Just returned from a 2500 mile trip to Shipshewana and back. Heavy rain, flooding, tornados, everywhere during the trip. But other than ST tire blowouts, (and 5 tire replacements) we managed to avoid any real trauma. Until backing into our driveway...that is. Like everywhere else,our home was also hit by massive thunderstorms, and heavy rains. Lightening strikes cause 3 televisions to blow, lost 2 garage door openers, 4 cordless phones gone, etc., But we arrive home on a beautiful 85 degree sunny day. Backing in to our parking place, next to the driveway, the tires sink into the grass covered mud. Sink about 9 inches. Problem is the bed rail clearance on our new truck is 6 inches. So the underside edge of the fivers overhang squeezes the left side bed rail (was turning at the time) down about an inch. And causes the outside of the bed to bow out. This all happens with out a crash. One of those things that is slow...but too fast to do anything about. So I watch it all happen from the comfort of the airconditioned driver seat...and watching the mirror.UGH...DW is directing me in and has no idea this has happened. Body shop estimates $1200 repair. Gotta love that 3 stage, metallic paint.Moral of the story...you can't always have enough bed rail clearance. Hope it doesn't happen to you.

I had the exact same thing happen at a campground last week. Against my wife's better judgement, we agreed for me to go off the side of the gravel pad and into the grass. Sunk a good 8" and made contact between the truck and fifth wheel (typically a good 6" of clearance). I got lucky and didn't end up with any permanent damage other than a ding on the under-side of the camper.Pulling out, we put a 2x12 x 4' long under the tire and that kicked up and busted up one of my pull handles (fortunately, just the handle itself- no actual damage to the workings). Ended up using 2x12s x 2' turned sideways to pull onto.It was a first for me. Sorry to hear you had damage. :(

X2 on the 2x12 planks... I do the same to spread the weight until im onto the pavement just in case it sinks.My yard is not flat so even with 8 inches of clearence it gets within two inches at certain points.

That must have been tough to watch!! I know the 2x12's are too little too late but that just stinks! How far do the wheels travel off pavement before parking ?

On that side, the wheels go off pavement by 10 feet. The parking pad is very solid, with 1" gray stone on top. But in order to get the trailer on it, the wheels needs to go over a bit of grass. That is all it took. Normally the ground is very firm and not a problem. But all the rain we have seen has made everything saturated. The kick in the pants is....I never even thought about that being a problem.What's funny is when I get out of the truck, My wife heard me muttering. "So what's wrong with you?." "I just crinkled the side of your truck." "WHAT??? NO YOU DIDN"T. I was watching you. You didn't krinkle ANYTHING." "Oh yeah? Check this out." "Ohhhh, Sh***. How the he** did you do that? I didn't hear it crunch."Then I give her the standard line. The one she really hates and it sets her into hyperdrive. "Oh Honey...Someday you are going to laugh about this."Can't post the rest of the conversation. But no need. I am sure you can just imagine.

Vulcaneer wrote:Just returned from a 2500 mile trip to Shipshewana and back. Heavy rain, flooding, tornados, everywhere during the trip. But other than ST tire blowouts, (and 5 tire replacements) we managed to avoid any real trauma. Until backing into our driveway...that is. Like everywhere else,our home was also hit by massive thunderstorms, and heavy rains. Lightening strikes cause 3 televisions to blow, lost 2 garage door openers, 4 cordless phones gone, etc., But we arrive home on a beautiful 85 degree sunny day. Backing in to our parking place, next to the driveway, the tires sink into the grass covered mud. Sink about 9 inches. Problem is the bed rail clearance on our new truck is 6 inches. So the underside edge of the fivers overhang squeezes the left side bed rail (was turning at the time) down about an inch. And causes the outside of the bed to bow out. This all happens with out a crash. One of those things that is slow...but too fast to do anything about. So I watch it all happen from the comfort of the airconditioned driver seat...and watching the mirror.UGH...DW is directing me in and has no idea this has happened. Body shop estimates $1200 repair. Gotta love that 3 stage, metallic paint.Moral of the story...you can't always have enough bed rail clearance. Hope it doesn't happen to you.Sorry about your week. Sometimes work is better than fishin I guess.

How heavy rain can affect bed rail clearance | Good Sam Community

45Ricochet
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
Vulcaneer wrote:
Just returned from a 2500 mile trip to Shipshewana and back. Heavy rain, flooding, tornados, everywhere during the trip. But other than ST tire blowouts, (and 5 tire replacements) we managed to avoid any real trauma. Until backing into our driveway...that is.

Like everywhere else,our home was also hit by massive thunderstorms, and heavy rains. Lightening strikes cause 3 televisions to blow, lost 2 garage door openers, 4 cordless phones gone, etc., But we arrive home on a beautiful 85 degree sunny day. Backing in to our parking place, next to the driveway, the tires sink into the grass covered mud. Sink about 9 inches. Problem is the bed rail clearance on our new truck is 6 inches. So the underside edge of the fivers overhang squeezes the left side bed rail (was turning at the time) down about an inch. And causes the outside of the bed to bow out. This all happens with out a crash. One of those things that is slow...but too fast to do anything about. So I watch it all happen from the comfort of the airconditioned driver seat...and watching the mirror.

UGH...DW is directing me in and has no idea this has happened. Body shop estimates $1200 repair. Gotta love that 3 stage, metallic paint.

Moral of the story...you can't always have enough bed rail clearance. Hope it doesn't happen to you.

Sorry about your week. Sometimes work is better than fishin I guess.
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
On that side, the wheels go off pavement by 10 feet. The parking pad is very solid, with 1" gray stone on top. But in order to get the trailer on it, the wheels needs to go over a bit of grass. That is all it took. Normally the ground is very firm and not a problem. But all the rain we have seen has made everything saturated. The kick in the pants is....I never even thought about that being a problem.

What's funny is when I get out of the truck, My wife heard me muttering. "So what's wrong with you?."

"I just crinkled the side of your truck."

"WHAT??? NO YOU DIDN"T. I was watching you. You didn't krinkle ANYTHING."

"Oh yeah? Check this out."

"Ohhhh, Sh***. How the he** did you do that? I didn't hear it crunch."

Then I give her the standard line. The one she really hates and it sets her into hyperdrive. "Oh Honey...Someday you are going to laugh about this."

Can't post the rest of the conversation. But no need. I am sure you can just imagine.
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Jul 10, 2013
That must have been tough to watch!! I know the 2x12's are too little too late but that just stinks! How far do the wheels travel off pavement before parking ?
rtazz17
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
X2 on the 2x12 planks... I do the same to spread the weight until im onto the pavement just in case it sinks.My yard is not flat so even with 8 inches of clearence it gets within two inches at certain points.
ependydad
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
I had the exact same thing happen at a campground last week. Against my wife's better judgement, we agreed for me to go off the side of the gravel pad and into the grass. Sunk a good 8" and made contact between the truck and fifth wheel (typically a good 6" of clearance). I got lucky and didn't end up with any permanent damage other than a ding on the under-side of the camper.

Pulling out, we put a 2x12 x 4' long under the tire and that kicked up and busted up one of my pull handles (fortunately, just the handle itself- no actual damage to the workings). Ended up using 2x12s x 2' turned sideways to pull onto.

It was a first for me. Sorry to hear you had damage. :(

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