Do saddle truck boxes cause clearance issues when making sharp turns with a fifth wheel trailer?I have a Dodge Ram 3500 DRW with an 8-foot long bed. I plan to get a Montana fifth wheel trailer and would like to use the Andersen hitch.I would like to also have a 27" (extra wide) saddle truck box mounted at the typical location at the front of the bed behind the cab. The truck box sits proud above the bed rails by 7-1/2".Will I run into clearance problems of the fifth wheel nose hitting the truck box with sharp turns with such a setup?If so, would the standard 21" wide saddle truck box make enough of a difference?

I don't know if this impacts the answer to my question, but the fifth wheel I'm planning to buy is a Montana Mountaineer 347THT toy hauler. Not sure if the nose style of the fifth wheel makes a difference or not to answering my question about clearance with a saddle truck box.

I have a flip bak that folds toward the front so it sits probably as high as a box, and about 2' deep so I'd say, no problem.

Above bed tool boxes are a BIG no no.This is what you want, also this is the hitch you want!

Why not not get a below rail tool box and problem solved! Then you can also add a tonneau cover. :B

Lar's wrote:I have a flip bak that folds toward the front so it sits probably as high as a box, and about 2' deep so I'd say, no problem.How high above the bed rails does your bakflip sit when it's folded towards the front?The truck box sits above the bed rails by 7-1/4"Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum width.

Saddle Truck Box and clearance with a Fifth Wheel

scottkeen
Explorer
Nov 19, 2017
I don't know if this impacts the answer to my question, but the fifth wheel I'm planning to buy is a Montana Mountaineer 347THT toy hauler. Not sure if the nose style of the fifth wheel makes a difference or not to answering my question about clearance with a saddle truck box.
Lar_s
Explorer
Nov 19, 2017
I have a flip bak that folds toward the front so it sits probably as high as a box, and about 2' deep so I'd say, no problem.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Nov 19, 2017
Above bed tool boxes are a BIG no no.

This is what you want, also this is the hitch you want!
rhagfo
Explorer III
Nov 19, 2017
Why not not get a below rail tool box and problem solved! Then you can also add a tonneau cover. :B
scottkeen
Explorer
Nov 19, 2017
Lar's wrote:
I have a flip bak that folds toward the front so it sits probably as high as a box, and about 2' deep so I'd say, no problem.

How high above the bed rails does your bakflip sit when it's folded towards the front?

The truck box sits above the bed rails by 7-1/4"

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum width.
scottkeen
Explorer
Nov 19, 2017
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Above bed tool boxes are a BIG no no.

Thanks, that's why I asked. I assume it's a "big no no" because it converts my 8-foot long bed into basically a 6-foot short bed?

Cummins12V98 wrote:
This is what you want, also this is the hitch you want!

Andersen Ultimate Hitch is no good?
Durb
Explorer
Nov 19, 2017
Mount that box on a 96" bed and you will have 5 ft 8 inches left, almost a foot shorter than a short bed. Probably not going to make it work with an Andersen hitch. Even if you set your hitch up with clearance over the tool box the trailer front end will dip when backing and hit the box. Better off to use a bed rail high box like pictured above.
scottkeen
Explorer
Nov 19, 2017
rhagfo wrote:
Why not not get a below rail tool box and problem solved! Then you can also add a tonneau cover. :B

The main reason for an above rail saddle box over a below rail storage chest for me is:

By putting in a below rail storage chest, I lose about 2 feet of bed length, ending up with about a 6-foot bed.

With an above rail saddle box, I can still shove 8-foot sheets of plywood or 8-foot 2x4 sticks under the saddle box.

But if an above rail saddle box will definitely interfere with the fifth wheel nose, then I'll have to re-think this whole box idea.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Nov 19, 2017
scottkeen wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
Why not not get a below rail tool box and problem solved! Then you can also add a tonneau cover. :B

The main reason for an above rail saddle box over a below rail storage chest for me is:

By putting in a below rail storage chest, I lose about 2 feet of bed length, ending up with about a 6-foot bed.

With an above rail saddle box, I can still shove 8-foot sheets of plywood or 8-foot 2x4 sticks under the saddle box.

But if an above rail saddle box will definitely interfere with the fifth wheel nose, then I'll have to re-think this whole box idea.

I have hauled plenty of 8’ lumber and plywood in my truck just need to put the tailgate down.
scottkeen
Explorer
Nov 19, 2017
Maybe the best compromise would be a couple of large tote boxes strapped against the front of the bed that I can easily remove when I need to put something 8-feet long in the bed, and a tonneau cover to protect the tote boxes from prying eyes, that I can roll-up when I'm towing the fiver.