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Truck too tall for 5th wheel

SCCamper
Explorer
Explorer
Hi all, new member here.

My Dad has a 2014 Dodge 2500 4x4 he would like to use to tow a 5th wheel. The issue is that the truck be is 60-61" high which I believe is 6-7" too tall for most fifth wheel campers. There is no easy way to lower the truck.

Is there anyone here who has direct personal experience with a spring over conversion on a fifth wheel or some other method of lifting the trailer? My concerns (and his) are that there will be clearance issues with the AC unit with low bridges and that the trailer will be unsafe due to the loss of stability with the raised CG.

Any other way to two a fifth wheel with this truck other than lifting the trailer?

Thanks
37 REPLIES 37

Sunshineinal
Explorer
Explorer
We have a 2011 Montana Mountaineer and are about to buy a 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel. Would you recommend we get a 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive? We are concerned about the height of the 4 wheel drive truck.

C_Schomer
Explorer
Explorer
I build hauler beds on my trucks. No clearance problems at all. Craig
2012 Dodge 3500 DRW CCLB 4wd, custom hauler bed.
2008 Sunnybrook Titan 30 RKFS Morryde and Disc brakes
WILL ROGERS NEVER MET JOE BIDEN!

phillyg
Explorer II
Explorer II
Has he even tried to hook up the FW? If no, I suggest he do that first to determine if he really has a problem. If so, at least then he'll know how much higher the FW must sit to get level.
--2005 Ford F350 Lariat Crewcab 6.0, 4x4, 3.73 rear
--2016 Montana 3711FL, 40'
--2014 Wildcat 327CK, 38' SOLD

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
I would suggest your Dad just goes to a RV dealer and hook up. You will be surprised at how the truck will settle to a "level" ride loaded. He will be fine with any of the newer RV's.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Arcamper
Explorer
Explorer
up2nogood wrote:
C-Bears wrote:
SCCamper wrote:
Hi all, new member here.

My Dad has a 2014 Dodge 2500 4x4 he would like to use to tow a 5th wheel. The issue is that the truck be is 60-61" high which I believe is 6-7" too tall for most fifth wheel campers.

Thanks


My F350 measures 58" from the ground to the top of the bed rails. I am surprised that a 3/4 ton Dodge would sit 2 - 3" higher, so does he have some type of lift kit or oversize tires on his truck?

If the Dodge is "jacked" or has some type of huge aftermarket tires then I would correct those issues. Otherwise, if the truck is generally stock then you probably don't have anything to worry about even if it is 61" high. As others have stated you can make adjustments to hitches or adjustments to pin boxes. Either way you are not going to be 6" or 7" too high for a 5th wheel, or at least nothing produced in the last 10 years.



I have a stock 2014 Ram 3500 ,and it sits 59.5 inches to the top of the tailgate, a little shorter then the op's 2500 . Stock tires rims etc etc

I own a 2008 Montana fifth wheel ,with the axles above the springs, my pin box is a high as it can go , and the hitch is as low as I dare go, and I am still around 3-4 inches too tall. There is nothing else I can do short of lowering the Stock truck or raising the fifth wheel more.

Maybe the newer fifth wheels will be okay, but my 7 year old fifth wheel is not.These new trucks are just too high in the rear. My previous truck with same fifth wheel was borderline high ( 1999 Superduty 350 )


I have the same problem with my new 3500 Ram DRW. I need 3 more inches in height on the trailer. I don't have a good welding shop around so my options where to put 2 inch spacer blocks or go with the Correct Track system that gives 2 inches more in height. The blocks are not recommended by anyone and the Correct Track is approved by Lippert and now standard on some trailers. I am not real crazy about the design of it either but I am going to give it a try and just pull one inch nose high. We only plan on keeping our current trailer less than a year so we will see how it does.
2016 Montana 3100RL Legacy(LT's,Joy Rider 2's,disc brakes)
2014 Ram 3500 DRW Laramie Cummins/Aisin 14,000 GVWR
2014 Ford Expedition Limited, HD tow pkg
2016 Honda Civic EX-T
1999 Stingray 240LS
1994 Chevy 1500 5.7 PU
2018 John Deere 1025R
B&W RVK3600 Hitch

cummins2014
Explorer
Explorer
MFL wrote:
Most newer mid sized FWs will have a similar pin box height. I think most newer, will also have the springs on top of axle.

