5th Wheel bed damage

[Kingram]

I've searched the forums and didn't find an answer or advice on this. Currently we have a 26' travel trailer. We've been thinking of "upgrading" and are considering a 5th wheel. My problem or question is, what is the likelyhood of damaging the bed rails/tailgate? My thoughts is if I have an extreme grade change such as the crest of a hill, with the truck heading down hill and the camper still up hill, can the camper body come down and hit the bed rails or tailgate??



I had to drop the gooseneck on my trailer to give me more clearance. Can this be done on a 5th wheel? I really don't like carrying the front so high anyway.



My main problem is coming off of the road into my driveway. It is a fairly steep break downhill after a short uphill climb from the road. Add this to the 90 degree turn into the driveway and I'm afraid of damage.



Anyone in the campgrounds with Dodge's that I've ask this to look at me like I'm crazy!! Am I???



Thank you,



Chris

 

[klenger]

Your sig doesn't say if you have a short box or long box. In either case, a slider hitch helps with this problem because the pivot point is closer to the tail gate when slid back. Selecting a 5er with good clearance helps a bunch. I had the TSB to lower the back end of my truck, and it added about 2" additional clearance.

 

[Bob Cochran]

klenger ~ lot of things can be done to give enough clearance. Pin box can be raised and lowered as can the 5th wheel hitch. Springs on trailer changed raising it or as Kingram said the truck lowered by 2". The real trick is give enough clearance and still keep the trailer level so it tows well. Hard to say without seeing your specific situation.



Your situation could be unsolvable I don't know. Myself I have yet to hit going in or out of anyplace with my 32' Keystone. I have not changed springs on trailer or lowered truck.



Wish I could help more. :{

 

[rweis]

I have a 2002 3500 auto with helper springs, 20k hitch which tilts front to back and side to side. I have taken it in to some pretty angled places and the 5er just does its thing. I have not seen it get closer than about 3 inches to the box sides. I adjusted mine to tow as level as possible and have my bed hitch all the way down.



When I load the 5er onto the hitch, the helper springs just start to contact. The bed probably lowers about 2 inches from empty.



The only other thing I can suggest is to read the threads on hitch mounting and make sure who ever installs it REALLY knows what they are doing.



Bob Weis

 

[MABurns]

A point to consider is also the length of the fifth wheel (actually the distance from the trucks rear wheels to the trailer's front axle). I pulled a 24 ft fifth wheel and never had contact with the truck. I then bought a longer model (34 ft), with almost identical clearance, and I have hit the bed rails in locations (campgrounds and driveway) that previously it never made contact. I assume it is because of what you discribed. The truck's departure angles prior to the trailer going over the same terrain (and in a longer trailer I guess that would take longer).

 

[RustyJC]

Lesson learned the hard way - many years ago our first 5ver was delivered from the RV dealer with only about 2" clearance between the bed rails and the bottom of the 5ver overhang. $650 in body work later , we found that 6" clearance is the absolute minimum and 8"-9" is preferred. Even then, take it slow and easy and watch the rear view mirror on those abrupt grade changes taken while turning.



Rusty

 

[Jay]

I have not had a problem and agree that you want a mininum of 6" clearence at the bed rails.

 

[Kingram]

Thanks

OK,



Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice.



I appreciate it all!!



I do have a short box and suppose I'll have to have a slider. I do have about 8" clearance on my gooseneck and that is enough for my situations I think. If I can get that much on the 5ver, I'll be happy. Most 5ver's I've seen seem to sit right down on the bed, so I didn't know I could raise it that much.



Has anyone used one of those automatic sliding hitches? I'd be curious as to how good they work.



Thank you all again.



Chris

 

[KMeek]

FWIW you are in an enviable position-you already have the truck and get to match up the trailer when you go to a fifth wheel and if the dealer or seller can not get you the clearance you need you can wait until you find a 5th wheel the fits better. Some of us already had a 5th wheel and only discoverred the problem after we bought the new truck and hooked up. In my instance I went from a 98 to a 2001. 5 and the newer truck was @ 3" taller at the tailgate which caused some understandable concerns. If my 5th wheel hit it would hit the rear corners of the box because that is where the clearance is needed. I had already flipped my 5th wheel axles so that option was gone. My solution to gather almost 2 additional inches was to buy taller trailer tires. It worked. I still don't have all the clearance I want but by being careful I have made it through one summer already with no problems.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I just purchased a 2003 Keystone Laredo. It had sufficient clearance right off the lot.

