Rail Height -4 x 4 Towing -5th Wheel

[Strutman]

For my previous 5th wheel with 15" tires I used a 2WD to tow, now I've purchased a 34' Montana 5th wheel with 16" tires, so

I am looking to order a new truck and would like to go 4X4.

I would like to order the new 3500 Single Rear wheel. Is rail height going to be a problem? I'm told the new generation body

style 2003 and 2004 have a lower side rail height by design.

I got stuck two times last camping season and a move to a 4X4

will of course help solve that problem. We have also been getting killed with snow in New Jersey the last two winters.

Thanks,

Lou Ucci

LUcci10440Aaol.com

 

[klenger]

This has been a concern of mine also. From what I can tell, the box height of the 3rd gens is about the same as the 2nd gens. I had a TSB done to my '01 to lower the back end by almost 2", but from what I can tell, DC does not have one for the 3rd gens. Measure trailer and truck carefully before deciding.



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/tsb-lower-rear-axle.html

 

[Slow Six]

I am pulling a Citation Supreme with my 03 dually. The hitch weight is about 2300 lbs. and the trailer has 16" tires. The back of the truck settles enough the both truck and trailer are level. The only problem I have is that there is only about 4" of clearance between the box rails and the trailer. I have to be careful to aviod contact on uneven ground.

 

[RMcCulloch]

Originally posted by Strutman

For my previous 5th wheel with 15" tires I used a 2WD to tow, now I've purchased a 34' Montana 5th wheel with 16" tires, so

I am looking to order a new truck and would like to go 4X4.

I would like to order the new 3500 Single Rear wheel. Is rail height going to be a problem? I'm told the new generation body

style 2003 and 2004 have a lower side rail height by design.

I got stuck two times last camping season and a move to a 4X4

will of course help solve that problem. We have also been getting killed with snow in New Jersey the last two winters.

Thanks,

Lou Ucci

LUcci10440Aaol.com

Lou,



My rig (see sig. ) rides fairly level with ~7" rail clearance.



Of course, the trailer axles had been "flipped" before I bought it.

 

[lynnbrown]

We pull a 295 Cougar with 16" wheels, same as a 2955 Montana with our 2003 srw 1 ton. When hooked up, bed rail clearence is 7". Truck and rv set level. It is a good combination.

Lynn

 

[TW1]

I pull a 33. 5' Avion 5th wheel with my '03 3500 4WD. The Avion has a hydrolastic suspension system that made it impossible to "flip the axles", so I had a local trailer/welding shop fabricate a 6" subframe that was bolted to the trailer frame, and the axles were attached to that. I never pulled the Avion without the subframe so I can't compare the handling difference, but have never had a problem in about 10,000 miles of pulling.

One huge advantage in this method is you increase the ground clearance of the trailer. It is nice to pull out of a gas station and not grind the asphalt with the rear of the rig. This is the second 5th wheel I have done this to. The former one was pulled with my 2000 2500 4WD. Although the 2003 looks lower, when I traded my 2000 off I parked them side by side and they were very close to the same as far as bed height.