Truck bed rails too high

That's one solution.

If ugly is ok with you, sure. Personally I want my rig clean, shiny, pretty etc.

Or raise the 5th wheel so it tows level and then keep truck for using as a truck.

Less expensive to raise trailer then outfit truck with flatbed

Well that is certainly one way to do it and if truck use works good for a flatbed not a bad choice. However the box delete on the truck will be worth about $500 if buying new or you can get it with the box and try and sell it and probably get at least that much for it. The flatbed will run at least $2500 and on up to well over $10k depending on what brand what features, matching paint etc. There are some really nice ones out there but those really nice ones can get expensive. Also be aware that some of them well many if not most all will come with a goose ball but not all can accommodate a companion hitch (5th wheel) like in the pic. I know I looked at a Hillsboro bed which came with the ball but it could not take a fifth due to the way the ball was mounted and the bed construction (at least for the model I was looking at). So if you go that route you just want to make sure about that.

Here is my solution to bed rails too high for my camper.

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29321938.cfm

Good luck!

My solution was a custom utility bed so it still has bed rails, but height is 50 inches so no problem leveling the fiver. Flatbeds are heavy because they are intended to carry heavy weight items anywhere on the bed, but pin weight is very localized. My utility bed only adds 400 lbs.

Cost was significant, around $5k with upgrade paint and clear coat. But that was 14 years ago, 10 years on the previous truck and 4 years on this truck, it will outlast my need. On both trucks, I sold the factory bed, tailgate and bumper for around $2500 each. Cost of a used bed and bumper to sell the first truck was less than $1000. Even with misc costs my net cost is about $100/year.

Switching to a flatbed may have other implications. In CA a pick up converted to a flatbed becomes commercial and has different licensing requirements- none that are good.

Nv Guy wrote:
Switching to a flatbed may have other implications. In CA a pick up converted to a flatbed becomes commercial and has different licensing requirements- none that are good.

I thought that all pickup trucks with one exception are considered commercial vehicles in California. A pick up with a permanent TC bolted to the truck can be licensed as a non-commercial vehicle just like a Class C.

May I ask what the other licensing requirements are and how they are not good?

Nv Guy wrote:
Switching to a flatbed may have other implications. In CA a pick up converted to a flatbed becomes commercial and has different licensing requirements- none that are good.

Same in Ontario.

Nv Guy wrote:
Switching to a flatbed may have other implications. In CA a pick up converted to a flatbed becomes commercial and has different licensing requirements- none that are good.

and how the people let the govt rule them. sorry unless its used for hire purpose how can they take a truck used for private recreational purposes and classify it as commercial?