Towing a fifth wheel with a 6" lift. Will I have issues?

[lacofdfireman]

I bought an 07.5 New body style Chevy Duramax truck and it came with a 6" lift and 295 tires. Basically 35" tires. We are in the process of buying a 2014 Grand Reflection 303RLS and I'm worried about driving out 300 mikes to pick it up because my truck is lifted. My truck has the B&W turnover ball and the guy is giving us his B&W companion hitch out of his truck to go with the fifth wheel. Is it possible I'll get up there to buy this and my truck will be to high for the fifth wheel to work? Also should I put airbags on my truck? The guy that owned the truck before me took the airbags off that he had on.

[Trackrig]

lacofdfireman wrote:

I'm overloaded towing a 10k lb trailer with a duramax 2500? The trailer itself shows a GVW or 9300lbs. Thought the Duramax was good to 17500lbs? No

IF you have a 17,500# GVW, then minus the weight of the truck itself which is about 8,200#, you do have 9,300# left before you get in it or put anything else (like the hitch or the air bags) in the truck.

You might be OK on weight, but I don't think you're going to get it hooked up correctly without modifying the 5th suspension to raise the trailer.

Bill

[donn0128]

Please remember what I said. IF the PO installed springs to achieve the lift it is highly likely the springs are no longer rated to handle the load. Most lifts use really soft springs to achieve a soft ride off road where lifts are suppose to work. The OP needs to research the lift and try to determine thespring load rates before he attempts to tow this trailer.
BTW the GD web site lists the trailer as a 11,995 GVWR and 9900 pounds dry.
Remember the truck is no longer stock, so ALL factory numbers and specs are out the window.

[Cummins12V98]

Let's just say I have a seen a few with similar combos laying on their side along I-10 Palm Springs, CA area where all the wind mills are located.

[lacofdfireman]

donn0128 wrote:
Your going to have two major problems. The 6 inch lift if from springs could mean your truck basically will have too soft of a suspension to handle the load. Second 6 inches is the recomended minimuum recomended clearence between truck and trailer. So in essence you will have ZERO clearence. Likely making it impossible to hitch up, much less attempt to drive down the road with it.
On top of all the other mistakes you have made, if this is a 2500HD and not a 3500 even in stock form, which it is not, you likely will be overloaded just a bare bones trailer.

I'm overloaded towing a 10k lb trailer with a duramax 2500? The trailer itself shows a GVW or 9300lbs. Thought the Duramax was good to 17500lbs? No

[MFL]

How high is it from the ground to the top of tailgate? If more than 60"s, it will likely be a problem. Even at 60"s, you'll likely be nose high. If the truck squats 2-3"s from pin wt, that may help.

Jerry

[donn0128]

Your going to have two major problems. The 6 inch lift if from springs could mean your truck basically will have too soft of a suspension to handle the load. Second 6 inches is the recomended minimuum recomended clearence between truck and trailer. So in essence you will have ZERO clearence. Likely making it impossible to hitch up, much less attempt to drive down the road with it.
On top of all the other mistakes you have made, if this is a 2500HD and not a 3500 even in stock form, which it is not, you likely will be overloaded just a bare bones trailer.

[Trackrig]

I'd call the guy and ask him how high the sides of his pick-up box are and then measure yours. I think you'll have problems. You might have to dump the lift kit and tires or raise the 5th by putting a 4" or larger piece of tube stock between the spring hangers and the frame rail. And that's not going to help the weight of the 5ht any.

Bill

[TucsonJim]

The 2014 303 had several complaints on the Grand Design owner's forum about not being tall enough to use with non lifted trucks. In 2015, Grand Design modified the chassis to add a two inch lift to the rig. I don't believe you'll be able to tow anywhere near level with that combination unless you either bring the truck back to a stock condition, or add substantial lift to the trailer.

Jim