Truck Bed Clearance

This is probably one of the most common reported issues on this forum. Only real option to retain proper bed clearance and tow level is to raise the 5er

lowfly wrote:
Anyone else run into this since I'm guessing I should maintain at least a 3" space.

Generally, 6" is considered a realistic minimum with 8" preferred. Can you tow with less.....yes, until you find out that you really can't (cue voice of experience and body shop invoice here - been there, done that and got the t-shirt to prove it with our 1st 5th wheel back in 1996. It still hurts to think about it!)

Rusty

You are right on the 6-8". dont know what I was thinking with 3".

6" clearance will work.

I ended up with 5" clearance on mine and have not had any issues. In order to get 5er somewhat level I dropped my truck hitch as low as possible and raised the 5er hitch as high as possible, ended up with 5", the shop where I store it said it was sufficient as long as I don't intend to go 4wheelin with 5er in tow.

Same problem with my current set up. I ended up with 5 1/2" clear but wish I had a little more. 5 1/2" works, but I have contacted the fiver pin box overhang a time or two going down into a steep campsite.

I raised my hitch instead of lowering the pin in order to have better visibility (when hitching) over my tool box. Consider that if your hitch is vertically adjustable (most are). I still pull a little high, but it's a trade-off.

lowfly wrote:
I just traded in my 2005 4wd F350 for a Ram 2500 4wd and love it. But, I didn't realized the bed, therefore hitch, was that much higher than what I had. I will be dropping the hitch a hole or two but I'm concerned that beyond that point I might be compromising distance between the bed and the 5er. Anyone else run into this since I'm guessing I should maintain at least a 3" space.

I'm right at 6" and I'm a newbie with only 1 season under my belt (4-5 trips). Even with my limited experience, I've seen two situations that made me reallllly nervous about hitting my truck. Funny enough, both were in towns with really awkward driveways where the road is considerably higher than the area around it. Oddly enough, one was going into an RV park.

I lifted my trailer about 1.7" too.

New truck hand book recommended 6" clearance. Thought it should be OK if I was careful. Wasn't careful enough. 2 dents in same spot on bed rail later I had Equiflex suspension added and flipped the axles. So far so good. Pal said the 2nd dent help flatten out the 1st one!! Fix it before it happens rather than after.

6" should be good. If I were you, I would be more concerned about pin weight with a Grand Designs 33' Relection. 2500 Ram has torsion bars in the back, and a lower payload that your past 350 Ford.

Don't understand why the truck manufacturers don't understand that these heavy duties will be towing a lot of 5th wheel RVs and make the bed height accordingly.