4th gen old gooseneck

[ewcmr2]

Hey, long time no post!
So… my 12v/g56 is getting old and more relevant, I’ve moved to a property where I need 4x4.
My ‘97 and 2000 36’ enclosed gooseneck trailer are a great match. Looking at 4th gen 4x4 trucks they appear to sit much higher. Sitting level my GN is 59” above the ground over the top of truck bed rails.
I’m worried new truck would mean trailer would have to be jacked up at the front to clear newer truck bed. Unloaded, how high are 4th gen 4x4 dually bed rails? Hight with 3000lbs pin weight?
Advise I don’t know I need to ask?

Thanks!

 

[ewcmr2]

After much internet digging I found https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-commercial/body-builders-guide.html
Which has bed height specs. 4th gen 4x4 dually bed rail/tailgate height is 58.x inches. Just an inch lower than my gooseneck sitting level.

Anyone with a 4th gen 4x4 dually know how high theirs sits with 3000ish pounds in bed/on hitch?

I’m not going to raise front of trailer 5”, but if truck squats 4” I’d raise trailer an inch or two…

 

[HookMeUp]

Mine with 3200lb pin weight will squat about 2".

 

[ewcmr2]

Mine with 3200lb pin weight will squat about 2".

Thanks.
Maybe if I go with a ‘15+ with airbags I can remove springs to get more sag and have the air for when I need to carry really heavy load.
How much sag does it take to level out a 4th gen?

 

[BigPapa]

Is your coupler not adjustable for height or is it already maxed out?

 

[ewcmr2]

Is your coupler not adjustable for height or is it already maxed out?

I can adjust hitch, but don’t want trailer going down the road at a big nose up angle.

 

[BigPapa]

Not talking about adjusting your hitch, talking about the coupler on the trailer.

 

[SnoKing]

Where oh where is Ron to say buy the 3500 rear air and run alt height?

 

[AH64ID]

Thanks.
Maybe if I go with a ‘15+ with airbags I can remove springs to get more sag and have the air for when I need to carry really heavy load.
How much sag does it take to level out a 4th gen?

Sounds like a horrible idea. The springs on an air-level are needed to combat axle wrap and maintain driveability.

That being said, the auto-level truck will ride lower and maintain a constant ride height.

 

[NIsaacs]

Not talking about adjusting your hitch, talking about the coupler on the trailer.View attachment 136640

I think his issue is the horizontal beams on the gooseneck are too close to the top of his bed rails when the trailer is level. I have the same problem with one of my dumps and my new truck, it is too tall.

 

[BigPapa]

Got it. The trailer needs to be taller here.

 

[ewcmr2]

Sounds like a horrible idea. The springs on an air-level are needed to combat axle wrap and maintain driveability. .

I wasn’t thinking about removing all the springs, just a leaf or two.

 

[AH64ID]

I wasn’t thinking about removing all the springs, just a leaf or two.

First it won’t effect the ride height, and second there are only two leaves that are used in normal ride height.

As I said, horrible idea.


An auto-level DRW will have a tailgate height of ~56.3” in alternate ride height. So an auto-level truck and a 2” lift on the trailer would work well together.

Just note that auto-level trucks need some payload to get to alternate ride height. They say 500lbs, but I’ve seen it take as much as 750lbs.

 

[ewcmr2]

I think his issue is the horizontal beams on the gooseneck are too close to the top of his bed rails when the trailer is level.

Exactly, except I haven’t bought new truck yet, if I can’t get 4th gen bed down low enough for clearance to trailer it’s not happening.
I can adjust gooseneck coupler to get clearance but wouldn’t want to go down the road with no load on front axle, normal load on middle axle, and overloaded rear axle.

 

[NIsaacs]

Exactly, except I haven’t bought new truck yet, if I can’t get 4th gen bed down low enough for clearance to trailer it’s not happening.
I can adjust gooseneck coupler to get clearance but wouldn’t want to go down the road with no load on front axle, normal load on middle axle, and overloaded rear axle.

What about bed delete, then add flatbed or go cab chassis.

 

[TMyers]

My 5th wheel camper was nose high on my 4th gen. I added 1.5" blocks on top of the axles and used longer "U" bolts. I've seen several campers with custom rails welded to the frames and the spring shackles moved down. It's an expensive fix verses the $80 I spent.

 

[NIsaacs]

Unloaded, how high are 4th gen 4x4 dually bed rails? Hight with 3000lbs pin weight?
Advise I don’t know I need to ask?

Thanks!

This guys '15 is 55" loaded or empty.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/new-truck-2500-or-3500.273501/page-2#post-2710453

 

[AH64ID]

This guys '15 is 55" loaded or empty.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/new-truck-2500-or-3500.273501/page-2#post-2710453

Which is lower than the published height of 56.9” normal and 55.9” alternate. Difference could be how it’s measured, tire squish with a load, etc.

He also claims no payload required to stay at alternate ride height, which is different that every other auto-level truck I’ve been around.

Not say he is wrong, just pointing out his claims don’t match the multiple auto-level trucks I’ve owned or been around.

 

[Cummins12V98]

6,000# pushing down in this pic. This is ALT ride mode with factory rear air. Truck stance is the same loaded or not, love the factory rear air.

Top rear bed height is 55" with or without a load.

 

[Cummins12V98]

AH64ID said: "Difference could be how it’s measured, tire squish with a load, etc."

30psi rear tires unloaded and 65 loaded. Top rear corner bed is 55" to ground on LEVEL ground. I am a Journeyman Carpenter/ Construction Superintendent with 35 years Commercial Construction experience and a highly picky Mo-Fo when it comes to measurements.

So YES 55" is the number on MY truck. If I could post a video I would.