Forum Discussion

ferndaleflyer's avatar
ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Mar 03, 2021

Bed level of new trucks

2021 GMC SRW 4WD---Had to get goose neck horse trailer lifted because truck was higher than old one. Was explained this way, have you ever noticed how the house part of an RV trailer sits on top of the wheels rather than down over them like they used to. I always had a class A so I never noticed but is this true?
  • After our trip to Colorado and Oregon this last summer, I was amazed to see how many "Nose High" fifth wheel trailers were on the road, including me. It makes no sense that you can't find a newer 3/4 ton truck that has not been raised by the factory. I wish I had my 2007 2500HD back.
    Curly
  • I think that a big contributor to the "lifted" trucks from the factory is the expectation of flat floors in the trucks. Then when add in that Ford and probably the others made the beds deeper the bed rails went way up.

    I have saying for years that there is a need for low bedrail trucks for pulling gooseneck/fifth wheel trailers and for people want to access the bed from the side. For the rare occasions that I really needed high bed rails on my old truck I had no issue with simply putting some boards on the side.
  • Groover wrote:

    I have saying for years that there is a need for low bedrail trucks for pulling gooseneck/fifth wheel trailers and for people want to access the bed from the side. For the rare occasions that I really needed high bed rails on my old truck I had no issue with simply putting some boards on the side.


    I agree with this, all of the gn trailers at last company I was with are pulled with dually 3500 and had custom flat beds built for them. These aren't cab n chassis, they are true 96" dually and the flat beds are notched in the front because they are so wide. Company had learned hard way that beds on dually just get torn up hauling GN off road (lease roads to oil rigs) but cab/chassis are too narrow for stability. It's also why horse haulers have custom beds built for their towing rigs.
  • ferndaleflyer wrote:
    I just saw an add for a Chev Off Road and the add says it is lifted 2in. From the factory


    Like this one....
    It’s still short. Just not a total pavement pounder like most GM half tons.
  • Yup, they make low bedrail trucks. They’re called flatbeds or hauler beds.
    BUT I see your point. Wonder what % of trucks are bought to haul 5vers or GNs?

    I could see a market for factory low rail “pickup beds” for sure. But then again I’m the person that thinks HD diesel suvs and work trucks with 9’-10’ long beds would also be cool, useful and popular!
    Guess I’m not the typical target market!