Bed clearance with 3rd Gen 4x4

[dzldpatriot]

I'm sure there's info buried in TDR somewhere on this, I've spent the past 2 hours reading similiar threads... . wired on coffee Oo.

I spent yesterday looking at a new 3500 drw 4wd & 2wd. TDR member Kirwin can vouch for that :-laf He probably spent more time talking trucks with me than he did working Those that tow a 5er with a 3rd Gen 4wd, what is your bed clearance? Is 4-6" ok? I don't do any off road with our 5er. As I told the dealer, before I sign on the dotted line, I want to back the new truck under the camper and take a look if I'm gonna go with 4wd. Not sure if my axles are under or over the springs... gotta go look.

Any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance.

Glen

 

[macdaddy]

DZ

The 4X4's are always going to be an issue with a 5er. I'm 6'5" and the tailgate on my 05 hits me center of my chest . I currently pull TT and would like to go to a 5er but I don't feel like lowering the rear end of the truck or flipping the axel's. If your not going to use the truck off road go with the 2WD.



Mac

 

[DHodgkins]

I pull a 30' 5er with my 05 4x4 and have no problems. The truck sags about 5" when the RV is attached and is level. My axles are not flipped, wouldn't recommend that in any case. Flipped axles make for high access to the 5er and unstable turns.

 

[Slow Six]

I am towing with a 03 dually 4X4 with approximately 5" of clearance. So far no problems but you have to be careful. Also these trucks settle a long way when there is weight put on them as there is a lot of spring travel before the overload springs come into play. I have about 2800 lbs. pin weight and once I am hooked up the trailer is close to level. I have used this set up for 2 years and been in a lot of different situations and so far I am satisfied with it. I really like the quiet and ride, the cab and the way this truck handles the trailer. I would say get the truck and enjoy.

 

[mbadger]

I pull a 5th wheel trailer and before that a bumper pull and have had 3 4x4 pickups. A 3/4 ton Ford and then a 3/4 ton Dodge and now the toner. I have never had a problem. I don't go off road either, but we do get snow and getting out to play would be a a challenge. Having the 4x4 helps in town also when it piles up. I hope to go South for the Winter in a few years want to see all I can which might include some bad back roads. I have a 5th Wheel tail gate and don't have to get out to hook up.

I like having to option of the 4x4.

 

[klenger]

Two comments:



1) The back end of a 3rd gen truck can be lowered about 2" at the tailgate by removing (or restacking) the rear axle spacers. Many of us have done this with no problems. See http://www.klenger.net/dodge/lowering-rear-end/slide01.html for additional info.



2) The 3rd gens seem to have softer springs than the 2nd gens, and therefore settle more with a load, which helps with 5er clearance.



I have about 8" of clearance with mine. 6" might work, 4" and you will see damage.

 

[LEPage]

I pull a 30' 5er with my 05 4x4 and have no problems. The truck sags about 5" when the RV is attached and is level. My axles are not flipped, wouldn't recommend that in any case. Flipped axles make for high access to the 5er and unstable turns.

5"? What are you towing? I pull a Travel Supreme w/ gvw over 18k, & nearly 4k hitch wieght and mine dosen't drop nearly that much.

 

[Jay]

I also removed the spacers which lowered the backend about 1. 5". I've not had any problems related to removing the spacers and have 6"+ clearance.

 

[Neibe]

Buy a Jayco they have an adjustable J-Plate they call it I got mine all the way up. I got 8" clearance I'm even going to go with a taller tire to get my rpm's down on the highway.

 

[RMcCulloch]

As klenger said, the rear springs "give" when the 5er pin weight is added.



As to clearance, I usually have my hitch air pressure adjusted to supply ~6" clearance when sitting level so as to allow for side-to-side rocking as well as fore-and-aft pitching.



FWIW, "conventional wisdom" (all the local "experts" agreed) called for a 2WD but, wisely, I ordered mine 4WD and have been extremely glad that I did. [Little did I know, then, that wet grass could require a DRW to use 4WD when pulling a 7-ton trailer!]

 

[klenger]

If I could order over again, I would order a 2WD. I got the 4WD on the chance that I might move back to CO. I have never used 4WD in AZ in the 16 months that I have owned it.

 

[CLAYTON]

I have a 4x4 03 and tow a 31ft 5th wheel with no clearence issues. I even have 315's for tires. I hate it when my truck sags so I put some airbags on there to bring it to level. My 5th wheel came with a spring over. This truck has been nothing but a joy to tow with. #ad

 

[JPudenz]

03 Dually pulling a 39' 5er

I have an 03 and pull a 39' 5er without issue. I have 5-6" of bed clearence without flipped axles or modified truck suspension, well I have Bilstein's but that doesn't change ride height. My Hitch weight is probably in the neighborhood of 2600lbs and when I hook the truck drops down a good 4 inches.



In my opinion if you plan to use the trailer a lot and can not get the correct amount of clearence drop the truck. if the trailer is an occasional thing flip the axles...



JJ

 

[BGlidewell]

Maybe I'm slow but I'm a bit confused about the term "clearance" being used here :{



"Whats your clearance Clarence?" :-laf



The clearance issue I see specific to a 4x4 are the hight of the bed rails relative to the nose of the trailer nd the ability to match the pin hight to the 5W. This clearance is controlled by the low-point of the pin box of the trailer and the hight of the hitch in the bed of the truck, not the springs in the truck



When I hitch my trailer, I am at the upper limit of the landing gear and I have just enough room to hit the lip of the 5th wheel hitch. With the hitch engaged and the trailer off the landing gear, my truck sits a bit less than level and I put about 50PSI in the airbags to bring it back up. This does nothing to change the clearance of the bed rails to the trailer nose however. If I needed more clearance here, I would have to adjust the hight of the 5W and/or the pin-box.

 

[CLAYTON]

I don't know if it's the nose of the trailer that they are worried about. It's the corners of the bed rails that might have 2 inches of clearance and at the nose of the 5th wheel could have 5-6 inches of clearence. I understand what you are saying about the adjustments of the kingpin and the hitch in the bed. There are definitly ways to optimize that. Some people with that maxed out still have clearence issuses. Doing a spring over on the 5th wheel or lowering the back of the truck would give you more clearance at the corners of the bed. Also it would help the 5th wheel sit more level. IMO