Correct set up of 5th wheel hitch

Anything less than 5" is too close. Six to 8" is excellent.

N-Trouble wrote:
Getting 6" of bedrail clearance AND getting trailer level with many of the newer (taller) trucks is **** near impossible unless you raise the trailer. MANY struggle with this. My 5er is in the shop as we speak getting the axles flipped.

Yep. I've got a pair of the Dexter axle flip kits sitting in my shop ready to be installed when I finally get an open weekend to do the install. With my hitch at its lowest setting I have both inadequate bed rail clearance and I'm dragging the back end badly and the only fix is to lift the trailer.

I think I leveled up at close to 8 in. It seemed like a lot to me after flipping the axles and adding 16 inch tires but when I get in a bad place and have to back it into a field or other rough area it still gets close. I call my old FW the off road series after raising it. It always seems a little too tall but it's great for boondocking or even crawling under it.

Getting 6" of bedrail clearance AND getting trailer level with many of the newer (taller) trucks is **** near impossible unless you raise the trailer. MANY struggle with this. My 5er is in the shop as we speak getting the axles flipped.

First you want your trailer to be level when hooked up, but you also want a minimum of 5" clearance between the bottom of your trailer and your trucks sides. We have 6 1/2" , and I'm glad we have it.

You want is to have at least 6" clearance between the top of the bed rails and the bottom of the 5er overhang after hooking up. If less than 6" then raise the hitch head until you get that clearance.