Clearance Between Truck Bed Rails and 5th Wheel

[RobWNY]

I know generally speaking you want at least 6 inches of clearance. I just traded my Forest River Hemisphere GLX in on a Grand Design Reflection. On the Hemisphere, I had just under 6" of clearance using a standard pin box. Because the nose of the Reflection isn't as rounded as the Hemisphere was and I have a short box, I opted for a Reese Sidewinder Pin box on the new rig and now I have 10" of clearance. Will having more clearance than the general rule of 6" cause any problems? I understand why having too little clearance can be problem but I haven't read if having too much can be a problem. The fifth wheel looks very level the way everything was mounted by the dealer.

[ford_truck_guy]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"IF that is the case, ad you want to level it out a but.., lower the pinbox a set of holes... that should drop you 1-1/2" or there about...."

HMMMM, someone having a "senior moment" ??? :B

Would that be me??? :B

I guess i was having one.. by adjusting the pin box you can either gain or loose 2” per set of holes... By adjusting the B&W, you will either gain or loose 1”

[RobWNY]

Here's an update for those interested. Now that I have the new RV home and in my driveway that is flat and level, I did some measuring while still hooked up to the truck. ford truck guy, you were right. Good eyes! I'm 2 3/4 nose high over a span of 37 feet. That measurement was arrived at by measuring at the very front of the frame and the very rear of the frame but we had not put anything in the RV yet when I measured. I doubt that the measurement will change all that much anyway. ACZL, I measured to the top of my front air conditioner, which is the highest spot on the RV to the ground. I'm at 12' 11". I'm calling it good to go camping!

[dryfly]

My previous Crossroads Cruiser 5th wheel had 10" of bed clearance. It was great, and even though I don't do any off road camping, there were several times I got pretty close to the bed with the trailer. I really enjoy never having to worry about it.

My new GD Reflection is still about 8" and I'm comfortable with that. I know 6" is standard but for me that's just too close.

[valhalla360]

We have a slider (came with first trailer) but have never used that function. It's just nice not to have to mess with it and with the long pinbox, it was never an issue.

[RobWNY]

valhalla360 wrote:
Good timing. Just swapped out also and had the same thing.

Also gave in on the short bed against my better judgement and now looking at swapping out for the longer pin box (old 5er was OK with the long pin box, new one has the shorter pinbox)

I went back and forth on whether to get a slider hitch or the Reese Sidewinder pin box. I opted to spend the money on the Reese because the dealer sold it to me at cost with the new trailer and it allows me all possibilities with vehicle choices moving forward with this camper. Even the shortest of boxes works with the Reese Revolution/Sidewinder. It moves the pivot back 22" without moving the weight back. It's still right over the axle. I also liked the idea of having the air bag in it. If you're not familiar with them, watch a couple of youtube videos on them. Very inovative.

[Cummins12V98]

"IF that is the case, ad you want to level it out a but.., lower the pinbox a set of holes... that should drop you 1-1/2" or there about...."

HMMMM, someone having a "senior moment" ??? :B

[valhalla360]

Good timing. Just swapped out also and had the same thing.

Also gave in on the short bed against my better judgement and now looking at swapping out for the longer pin box (old 5er was OK with the long pin box, new one has the shorter pinbox)

[ford_truck_guy]

Yes.. I was unaware you had that so yes.. if you are nose high, you have 1" increments to lower...

Easily done with the B&W

** AND as Mike pointed out ( just assumed ) make sure you are NOT over 13'6" to the highest point

[RobWNY]

HAHAHA 150 mile social distancing. That's great! No I haven't measured the overall height. I know Grand Design Specs say 12'3" but I have a 2nd air conditioner and when hooked up, those numbers change a lot. Getting from the dealer to my home, it's all interstate and roads without bridges to go under so I'll be fine regardless of the height getting back but measuring the exact height is on my "to do" list. They had to order a new wedge part for the pin box (the one that comes with the Sidewinder doesn't fit right in my B&W hitch) so I had to leave the dealer without the trailer. I'm a little bummed out but better to be safe and have it right than to risk things.

[ACZL]

Rob,

Did you by chance measure from ground to highest point of RV (A/C) to make sure you're still under 13'6"? Just asking with the 10" of bed rail clearance. If my pea size brain recalls right, with our set up, hitch on lowest setting and pin box on highest (closest to underside of RV), I have around 6" (CRS don't recall exactly), overall height is 13'3"-4". Nice looking rig. Now we just have to figure out how eliminate a 150 mile social distance thing!

Check your PM box

[RobWNY]

ford truck guy wrote:
As long as the truck and RV tow level, which for the most part you are... there is NO issues with 10"....My eyes may be playing trucks on me this morning, BUT your trailer looks a very small amount nose high... NOT enough to be concerned with..

IF that is the case, ad you want to level it out a but.., lower the pinbox a set of holes... that should drop you 1-1/2" or there about....

The best way to know is get on the ground and measure from the ground to the bottom of the frame... front..middle..back.. assuming your on a level surface front to back....

Thanks ford truck guy. I might be slightly nose high but I don't know for sure. I was just "eyeballing" it and it looked good at the time but now that you mention it, the nose does look slightly higher than the rear of the trailer in that photo. Where the truck was sitting, I was on gravel with pot holes at the dealer so not an ideal place to measure things and the trailer is also empty. I can make adjustments if needed once I measure things when the trailer is loaded but I'm happy to learn having plenty of clearance between truck rails and the trailer is no problem.

Wouldn't lowering the hitch arm height accomplish the same thing? I believe my B&W Patriot 16k is currently raised up to the highest setting and I know the manual states there's 3" of adjustment. That would be a lot easier. I wouldn't need to have a helper. The Reese Sidewinder is pretty heavy!

[ford_truck_guy]

As long as the truck and RV tow level, which for the most part you are... there is NO issues with 10"....My eyes may be playing trucks on me this morning, BUT your trailer looks a very small amount nose high... NOT enough to be concerned with..

IF that is the case, ad you want to level it out a but.., lower the pinbox a set of holes... that should drop you 1-1/2" or there about....

The best way to know is get on the ground and measure from the ground to the bottom of the frame... front..middle..back.. assuming your on a level surface front to back....