Min. distance

You know what would be another option is a stake bed, then you could have taller compartments more towards the front and accessible from the sides and Low profile storage more towards the rear. You could make the compartments removable so you can put back on bed sides and a gate when you need to.

KKELLER14K wrote:
I would like to see a hydraulic hitch head that can adjust on the fly, say nose down on the truck and close to hitting side rails on the rear bed...but then the neck extends to give more clearance...who has it already? Mmmmm...something to think about? Show me the money...we can do it!! Kind of like extreme 5th wheel off roading..LOL!

How about this, don't build the trucks so darn high !! gee wiz I don't want to use a step stool to get in it. Or at least give us the option of a lower side rail box.

I'm going from 15 to 16 inch tires and wheels plus a 2 inch lift of my spring brackets. Having a dually long bed really is a challenge because they ride so high...and it takes a lot of weight to push them down. My max tongue weight on this 5ver is only 1500 pounds which is a fraction of what it takes to even engage the overload springs... I pulled this rig out of AZ last fall and found out real quick how close it comes to hitting the rails...scary really. I'm working on getting a level ride but having a lot more space between the rigs is ultimately my goal so I can rest a little easier....a flat bed would be the cure all but nothing is off the table. You never know...lol.

If I have to I will see about raising the trailer. The axles are already on top of the springs. My dad has had no issues with his 2001 7700 F150.

My plan is to buy my dad's 2002 Security W26SLQRK which is in mint condition. I'm going to use a Reese Sidewinder in my 5 1/2' box. It has a 900lb dry pin weight and I have 1500 lbs of available payload before my rear axle is maxed out.

I have somewhere between 5-6 inches, I don't remember the exact measurement. Last year on a trip to Oregon and back I had to turn around in a paved motel parking lot that had a fairly significant slope at the the edge of the road. I went over the sloped edge at an angle and when the axles went over the edge the 5ver rocked back and forth significantly. When it rocked the under side of the 5ver hit the top of the bed rail on the passenger sie put a 4 inch diameter dent in the bed rail.

I've learned two things by that mistake. Be very careful of your terrain and go slower that you think you should over uneven terrain.

Much depends on the length of the bed..... pin placement......length of extended pin box.

I've found a longbed with the pin 3-4" in front of the trucks rear axles may need 6"-7" clearance so the top of the bed at the rear doesn't get into bottom of the trailers overhead.
A short bed truck with the pin zero over the trucks rear axle and a extended pin box may get by with 5".

And of course camping in the bojacks over all kinds of terrain vs glamping in RV parks with all paved/level/flat roads and parking pads make a difference in the amount of clearance needed for a particular truck/trailer combo.

Million Dollar Idea?....havn't seen one yet but just like everything, If I thought of it, it's been done right?

I would like to see a hydraulic hitch head that can adjust on the fly, say nose down on the truck and close to hitting side rails on the rear bed...but then the neck extends to give more clearance...who has it already? Mmmmm...something to think about? Show me the money...we can do it!! Kind of like extreme 5th wheel off roading..LOL!

A lot depends on how you plan to use your 5th. Rolling down the highway in and out of RV parks, flat driveway at home you can get away with minimal 5-6". If you plan to get off grid a bit on bumpy roads and/or if you have a steep driveway or place you park you need more clearance. I have 7.5" and it's barely enough for my driveway (slopes down from the street). A slider hitch can sometimes help on changed in grade. The underside of my 5th comes close to the back corners of my pickup bed when backing in beside my house but when I slide it back it clears much more easily.