DRV with the 2" risers and ordered a 2015 Ram 3500 4x2 also. I would rather have 8 inches of room.

You probably know this already but....don't forget the 3500 4x2 is as tall as the 4x4 now.

Nick

 

[Cummins12V98]

Rusty, your killing me. Your bringing up all the hot button issues that I have. We should be able to carry more in the MS over the Elite.

Haul what you want! Load it up, my wife does. 20K on our 36SB3. So the 39TKSB3 will be at least 21K. Tires are no problem now that they went to the GY H tires. Lots of capacity there.

 

[RVTRKN]

@Cummins...Mobile Suite 39DBRS3 GCW 21,000 lbs.

@Rusty...I just looked at my Morryde IS installation and compared it to their install instruction on their web site. It looks like I have 2" box tubing perpendicular to the frame along with some flat steel under that to which the Morryde is welded. May be the risers to which you refer.

I take it's weight is 21K, not 21K GCW (Gross Combined Weight), if it is GCVW that should be OK for a 2500 CTD as long as you keep it at dry weight (with tanks empty). But it seems like that make and model and length would be 21K GVWR.