So I just upgraded from a TT to my new FW. Its a 2018 Open Range Roamer 374 BHS. We are very excited about the upgrade but i have a couple questions that i've yet to find the answer to.I had the dealer switch out the Pin box for a Trail Air one. I'm very happy i did that as you could see how much it worked and i'm hoping it will help prevent any chance of the fifth wheel flex or other issues.However on my way home my tonneau cover rails made contact with the molding holding on the front cap. Nothing bad at all but just the smallest of cuts. Obviously i want to adjust something so this doesn't happen again. I had about 6.5" of clearance which i thought was really good however i guess its not. Do you need additional clearance when you have an air pin box because it wont always stay at the set clearance? If so whats the additional clearance? I'd like to keep the tonneau cover but i may end up taking it off or purchasing a tri fold so its not on the bed rails when traveling. Second, i'm thinking harder and harder about just getting the new tonneau cover as i really don't think i want to raise my hitch and make my FW any taller. I'm not looking to keep things safe really just looking to keep them somewhat dry. I found a $250 one which has decent reviews but i have zero experience with a fabric tri fold. Does anyone have one of these and travel with it folded up? Any issuses? I am not looking for a $1000 hard cover tri fold or roll up. I purchased my last tonneau cover thinking only of what i would need it for at the time and didn't think that we may be getting a FW and the additional height it adds to the bed rails. Any other considerations i'm not thinking about.A lot of people like pics so if you haven't seen it in the sticky here it isAnd the day I traded the TT in

You should have 6 inches minimum between the fifth wheel and the truck bed. If you don't then the hitch or pin box need to be adjusted. I went from the OEM roll up tonneau (which was a pain in the rear to use with the fiver hitch) to a trifold cover, which so far is great. I have not towed with it yet but it looks like it will work much better. I paid about $250 so it may be the one you are looking at.

6-1/2 inches is a very good clearance and should not have touched. Did you have enough air pressure in the pin box air bag?

Your existing clearance is great and I wouldn't mess with it. I think your Trailair might need a bit more air in the bag to stiffen the action a bit. You'll have to experiment a bit.1

Have used my Fold A Cover with my Trailair pin box just fine with no issues. You might lower the hitch and pin box down one hole and see what happens.

When messing with the hitch and pin box, don't forget to check the PIN BOX clearance with the inside of the truck bed. Lots of people have had issues with the pin box hitting and end up having to trim off the back corners of it. Not a big deal, but can cause damage.Lyle

New to Fifth Wheels, Couple Questions | Good Sam Community

agesilaus
Explorer III
May 12, 2017
You should have 6 inches minimum between the fifth wheel and the truck bed. If you don't then the hitch or pin box need to be adjusted.

I went from the OEM roll up tonneau (which was a pain in the rear to use with the fiver hitch) to a trifold cover, which so far is great. I have not towed with it yet but it looks like it will work much better. I paid about $250 so it may be the one you are looking at.
golf_bears
Explorer
May 12, 2017
6-1/2 inches is a very good clearance and should not have touched. Did you have enough air pressure in the pin box air bag?
phillyg
Explorer II
May 12, 2017
Your existing clearance is great and I wouldn't mess with it. I think your Trailair might need a bit more air in the bag to stiffen the action a bit. You'll have to experiment a bit.1
donn0128
Explorer II
May 12, 2017
Have used my Fold A Cover with my Trailair pin box just fine with no issues. You might lower the hitch and pin box down one hole and see what happens.
laknox
Nomad
May 12, 2017
When messing with the hitch and pin box, don't forget to check the PIN BOX clearance with the inside of the truck bed. Lots of people have had issues with the pin box hitting and end up having to trim off the back corners of it. Not a big deal, but can cause damage.

Lyle
southernsky
Explorer
May 13, 2017
Keep an eye on your air pressure in the hitch. Mine got a little low one time and I caught my cover rail a little. I have a Truxedo LowPro soft cover on my truck, keeps thing pretty much dry.
F-TROUP
Explorer
May 13, 2017
I run 80# in my trail air and have had no issues.
Lantley
Nomad
May 13, 2017
laknox wrote:
When messing with the hitch and pin box, don't forget to check the PIN BOX clearance with the inside of the truck bed. Lots of people have had issues with the pin box hitting and end up having to trim off the back corners of it. Not a big deal, but can cause damage.

Lyle

Yes be sure the rear of your pin box is not contacting the inside bed rails of your cover in tight turns. It may be OK on level ground but pose a problem on unlevel ground.
Turning into driveways or turning at places where a hill meets a flat road.
The solution is clipping/cutting off the rear of your pin box or raising the pin box to create more clearance.
I had to do both. Open Range uses and extended pin box which exacerbates the problem. You will need to resolve the contacting problem before getting a new cover. You do not want to damage you new cover. In general you want a cover that requires narrow bed rails that minimally reduce the original width of the truck bed.
2012Oudoorsman
Explorer
May 13, 2017
The 6.5" was a quick measurement I took before leaving the dealers garage. Once we got out I did notice that after the first few bumps the hitch settled a little lower, maybe 1/4 to 3/8" below the line. I didn't really think too much about it as I thought I had decent clearance. Didn't think about the bag having more play at the time. Also this molding stuck down about 3/4" from where I took my measurement and I only clipped about the bottom 1/4". I'm pretty sure I knew where I happened and it was a really sharp down hill turn into a gas station. I'll remeasure everything this week once the rain let's off. I know I'll need to add air now that the camper is about loaded. I'm saying at worst my clearance shortened to 6" and I only clipped the bottom 1/4" My clearance at the moulding was 5.5" and less with the compression of the bag. Hopefully with adding more air I'll be fine but maybe not. The only thing I can adjust right now it my hitch in the truck. The pin box doesn't line up properly if it's dropped another hole, dealer tried when installing it.

As for the tonneau cover I was looking at, it was a tonno pro tri fold. I shouldn't have to worry if I switch as there are no bed rails with this tri fold. They're part of the tonneau and when it's folded up they go with it. That would add about an inch of clearance.

I ended up having to back up my entire road and had a pretty sharp turn to get in it. I could have done it better but it was my first time backing up a fw, they're quite a difference from a tt. It didn't look like it would hit my bed, however it would hit the clamps holding the tonneau cover rails on. I'll keep watching it as I don't need any other damage to anything even this minor.
Lantley
Nomad
May 13, 2017
5.5 is borderline. I occasionally had issue at 5.5" I went a couple of years at 5.5-6.0" Under the wrong conditions I would have contact.
Eventually I raised the rear of the trailer 2" which allowed me to raise the front 2" and gain more?adequate clearance.
When all is well 5.5-6.0 was OK. However when there are tight turns and dips in the roads,driveways,downhill campsites, I had issues.