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minnow's avatar
minnow
Explorer
May 10, 2016

2016 Ram 3500 Hitch Height issue

Needing to purchase a new hitch for my 2016 RAM 3500 long bed. The truck has the factory air suspension. I backed under the fifth wheel today to get some measurements. It appears that I have about 13 1/2 inches from the bed to the top of the king pin and about 5 1/2 inches of clearance from the bed rails to the bottom of the fifth wheel. Before buying the new truck, I had leveled the trailer front to rear so that I would have a rough idea on how much room I had as I knew the new truck would be considerably taller than the one I sold.
Looking at the choices of hitches and the only one I could find was a Curt that allowed height adjustments of 13 - 17" I'm wondering how much the truck will settle after the pin weight (1900 lbs) is placed on the hitch with the air suspension. If I could get another 3 inches in height, that would give me a whole lot more choices in hitches. Yet I don't want to be towing nose high either.
Any advice is appreciated.
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  • minnow's avatar
    minnow
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    MSGTRETIREDCSP wrote:
    minnow wrote:
    Do you have the Air auto level option ?


    No. I thought I might want it, but after looking at the truck, I decided I didn't need it. I did install air bags on my F-350. Not because I needed them, but because I wanted the truck to ride completely level. The suspension on this Ram is stiff enough that when the truck squats, it only squats to a level position.


    With the Ram air suspension, there is no to little squat from what I've seen. The rear goes down and then right back up as the air suspension kicks in so that impacts the clearance between the rail and the fiver as well as the levelness of the truck and fiver. That's why I need to get a hitch that I can have some adjustment too. It appears I need a hitch that starts at around 13", which precludes looking at a B&W as they are too tall.
  • MSGTRETIREDCSP's avatar
    MSGTRETIREDCSP
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    minnow wrote:
    Do you have the Air auto level option ?


    No. I thought I might want it, but after looking at the truck, I decided I didn't need it. I did install air bags on my F-350. Not because I needed them, but because I wanted the truck to ride completely level. The suspension on this Ram is stiff enough that when the truck squats, it only squats to a level position.
  • MSGTRETIREDCSP's avatar
    MSGTRETIREDCSP
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    Well, I just purchased a Ram, 3500 DRW, long bed and I installed the B & W 3600 5th wheel hitch. The truck sat higher than my old truck that was an F-350.

    I was a little concerned about the difference until I backed up to the trailer. I didn't measure the squat in the Ram, but I'm guessing it squatted 1 1/2 - 2" when I lowered the trailer down on the truck. I'm very satisfied with the way they match up.

    When I installed the hitch, I installed it at the medium height, so I could lower it to the lowest level if I wanted, but I think the medium height will be just fine.

    I think you'll be very satisfied with a B & W hitch for the Ram truck. It fit very well and man is it stout. I'm very happy with mine.
  • minnow's avatar
    minnow
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    Those of you with the Ram and air suspension, I think realize how pitiful the owners manual(s) are at telling is how to use the air suspension. Can anyone give me the details on what I need to do with the air suspension from backing underneath the fiver, after hooking up and then moving out onto the highway ?

    Thanks !!
  • spoon059's avatar
    spoon059
    Explorer II
    May 10, 2016
    Like Cummins said, if you put your truck in alternate ride height, it will drop it to level, rather than factory rake. That will buy you another couple inches.
  • tinner12002's avatar
    tinner12002
    Explorer
    May 10, 2016
    Cummins12V98 wrote:
    Op forget the Curt unless you are comfortable with a Chinese made hitch with only four 1/2" bolts holding the hitch head to the base.

    I would advise the B&W RVK3600 in the lowest setting and then adjust the kingpin box as needed.

    Be sure to use the Alt ride ht setting.

    I run my B&W at the lowest setting.


    X2...hopefully you opted for the factory puck setup for a 5th wheel hitch!
  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    May 10, 2016
    Op forget the Curt unless you are comfortable with a Chinese made hitch with only four 1/2" bolts holding the hitch head to the base.

    I would advise the B&W RVK3600 in the lowest setting and then adjust the kingpin box as needed.

    Be sure to use the Alt ride ht setting.

    I run my B&W at the lowest setting.
  • 45Ricochet's avatar
    45Ricochet
    Explorer
    May 10, 2016
    I don't think 5.5" of clearance is much of a issue. I'm pretty sure your Ram will squat half a inch with a ton on the pin.
    Heck we drove around for years with 4" of clearance. About the only time we could possibly have trouble was entering a fuel station driveway. It never happened.

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