Miscalculation

[hclark]

I have a Prowler 27. 5 that I pulled with my 97 2500 2wd Cummins

I just traded for a 2003 4wd 3500 48re.



I saved my hitch out of the 97 and a shop in Tacoma will mount with out drilling the frame on the new truck.



The height difference between the 97 and 2003 is significant. I am concerned there will not be enough clearance between the top of the bed rails and the 5th wheel over hang.



Any modification ideas?



Thanks

 

[klenger]

Dodge has a TSB to lower the back end of the 2nd gen 4wd trucks for towing a 5er. I had the TSB done to my truck under warranty. It dropped the truck 1 7/8" at the rear axle. I don't know if Dodge has an equivalent TSB for the 03's.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

We had the same problem when we went from the '91 to the '02 with the camper/trailer tow package - the new truck is considerably taller than the old one - not quite as bad as a 4x4, but almost...



Our trailer is an older '88 5th wheel, with the springs mounted BELOW the axles. The common "cure" for the height problem in this situation, is to re-mount the trailer springs ABOVE the axles, gaining about 5 inches in overall height.



Since our rig really needed the entire braking system overhauled anyway, it was easir/cheaper in our case to simply buy 2 complete NEW axle/wheel assemblies from Southwest Wheel, and install them below the axles as suggested above - it worked out GREAT - the trailer sits higher, but level - and I have even better bed-to-trailer clearance than I did with the old truck - and NO worries when going over irregular surfaces...



If your trailer springs are already above the axles, you're stuck in that regard, unless you want to install spacers between axles and springs to increase trailer height...

 

[hclark]

Thanks for the help gentlemen. I think I will try to get the 5th wheel up.

 

[CFarlow]

I'm with Gary on this one, get your axles "flipped" and your whole rig will be level and ya don't have to worry about pinching your truck bed on the overhang on your fiver either. I haven't noticed any stability issues with ours, its always towed very well.



Chuck

 

[Wally]

same here went from 93 2wd to 97 4x4 and bed of truck was 8 in taller. . so I removed rear spring pads and removed 1. 5 inches of material dropped rear bumper about 3 inches also installed a axle flip kit from DEXTER axle to put axle under spring trailer looks tall but sits level and no worries about hitting bed the dexter kit was only about 22 per axle and require no welding pretty good set-up

 

[hclark]

Thanks again. I think I will try to lower the trailer first... Ill post how it goes.....