Saw one of the new Rams today at a new car show. I can't figure out how anyone is going to to a 5er and have any bed clearance. I have a 5er we tow with a 2005 Dodge, having about 5" bed clearance. Our bed is 54" from the ground to the top of the bed rail and trailer sets level. The new Ram has a bed rail height of 60". How are you to tow level without having to put suspension blocks under the 5er? Our 5er is running on 16" rubber. Kind of eliminates the new Dodge doesn't it?

We have a member here who's RAM 2013 dually is 58.5" but what's a inch and a half between men :B My 2006 is 58" unloaded and with a little hitch adjustment I have 5.5" of clearance. It does squat a good 4" hitch up though. Got news for you, go measure all three and let us know the results, I'm sure they are all in the same ballpark, give or take a inch and a half or so :W

this isn't truck manufacturer's fault this is on the RV industry. for years and years they've made bigger and heavier f'vers and don't upgrade the ride height. Truck manufacturers have to fall suit with stronger frames and tires which in turn raises box heights.it's about time trailer companies put 17 -18" tires on their trailers.

Dodge no longer makes Ram and has been that way since 09.But to the question, there are lots of posts on bed height on all the truck manufacturers. People are still towing with them.

45Ricochet wrote:We have a member here who's RAM 2013 dually is 58.5" but what's a inch and a half between men :B My 2006 is 58" unloaded and with a little hitch adjustment I have 5.5" of clearance. It does squat a good 4" hitch up though. Got news for you, go measure all three and let us know the results, I'm sure they are all in the same ballpark, give or take a inch and a half or so :WThat's the second time you've remembered that for me Rick:B Yep, my 2013, tailgate height, with the plastic protector on top of it is 58.5" high....I have the GN/5er prep package and the picture frame adapter, which sets higher than the rails one would normally use in conventional 5er hitch install....I DROPPED my hitch one notch to compensate for the height of the adapter...I don't have 6" of clearance, more like 5.5" of clearance, but 5er sets closer to level with this truck than it did with my 05 Chevy 3500 cc/lb dually, then the 2010 Dodge 3500 cc/lb dually and the 2012 Ram3500 cc/lb dually. I have a semi-steep driveway that I back into, no issues, I have to negotiate a steep curve just about 100 yards from my camp in WV, coming out, still had about 1.5" of clearance.I agree though with OP, trucks keep getting taller (higher)...but, as far as towing a 5er, I've towed the same 5er with 3 different trucks and this one set's the "most level" of any of them and it's the highest. I've done nothing else but to lower my hitch one notch, several other things one can do.In reality, Chevy, Ford and Ram have all gotten taller, (not just Ram), but it's not that big of a deal to tow with them, just takes a little research....as stated above, sure do see a lot of these brand new trucks out on the road towing 5er's and they look fine.

New Dodge Ram Pickup | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

NC_Hauler
Explorer
Feb 18, 2014
Cummins12V98 wrote:
NC Hauler wrote:
Me Again wrote:
Well, I just hope the new 3500 DRW air spring setup does not try to maintain the ride height as it sets without a load, or 5th wheel towing will be a real issue. Saw a video of the 2500's air suspension and it tries to maintain height!

The 2500 will have a complete air setup and the 3500 a single leaf spring and air bags.

Chris

Beginning to wonder if and when the 3500 will get the air bags/spring set up...last I heard, manufacture date, from what I understand on the cummins forum has now been pushed out to 7 April....if then....

I'm not sure how it works, just one thing I'm not really interested in....

You say you are not interested NOW !

Just measured to the top of my tailgate 58.5"

I said what I said:B...I might get one of those fancy 5er's like what you have:)
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Feb 18, 2014
NC Hauler wrote:
Me Again wrote:
Well, I just hope the new 3500 DRW air spring setup does not try to maintain the ride height as it sets without a load, or 5th wheel towing will be a real issue. Saw a video of the 2500's air suspension and it tries to maintain height!

The 2500 will have a complete air setup and the 3500 a single leaf spring and air bags.

Chris

Beginning to wonder if and when the 3500 will get the air bags/spring set up...last I heard, manufacture date, from what I understand on the cummins forum has now been pushed out to 7 April....if then....

I'm not sure how it works, just one thing I'm not really interested in....

You say you are not interested NOW !

Just measured to the top of my tailgate 58.5"
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Feb 18, 2014
ChooChooMan74 wrote:
Dodge no longer makes Ram and has been that way since 09.

But to the question, there are lots of posts on bed height on all the truck manufacturers. People are still towing with them.

Actually the trucks became RAM in 13. My 11 and my Dad's 12 both say Dodge on the dash. This was a legal issue from what I have been told. Maybe someone else knows the facts.
noteven
Explorer III
Feb 18, 2014
Since rear air suspension install my 3500 "squats" 1/2 inch from empty ride height to fully loaded ... 6 in clearance to box sides to overhang on the toy hauler...

Turned left from an uphill street into a downhill lane ..."shouldda had 6 1/2 inches" I says, looking at the ding in the tailgate and box corner and scuff on the underside of the overhang... there is a skookum frame member in the trailer that is tougher than the tailgate/box tin :)

Coming back out we dropped the air and made it with 1/16" daylight to spare...
Dayle1
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2014
gmcsmoke wrote:
this isn't truck manufacturer's fault this is on the RV industry. for years and years they've made bigger and heavier f'vers and don't upgrade the ride height. Truck manufacturers have to fall suit with stronger frames and tires which in turn raises box heights.

it's about time trailer companies put 17 -18" tires on their trailers.

Just because a new truck has taller tires and frame does not in any way dictate higher bed rails. A few less cubic feet of volume in the bed isn't going to be a deal breaker for most of the buying public. And I guess fifth wheel manufactures Don't want to raise their frame height, especially if it means less bedroom height or taller overall trailer height. If RAM or any of them want to take the fiver market seriously, they will offer an optional reduced height box rather than just optional hitches and IBCs.
mpierce
Explorer
Feb 17, 2014
I had 04 Ram dually, bought a '14 DRW RAM. No issues with a 2012 Voltage 3600. 6 " or so.
Dandy_Dan
Explorer
Feb 17, 2014
Maybe I should rephrase the question. I know you can raise the hitch and get the clearance but can you do that and still have the 5er run level? Maybe I am missing something in the translation. As stated in the original post, I am running 16" tires on the camper and the truck came with 16's. Don't have a problem with what I have now but if the time comes when I am rich instead of famous :B am I going to have a problem.
john_bet
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2014
If I remember right, they all had the same problem about 15-20 years ago. The solution then was to take the blocks out from between the springs and the axles.
Gunship_Guy
Explorer
Feb 17, 2014
I have plenty of bed/trailer clearance. I haven't measured because, after hooking up, I saw no reason to be concerned. Eye-balling it looks to easily be in the 6" range.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Feb 17, 2014
Me Again wrote:
Well, I just hope the new 3500 DRW air spring setup does not try to maintain the ride height as it sets without a load, or 5th wheel towing will be a real issue. Saw a video of the 2500's air suspension and it tries to maintain height!

The 2500 will have a complete air setup and the 3500 a single leaf spring and air bags.

Chris

Beginning to wonder if and when the 3500 will get the air bags/spring set up...last I heard, manufacture date, from what I understand on the cummins forum has now been pushed out to 7 April....if then....

I'm not sure how it works, just one thing I'm not really interested in....