Hi guys just joined forum. I sold my 39' class A now doing the truck and 5th wheel. I purchased a 2014 Dodg Ram 3500 diesel short box. I installed the Anderson Ultimate Goose neck hitch. Purchased a 2009 Cardinal 30TS. When I picked up 5th I had to adjust the ball on hitch to highest level and reverse adapter to 5th hitch so adapter was cloaked to 5th. The pin box when doing about a 75 deg turn may hit the bed rail of truck? The fifth is nose high but not to bad. I towed 5th home towed very good. Now I have to raise the 5th to have pin box clear bed rails. Options? Flip leave springs on,5 th or spacer to raise 5th? Anybody have any other suggestions.

Yes, you could move springs to top of axle, but that will make the trailer quite a bit taller. It would help to have a pic of the pin box, where it may make contact. In some cases, there is room to trim pin box, in an upward angle, so as to allow more clearance. Some of them come angled, mine did.Jerry

Some have taken sawzall to the back corners of the pin box mounts as I did to my 2005 Cardinal. Chris

Unless you have already checked, it is likely your axles are already under your springs. As noted above, I would look first at cutting off the lower rear corners of the pin box. A number have already done that as a solution.

You want at least 6" clearance between bed rail and 5vr overhang....more is better BUT you also want to tow level.Flipping axles is usually 1st modification before doing any subframe modsMoving leaf springs to top of axles will gain you 4"-6" depending on axle tube diameter and number of leaf springs

Old-Biscuit wrote:You want at least 6" clearance between bed rail and 5vr overhang....more is better BUT you also want to tow level.Flipping axles is usually 1st modification before doing any subframe modsMoving leaf springs to top of axles will gain you 4"-6" depending on axle tube diameter and number of leaf springsI could cut the pinbox but that would not level my 5th. I made arrangement for a shop to make adjustment. They have done many due to new high trucks! They will check suspension as some have room for adjustments, failing that they will flip the leaf springs, failing that they will raise suspension. I'll let you know which route they took..

Pin box hits bed rail | Good Sam Community

SkiSmuggs
Explorer
Feb 28, 2017
I don't believe you mentioned the clearance between the bed rails and the fiver. Since you have the ball socket behind the pin, you have already shortened the pin box by 4". I wonder if you lowered the ball so everything was more inside the bed, if it would give the pin box a little more room. I have a long pin box, have the adapter backwards, the Andersen ball at its lowest setting and it solved the issue I had of the back of the pin box hitting the bed sides with a regular Reese hitch. I still have 7-8" above the rails and am still a little nose high.
Jhurk
Explorer
Mar 10, 2017
Well I got my Cardinal back and all is level and the pin box cleares the box rails. I can do a full 90deg turn and I am clear of cab and bed rails! They raised my frame 5" and cut about an inch of the pin box for good measure. The only issue now is my step is so high I need at least one more step (4 steps) I'll have to research options. Also I will have to measure my new height but should be under 13'6"!
GoPackGo
Explorer
Mar 11, 2017
Google Stromberg Carlson PA-250 adjustable step. I have been using one for 4 years now. Works great.
SabreCanuck
Explorer
Mar 11, 2017
I didn't see where you said the pin box DOES hit the rails. You said MAY hit the rails. When you say "rails" do you mean aftermarket chrome (or other) bed rails or just the actual side of the box?

i take my chrome box rails off for summer when towing fifth and fifth is nit even close to the box sides. . There is a big difference between pretty and functional.
Jhurk
Explorer
Mar 12, 2017
SabreCanuck wrote:
I didn't see where you said the pin box DOES hit the rails. You said MAY hit the rails. When you say "rails" do you mean aftermarket chrome (or other) bed rails or just the actual side of the box?

i take my chrome box rails off for summer when towing fifth and fifth is nit even close to the box sides. . There is a big difference between pretty and functional.

It would have it the bed rails or the top part of the box if I didn't make the adjustments. There is nothing on top of the bed rails no aftermarket add ons.
Brisk
Explorer II
Mar 14, 2017
OP do you have the ram box option on your truck?
Jhurk
Explorer
Mar 15, 2017
Brisk wrote:
OP do you have the ram box option on your truck?

No Ram box option. I had the B&W turnover ball system installed seems like a good application. Not cheap cost nearly as much as the Anderson hitch!

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