2015 F-250 and Silverado 2500 bed heights

I don't know about the GM but I have a 2013 F250 with the camper package (350 rear springs). I don't think the body has changed. I ordered mine with the stock 18" tires. My trailer sits level with lots of bed clearance. I have towed a Rockwood Ultralite and a Laredo without clearance issues.

If you do not really need a 4x4 then look at 4x2's. They sit considerably lower. I will not spend extra $$$'s to make a combo work. My Brothers same year and model 4x4 truck sits to high for my Montana with the spring already on top and 16" tires. Lots of folks had this same problem 10-15 years ago when manuf. changed stuff. If I remember right dealer were taking blocks out from under the rear springs. Sometimes at dealer/manuf. expense.

All the new trucks sit higher than they use to. Doesn't matter if its GM, Ford Or Ram your likely going to be towing front high. Height of trailer at the axles will make the biggest difference.

Wheel size on TV doesn't make that much of a difference. Maybe 1/2" at most. With taller rims you have lower sidewall height tires so overall tire height wont be much different between a 17" rim or 20" rim.

Buy the truck and trailer you like then deal with any uneven tow or bed rail clearance issues by adjusting trailer suspension, kingpin, and hitch height

To the OP, what you don't like big six cylinder engines?

C-Bears wrote:
I honestly don't think you can use a tape measure in a RV dealers lot and gain any useful information. How a FW sits on a leveling system, or just on front legs, when not hooked to a TV has little to do with how it will ride on a certain TV.

That is like measuring the height of a FW prior to hooking it up and calling that your tow height.

I wouldn't worry about it if your are shopping for a TV first. Get what you want. Pin boxes adjust, hitches adjust, and as a rare last resort most FW's can be raised or lowered.

Disagree. Measure the bed height of the truck and then with the 5th level measure the overhang on the 5th. Those numbers will determine whether or not the 5th will be level when it's towed. Yes you need to account for rear sag on the trucks rear, but that's easy. Plus if the buyer realizes that the 5th won't be level before purchase then he/she can decide at that point whether they want to raise the 5th or look for another one.

C-Bears wrote:
I honestly don't think you can use a tape measure in a RV dealers lot and gain any useful information. How a FW sits on a leveling system, or just on front legs, when not hooked to a TV has little to do with how it will ride on a certain TV.

That is like measuring the height of a FW prior to hooking it up and calling that your tow height.

I wouldn't worry about it if your are shopping for a TV first. Get what you want. Pin boxes adjust, hitches adjust, and as a rare last resort most FW's can be raised or lowered.

I disagree with this. It will allow you to be close!!If you have a bed height of 58" and the 5er sitting level measures 58" to the overhang, you are looking at some major adjustments.

I've had 5 different Ford trucks and one Dodge since I started pulling a 5th. As long as the truck stays stock I don't think you will have any problems at all. I have F250s, and F350s. All were fine. Right now I have a F350 DRW 4X4. Trailer plus perfectly level without adjusting a thing. One time I had to make adjustments to my hitch. Really no problem. When you buy the 5th hook up and if not level let the dealer make the adjustments for you.

I honestly don't think you can use a tape measure in a RV dealers lot and gain any useful information. How a FW sits on a leveling system, or just on front legs, when not hooked to a TV has little to do with how it will ride on a certain TV.

That is like measuring the height of a FW prior to hooking it up and calling that your tow height.

I wouldn't worry about it if your are shopping for a TV first. Get what you want. Pin boxes adjust, hitches adjust, and as a rare last resort most FW's can be raised or lowered.

DRV has an option to add a 2" rectangular steel spacer between the frame and suspension. Our Mobile Suites is equipped with this spacer above the MorRyde independent suspension. This option was made available to facilitate getting the needed 5th wheel to truck bed rail clearance because the newer 4x4 pickups and/or their bed rails seem to keep getting taller and taller (is it a "macho" thing or what??)

Ours has the 2" spacer although with our 4x2 truck, it's not really needed. The advantage for us is the ease of setting up the 5th wheel to tow level with LOTS of clearance between the 5th wheel and truck bed rails. The disadvantage is the 5th wheel is now 2" taller than stock.

Rusty

I can't seem to find the specs for GM 2015's, but my 2013 has a bed floor height of 37.7 inches and a bed depth of 21.0 inches for total of 58.7 inches. This is unloaded height and depending on actual pin weight vs. the truck's carrying capacity, the truck rear will drop 1 to 2 inches for a ride height of maybe 57 inches.

The problem is that the historical standard for king pin height from all fiver manufacturers is 46-48 inches. Then the nominal height of the pin box is around 12 inches, meaning the underside of the trailer is at 60 inches. This leaves a clearance of just 3 inches, totally inadequate.

It is ez to raise the hitch and/or lower the pin box a couple of notches to achieve 6 or more inches of clearance, but that makes the fiver nose high. Some owners just run with the fiver nose high. However, there are several popular solutions. Some fiver brands have spring hangers with extra holes for raising the fiver. Otherwise, a box steel subframe can be installed to lift the fiver. Or it may be possible to lower the truck by using shorter spacer blocks on the rear axle. Optional tires may just aggravate the problem.