Fifth Wheel Heights

[HPetrat]

I am looking for some suggestions/ideas/recommendations for lifting a fifth wheel trailer.

Currently have a 98 Qcab 12V 5spd 4X4 and tow an '05, 30ft - Jayco TT. The truck has a 5' lift and runs on 35" BFG's.



On the return from camping & skiing over the easter weekend we stopped at the dealer and they made us an unbelievable trade offer on an '07 fifth wheel (they made the offer as they are hungry for near new used units and our model is one in very high demand).



Now the problem, the box rails are 60" above the ground and the fifth is 55" under the over-hang. The trailer has adjustable cheek plates on the spring mounts and would yield 3" of lift and an axle flip would give another 4" inches, for a total of 62" to the bottom of the over-hang.



I believe the minimum clearance between the box and fifth is 6", for a total over-hang height on the fifth of 66".



Any comments (preferably positive :-laf ) and pictures of rigs in the similar situation would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks,



HP

 

[HPetrat]

No one with any experiance with doing this?



Could really use some input here guys.



HP

 

[RustyJC]

If the "jake plate" adjustment and an axle flip won't get you there, an extreme alternative is to build a 2"x6" rectangular steel subframe to which the suspension is mounted. In other words, the jake plates mount to this subframe, and the subframe is welded to the bottom of the original frame. This gets you a 6" lift before any other changes (i. e. , jake plate adjustment or axle flip. )



Obviously, this subframe has to be engineered (side-to-side crossmembers, etc. ) and installed correctly. There are trailer fabrication and/or heavy repair shops that are familiar with the process, however.



Rusty

 

[Larry Willard]

What Rusty said. A TDR member did this years ago and was very happy with it, he said it was the only way to do it, and RV repair was his business.

Larry

 

[RJOL]

Don't forget that your rear springs are going to compress several inches when you put the kingpin load on it. You may not have to raise the trailer as much as you think.

 

[CDonaldson]

I just did my 5er to accommodate a rail height of 58" on my truck. I left the springs under the axle and added an 8" piece of channel to my existing frame. My local welding shop has done many of these, they recommended I use a piece of channel with 24" forward of the first spring hanger and 24" reaward of the back spring hanger. So, I ended up with a piece of channel right at 10' in length per side. Used a vertical reinforcement of 3/8" x 2" flat steel at both ends and at all 3 spring hangers. I also put 2 gussets on both sides at the crossmembers fore and aft of the axles. Stitch welded both inner and outer sides of the existing frame to the new channel, also the reinforcements and gussets. The job turned out real nice. I also added a new entry step, the old one was a single step, the new one is a double step. Total materials cost was right at $250, the welding was free, did it myself. Since I have the Firestone air bags, the load on the hitch is not much of a factor as far as spring/bed travel. I now have right at 6" of bed rail clearance. Hope that info helps.



CD

 

[HPetrat]

Thanks for the replies,



I spoke to some local RV dealers and they too made the same suggestions, but did not really know for sure as they don't do this themselves.



I have all the tools and abilities to do the job myself, just don't have the time as much as I used to.



Better go see the dealer about that trade



Again, thanks for the comments,



HP

 

[pwr2tow]

I did the axle flip thingy on a previous 5th wheel. I've seen a few done this way as well. They all look silly, look like their on stilts. Talk about a pain in the ... to climb up into. Better make yourself a portable step to carry along as your going to need it to get to the first step on your 5th wheel. Even if it's no biggy for you, there are other people that will inhabit your camper. They sometimes can be a bigger pain in the ... complaining all the time about how hard it is to get into your camper. That can lead to:-{} . Which can lead to either :{ or , depends on your peticular situation. :-laf

 

[E2360]

Do not forget to figure on what the total Height of the trailer will be once additional framing and axel flips are added. Trailers seem to be growing taller and with the added lift height you may end up with an overall height that may restrict some of your routes and will for sure add to problems many campgrounds have with low branches.

 

[RogerO]

I have a 96 4x4 and had the same problem just went to the local drop shop and had the truck lowered all around no diff in ride or handling at the time I had a 19 ft fiver and now pull an 32 ft and all works well . . of course have a little more power added.