replaced the 18" wheels and tires on their newer 2500 truck with 16" to get away from height and fifth wheel clearance issues. Don't know why the new trucks are so tall but my newer (2015) is 58" tall and my older (2003) truck is 53" and I am concerned with bed clearance issues.

Do you already have a 5th wheel? Reason I ask is that it's not that big of a deal most of the time. I've pulled the same mid profile 5er with two 2500 trucks. A 2012 and a 2018. 5er sat about 1" high in the front with 6+" of clearance. Bed height at the tailgate is 59.5"

Say what??? Wheels alone dont affect ride height...

They are taller due to the fully boxed frame needing to be taller for strength. You also cannot set stuff "in" a fully boxed frame like you can on a C channel frame which means you have to place everything on top so to speak. One of the draw backs of a fully boxed frame along with how much harder it is to add a utility bed.As far as wheels go, I don't think you can go smaller than a 17 inch wheel on these trucks due to the brake size. However, a small diameter wheel on the same diameter of tire as before will do nothing for your ride height. You will have to reduce overall tire diameter if you want to lower truck height which you can do(to a point) without reducing wheels size.

N-Trouble wrote:Say what??? Wheels alone dont affect ride height...What I was going to say, take for example 265/75/16 31.7" 265/70/18 32.1" .4" difference or .2" in height gain ,or loss.Only way I can get my older fifth wheel level, with my 2014 Ram 3500 that sits 59" at the top of the tailgate is to raise the fifth wheel suspension further off the frame . I have the bedrail clearance as low as I dare.

Also other tire brands can be the same in a LT265/75-16 vs LT265/70-17 both at 31.6" diameter. I would look into availability of different rear suspension blocks from Ford to lower bed height.

Has anyone... | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

ksss
Explorer
May 05, 2019
Most Dually wheels are 17" now, I would not go to 16"s again. The primary reason for the increase wheel size is the calipers like others have said. I would address the issue in another way.
wanderingaimles
Explorer
May 04, 2019
Even on the newer trucks dual wheels still get listed as 16", so are the brakes substantially smaller than on the 18" SRW models?

I have SRW so I never looked, and my last Dually was a 95 so that was too long ago to matter.
azrving
Explorer
May 04, 2019
X2 on lifting. The steps may be too tall and the stabilizers too short. Welcome to the club
IdaD
Explorer
May 03, 2019
I'd personally attack this problem by lifting the trailer, not lowering the truck. I was able to do an axle flip on mine and I think it cost about $50 for the kit.
danrclem
Explorer
May 03, 2019
You can go with a lower profile 18" but that will change your overall gearing and your speedometer will read wrong.
Grit_dog
Navigator II
May 03, 2019
I’ll say no to the 16” wheelz due to brake clearance, but check. May work on fords since your 2015 is same chassis as a 99 that did come with 16s....I think.
Otherwise get the smallest load rated 18s you can and reverse level the truck if you can or need to.
But make sure you’re accounting for suspension squish etc.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 03, 2019
16's most likely won't fit over the truck calipers. Still as mentioned tire diameter is where it's at!
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
May 03, 2019
Also other tire brands can be the same in a LT265/75-16 vs LT265/70-17 both at 31.6" diameter.

I would look into availability of different rear suspension blocks from Ford to lower bed height.
cummins2014
Explorer
May 03, 2019
N-Trouble wrote:
Say what??? Wheels alone dont affect ride height...

What I was going to say, take for example 265/75/16 31.7" 265/70/18 32.1" .4" difference or .2" in height gain ,or loss.

Only way I can get my older fifth wheel level, with my 2014 Ram 3500 that sits 59" at the top of the tailgate is to raise the fifth wheel suspension further off the frame . I have the bedrail clearance as low as I dare.
ShinerBock
Explorer
May 03, 2019
They are taller due to the fully boxed frame needing to be taller for strength. You also cannot set stuff "in" a fully boxed frame like you can on a C channel frame which means you have to place everything on top so to speak. One of the draw backs of a fully boxed frame along with how much harder it is to add a utility bed.

As far as wheels go, I don't think you can go smaller than a 17 inch wheel on these trucks due to the brake size. However, a small diameter wheel on the same diameter of tire as before will do nothing for your ride height. You will have to reduce overall tire diameter if you want to lower truck height which you can do(to a point) without reducing wheels size.