5th wheel pin box/bed rail clearance issue

[rynosback]

This was a HUGE debate when ordering my DRV. I ordered it with 2 inch risers as better to have to much clearance then not enough.

 

[IndyDan]

Rambox

This was a HUGE debate when ordering my DRV. I ordered it with 2 inch risers as better to have to much clearance then not enough.

I understand your concern....... Ordering something that costs a lot of money with no turning back is a little spooky.

The problem I had was I REALLY wanted the new Ram 1500 as soon as I heard it had a diesel. ( With Rambox I just had to have ) this is where things are getting a little tricky.

The truck was delivery to the dealer today 4/20/2015

And the big problem is my camper its a 28RKBS Wildcat by Forest River and it has a long pin box and the pin box is so long it will hit the Ram Box with a short turn.

So now the trick will be to get the pin box short enough to keep the pivot within the Rambox and still keep the camper far enough away from the truck window.

I did order the Long box which is still only 6'4"........... I have the B&W turn over hitch, and the Anderson ultimate aluminum hitch to go on top of the turn over that has 4.5 inch offset to the rear.

I scheduled to be at MORryde 5/11/2015 for the full independent suspension with disk brakes and I am praying they can build me a pin box site on seem.

It's fun but I am a little nervous !!

My 3500 Ram Long box measures 60 inches form the center of the pin to the rear bumper edge.

The new 1500 measures 50 inches

So that means the box on the 1500 should be about 8 inches shorter from the pin to front of the box.

All I can say is.......... It's a start.

 

[rynosback]

I understand your concern....... Ordering something that costs a lot of money with no turning back is a little spooky.

The problem I had was I REALLY wanted the new Ram 1500 as soon as I heard it had a diesel. ( With Rambox I just had to have ) this is where things are getting a little tricky.

The truck was delivery to the dealer today 4/20/2015

And the big problem is my camper its a 28RKBS Wildcat by Forest River and it has a long pin box and the pin box is so long it will hit the Ram Box with a short turn.

So now the trick will be to get the pin box short enough to keep the pivot within the Rambox and still keep the camper far enough away from the truck window.

I did order the Long box which is still only 6'4"........... I have the B&W turn over hitch, and the Anderson ultimate aluminum hitch to go on top of the turn over that has 4.5 inch offset to the rear.

I scheduled to be at MORryde 5/11/2015 for the full independent suspension with disk brakes and I am praying they can build me a pin box site on seem.

It's fun but I am a little nervous !!

My 3500 Ram Long box measures 60 inches form the center of the pin to the rear bumper edge.

The new 1500 measures 50 inches

So that means the box on the 1500 should be about 8 inches shorter from the pin to front of the box.

All I can say is.......... It's a start.

I was not worried about the length as I have an 8 foot bed. The debate was on bed rail clearance. By everyone specs I needed to add 7 inch risers. So i know something was OFF. I mean it is not rocket science. So I ordered with two inches of rise. Better to have to much clearance then not enough. It will just insure that I have better clearance for dips in the road.

 

[IndyDan]

I was not worried about the length as I have an 8 foot bed. The debate was on bed rail clearance. By everyone specs I needed to add 7 inch risers. So i know something was OFF. I mean it is not rocket science. So I ordered with two inches of rise. Better to have to much clearance then not enough. It will just insure that I have better clearance for dips in the road.

I had the same problem with my last 2 campers when hooked to my 04 3500, The truck is so damn high that by the time I got the pin box set right I had to remove the axles and add frame spacers to get the camper higher to get the pin weight right.

There was a day when I like the trucks up high but now it's a pain in the butt most of the time.

 

[RustyJC]

I had the same problem with my last 2 campers when hooked to my 04 3500, The truck is so damn high that by the time I got the pin box set right I had to remove the axles and add frame spacers to get the camper higher to get the pin weight right.

There was a day when I like the trucks up high but now it's a pain in the butt most of the time.

One of the advantages of my 2WD dually - it sits substantially lower than the equivalent 4WD truck. One reason I'm not actively looking at the newer Rams 2WD duallies is (1.) they went back to a solid front axle and (2.) the 2WD trucks are now as tall as the 4WD trucks.

Rusty

 

[SnoKing]

Is it the pin box that hits the side rail or the plates hanging down out of the front of the 5th wheel like most others with this issue? GOT A SAWSALL??

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[IndyDan]

One of the advantages of my 2WD dually - it sits substantially lower than the equivalent 4WD truck. One reason I'm not actively looking at the newer Rams 2WD duallies is (1.) they went back to a solid front axle and (2.) the 2WD trucks are now as tall as the 4WD trucks.

Rusty

I know exactly what your saying Rusty and I agree ......... A high truck makes things complex

Snoking , my hitch will be installed Friday hopefully and then I will know for sure.

I need to re mount my pin box higher in camper mount so the camper gets a little lower then there will be more to cut.

The Rambox makes this much more complex.......

At this point I can only guess at where it's going to hit, but it just doesn't look like it will work without adjustment.

 

[IndyDan]

I

Is it the pin box that hits the side rail or the plates hanging down out of the front of the 5th wheel like most others with this issue? GOT A SAWSALL??

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Snoking - I took your advice and did some cutting and it got better, but I ended up building a new temporary pin box until I get my new slider hitch installed.
I think I can go 5 inches shorter once the hitch is in.

 

[IndyDan]

Here it is hooked up with the tempary pin box

 

[ILIANBG]

View attachment 91657


Here it is hooked up with the tempary pin box

I didn't know the 1500 can tow such a big trailer. Isn't the truck overloaded? I like the new trucks a lot. I think yhe Ecodiesel is a great half ton truck.