Tailgate Clearance When Towing with a Late Model Truck

[RamTX]

I am considering buying a 2 wd Ram diesel 2500 truck for towing my 5th wheel trailer. Late model trucks have much higher tailgates than older model 2500 trucks like my 2005 diesel Ram. Just curious how others have addressed the clearance issues between the pin box and the tailgate. I do have a small amount of additional height that I can gain on the jack plates by lowering the axles, but that is only 2 inches. Tires on the 5th wheel are 15 inches. I know that I could do an axle flip but looking for other options also. Thanks.

[Braces]

2013 Ram 2wd diesel 2500, 2014 Montana High Country. Adjusted pin box height and got 6-7 inch clearance.

[Bipeflier]

Lowering shackles for the rear of the truck.

[laknox]

RamTX, IMO, you should go ahead and flip the axles. The kit isn't that expensive and, if you're reasonably handy, it's not a hard DIY job. You then won't have to worry about truck height and bed clearance. Just be sure that the new spring perches are welded to the axles. I sure wish I'd done my old Komfort. At the same time, you can add a wet bolt kit that will greatly extend the live of your suspension with good bronze bushings, heavier shackles and greasable bolts. Again, another mod I wish I'd done. Wet bolts on my new KZ are high on the mod list, for sure.

Lyle

[RamTX]

john&bet wrote:

RamTX wrote:
I am considering buying a 2 wd Ram diesel 2500 truck for towing my 5th wheel trailer. Late model trucks have much higher tailgates than older model 2500 trucks like my 2005 diesel Ram. Just curious how others have addressed the clearance issues between the pin box and the tailgate. I do have a small amount of additional height that I can gain on the jack plates by lowering the axles, but that is only 2 inches. Tires on the 5th wheel are 15 inches. I know that I could do an axle flip but looking for other options also. Thanks.

What is the height of the truck you are considering? My '04 2500 is at 52". What dealer in Houston has a 2wd truck? I can't find any anywhere?

Found 4 late model, used, Ram diesel, two wheel drives which have SLT or higher trim levels in the entire state over the last month or so! There seems to be a few more Ram Tradesman 2 wheel drive models available than the other trim levels. There appears to be about 200 4x4 diesels for every one 4x2 diesel for sale!

[john_bet]

RamTX wrote:
I am considering buying a 2 wd Ram diesel 2500 truck for towing my 5th wheel trailer. Late model trucks have much higher tailgates than older model 2500 trucks like my 2005 diesel Ram. Just curious how others have addressed the clearance issues between the pin box and the tailgate. I do have a small amount of additional height that I can gain on the jack plates by lowering the axles, but that is only 2 inches. Tires on the 5th wheel are 15 inches. I know that I could do an axle flip but looking for other options also. Thanks.

What is the height of the truck you are considering? My '04 2500 is at 52". What dealer in Houston has a 2wd truck? I can't find any anywhere?

[john_bet]

Durb wrote:
When I measured tailgate heights on new Ram 3500 4X4s the dually was 2 inches lower than SRW trucks. Might apply to 2WD also. I have to stay with the truck in my signature because no way will my trailer fit a new truck.

The 4x4 srw trucks I have measured are all 8" taller than my 2wd truck. For me that can't work.

[Durb]

goducks10 wrote:

Durb wrote:
When I measured tailgate heights on new Ram 3500 4X4s the dually was 2 inches lower than SRW trucks. Might apply to 2WD also. I have to stay with the truck in my signature because no way will my trailer fit a new truck.

Aren't the DRW running 17" tires as opposed to 18"-20" for SRW?

Can't say what the reason is. SRW - 59", DRW - 57"

[goducks10]

Durb wrote:
When I measured tailgate heights on new Ram 3500 4X4s the dually was 2 inches lower than SRW trucks. Might apply to 2WD also. I have to stay with the truck in my signature because no way will my trailer fit a new truck.

Aren't the DRW running 17" tires as opposed to 18"-20" for SRW?

[Durb]

When I measured tailgate heights on new Ram 3500 4X4s the dually was 2 inches lower than SRW trucks. Might apply to 2WD also. I have to stay with the truck in my signature because no way will my trailer fit a new truck.

[Lwiddis]

Will two inches cause an issue, Ram?

[donn0128]

The height difference is maybe 2 inches.