 

[Fireman]

It could happen !

Kingram,



It could happen. I had the same truck that you have now and it will probably be difficult to find a trailer that will pull level AND allow you to have plenty of clearence. As stated earlier take it easy and watch your trailer if you are in a situation where the trailer may come close to the truck. I could get the trailer nearly level and maintain 6" clearence, and that is marginal. I kissed the right bed rail once, but I wasn't paying close enough attention to what I was doing. In spite of all this you'll love pulling a 5th wheel

As for the automatic slider, that would be a "Superglide" made by Pullrite. They work great. They are expensive, but they are well engineered, well built, and come with customer service second to none. If I were to get another short bed I would buy another Superglide.



Fireman

 

[pwr2tow]

going into the campground we frequent often has the same situation you describe.



I had the camper dealer take the camper springs out from under the axle and install them on top of the axle (called flipping the axles), lower the pin box and no problems ever since. Camper rides level with 6 inches of clearance.



Ron

 

[John Berger]

My Montana came with plenty of clearance. I've never measured, but I would say right around 8-9 inches. I've had it in some pretty interesting turns in Chattanooga and the closest it ever came to touching the box was about 3 inches.



You will love towing a 5th wheel. The maneuverability is one of the first things that will stand out. Ease of coupling/de-coupling is a close second.

 

[magaliasram]

Scraped

I had the 5th wheel when I purchased the truck and I ended up flipping the axles. I have some pretty bad angles getting into my RV Pad and that is where I scraped the top of both bed rails by the tailgate. Since the axles have been flipped no problem except now I have a long step up to the first step on the 5th wheel.



I might take care of all the problems this March at the RV show in Sacramento. :--) "NEW 5TH WHEEL"

 

[Kingram]

Sliding hitch mount

This has been some very interesting and good information. I appreciate everyone taking the time to answer my questions and give some advice. I really do.



One final question.



If I go with the superglide hitch, how does it mount? I currently have the B&W turnover ball gooseneck hitch. It has two mounting plates that attach to the outside of the frame rails and then two cross members that tie into the hitch under the bed. Would these interfere with the superglide hitch mounting?



Thanks again all everyone!



Chris

 

[MMeier]

Kingram, since you have the turnoverball, why not go with the Companion 5'er hitch from B@W ? Leaning that way myself! I know it's not a slider but you do have 3 positions to situate the hitch!

 

[Kingram]

MMeier,



Well, I had thought of that also. Seems to be a good fit. I was just afraid I'd need a slider since I have a short box. What do you think?



Chris

 

[Fireman]

Kingram,



The superglide mounts shouldn't interfere with the B&W. (I'm not 100% on that, but reasonably sure) The superglide mounts attach directly to the frame. I've got a better idea, let me PM ypu.



Fireman

 

[RATTLINRAM]

Originally posted by Kingram

Well, I had thought of that also. Seems to be a good fit. I was just afraid I'd need a slider since I have a short box. What do you think?



Chris

Hey Chris,

I'm glad to see another fellow Virginian! I have towed two different 5ers with shortbeds and have not had a problem yet. I have an RBW non-sliding hitch that positions the kingpin about 2" behind the axle. The rig tows excellent and sits level. I have never had a problem making contact between the 5er and truck as long as I don't try to jack-knife the rig in too much of an angle while backing up. Forward turns lock to lock are no problem. I haven't measured the bedrail clearance, but I know it is well over 6".

#ad
#ad

 

[Kingram]

Well, bad news and more bad news

Well, called Pullrite. The bad news is, they say the SuperGlide won't mount up with my B&W installed. I'll have to remove that, patch the holes in the bed AND buy the Pullrite gooseneck adapter.



Going from my travel trailer to this 5th wheel is getting more and more expensive!!



First I take the big hit on selling a 2 year old trailer, now I have to scrap my B&W.



I can understand why Charlie Brown says "Arggggggggg" all the time.....



OK, one B&W turnover ball going on the classified!!



Chris