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Tongan's avatar
Tongan
Explorer
Oct 26, 2016

Questions about 5th wheel on Lowered Truck

I'm looking to buy a lowered 98 chevy dually. However, I'm wondering about the 5th wheel hitch. The truck is very low and has helper bags. (the ride does not return to normal height.)

The question is do I raise the tongue to match the trailer or can I lower the trailers receiver? (I am new the adjusting of these parts all I ever do is drive never had to hook or disconnect anything somehow).

I have a feeling I might have to get someone to fabricate something for me.
  • Thanks guys! Once I get the truck I will determine whether or not I can tow the trailer because as of right now looks to me like he did the same drop as my last truck which was still able to tow (the air bags were rated higher than the trucks suspension was able to handle) but had height issues. (That was with a ball hitch not a 5th wheel)
  • Tongan wrote:
    I'm looking to buy a lowered 98 chevy dually. However, I'm wondering about the 5th wheel hitch. The truck is very low and has helper bags. (the ride does not return to normal height.)

    The question is do I raise the tongue to match the trailer or can I lower the trailers receiver? (I am new the adjusting of these parts all I ever do is drive never had to hook or disconnect anything somehow).


    Ignoring any weight carrying issues with the truck, I would raise the hitch first to its tallest height, then lower the pinbox to make it level- my reason being the hitch/truck frame combo is stronger usually than the pinbox/trailer frame, and extending the pinbox puts more stress on it.
    If the trailer is raised at all, I would lower it as well.
  • The immediate problem I see is, the truck is no longer a dually. Yea, it may have 4 tires in back, but load carrying capacity has likely been compromised by the suspension mods. PASS!
  • 5th wheel hitch doesn't have a 'tongue' or 'receiver' (that is how a bumper pull travel trailer is towed)

    5th wheel uses a 5th wheel hitch mounted in bed of truck and the 5th wheel trailer has a pin box with a king pin \

    To tow a 5th wheel with a lowered slammed dually you would do better lowering 5th wheel trailer

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