Clearance

[RClark]

Are there any guidelines for the minimum clearance between the trailer and truckbed on a 5th wheel?

 

[GAmes]

From my experience 6 inches is the minimum, and even then a steep driveway could cause contact. I have a new dent in my bed rail from a trailer I delivered a couple weeks ago that was a little more than 6.

 

[K5IP]

RClak,
It depends on what you will do with our trailer. As someone who is often off road, I have just over 8 inches of clearance. Even then, I have a small ding in my bed rails.
When/if you ding the bed, a band aid fix, rail covers, are an option. Even so try to avoid such.
K5IP

 

[RClark]

I have about 7" at the back of the bed and more near the hitch. The trailer is not level when hooked up. The back is obviously down when viewed from the side. What could be the problems created towing in this condition?

 

[JDean]

When towing nose high, the rear trailer axel takes more of the load from the trailer's weight instead of being evenly divided as it would be for a level trailer. You cannot exceed the axel or tire weight ratings, so it's something to check. Also, when setting the truck's trailer brake controller, be careful you're not locking the brakes for the front axel which could cause flat spots on those tires.

 

[RustyJC]

Are there any guidelines for the minimum clearance between the trailer and truckbed on a 5th wheel?

The rule of thumb I've heard and used in 20 years of towing 5th wheels is 6" minimum, 8" preferred.

Rusty

 

[RClark]

Disk brakes, they all seem to work at once .

 

[RustyJC]

Do you have your integrated trailer brake controller set for electric-over-hydraulic trailer brakes? Light or heavy? If these settings are correct, turn down the gain if they're coming on too quickly and too hard.

Rusty

 

[JDean]

Disk brakes, they all seem to work at once .

True, but because the front axle is carrying less weight, the front brakes should lock up before the rear axle brakes so the truck's brake controller may have to be dialed back so that none of the wheels are locking up in a full stop (generally defined as racking the brake controller's lever over at 25 mph without applying any truck brakes). This means that a trailer towing level can be set up with more trailer braking than a trailer towing nose high; the difference will be additional load on the truck's brakes.

 

[GAmes]

The nose would have to be elevated quite a bit to take weight off the front axles. The articulation design is meant to keep the load on each axle relatively equal. An easy check would be to have each tire weight checked individually, but if you are only talking a few inches off level I don't see cause for concern.

 

[mbirch]

I would have to agree with those that recommend 8 inches clearance if you intend to get off the highway, I have 9 inches on my 5th wheel. Dodges have a tendency to sit pretty high and after making contact with the truck bed I bit the bullet and raised the trailer 6 inches. It now sits level when I tow and when I park for the night I don't have to unhook the trailer to level it.