I think even with the coils, the Ram will squat some. I tow my FW a little nose high, not a big deal. The larger FWs with taller tires, and more hitch weight, are the ones you see towing nice and level.

If you can get 6"s bed rail clearance, even if you need to be 1-2 inches nose high, it will work.

Jerry



I tow nose high a bit, not a real problem.

MFL
Nomad II
Nomad II
Most newer mid sized FWs will have a similar pin box height. I think most newer, will also have the springs on top of axle.

I think even with the coils, the Ram will squat some. I tow my FW a little nose high, not a big deal. The larger FWs with taller tires, and more hitch weight, are the ones you see towing nice and level.

If you can get 6"s bed rail clearance, even if you need to be 1-2 inches nose high, it will work.

Jerry

cummins2014
Explorer
Explorer
C-Bears wrote:
SCCamper wrote:
Hi all, new member here.

My Dad has a 2014 Dodge 2500 4x4 he would like to use to tow a 5th wheel. The issue is that the truck be is 60-61" high which I believe is 6-7" too tall for most fifth wheel campers.

Thanks


My F350 measures 58" from the ground to the top of the bed rails. I am surprised that a 3/4 ton Dodge would sit 2 - 3" higher, so does he have some type of lift kit or oversize tires on his truck?

If the Dodge is "jacked" or has some type of huge aftermarket tires then I would correct those issues. Otherwise, if the truck is generally stock then you probably don't have anything to worry about even if it is 61" high. As others have stated you can make adjustments to hitches or adjustments to pin boxes. Either way you are not going to be 6" or 7" too high for a 5th wheel, or at least nothing produced in the last 10 years.



I have a stock 2014 Ram 3500 ,and it sits 59.5 inches to the top of the tailgate, a little shorter then the op's 2500 . Stock tires rims etc etc

I own a 2008 Montana fifth wheel ,with the axles above the springs, my pin box is a high as it can go , and the hitch is as low as I dare go, and I am still around 3-4 inches too tall. There is nothing else I can do short of lowering the Stock truck or raising the fifth wheel more.

Maybe the newer fifth wheels will be okay, but my 7 year old fifth wheel is not.These new trucks are just too high in the rear. My previous truck with same fifth wheel was borderline high ( 1999 Superduty 350 )

SCCamper
Explorer
Explorer
Does anyone know of a make or model that is typically taller in the front? I think the tow rating of this truck is 12,500 but I'm not positive. Like I said, the ones I saw this morning were all in the 60" range.

Thanks again

SCCamper
Explorer
Explorer
Appreciate all the replies, some good info here. The truck is not lifted, totally stock suspension and tires. The 2014 Dodges have coil springs in the back instead of leaf springs so it will not squat under a load nearly as much as the older ones would.

I walked around a large RV dealership today and the tallest one I found was a Forest River Cardinal which was 63" off the ground on what looked like a level parking lot. That one was too heavy to tow with a 2500 anyway. My Dad and I live in different states so I can't pull the truck in there to check. He went to a dealership where he lives and was told it couldn't be done without lifting the trailer or driving with the trailer nose high.

azrving
Explorer
Explorer
The truck isn't too high, the 5er is too low. ๐Ÿ™‚ I guess it's the new normal. If you flip the axles it will raise it about 5.5 inches. I also went with 16 inch LT tires for a total of 6 in. At the time I also added Dexter ezflex and wet bolts.

When you are done your rear stabilizers may not touch the ground and your 3 step fold out will need another step. You can get a step stool or build a box to step on or buy a 4 step unit. Some complain about the 4 step unit being weak. My ac unit is now 12' 10". The good part is that it's easy to get under it now and I have no problem going off road.

If you need a full 6 inches you will most likely need the flip. If you can get by with less you may be able to move the suspension if you have other holes in the mounts. Some gain lift by using the axle alignment kit. Or a combination of things. Some build a sub frame to get 3 or 4 or 5 inches. Mine was either a flip or it wasn't enough. I could have done major welding and fabrication and got by with 4.5 or 5 but for now it works. I dont really like the height but there's nothing you can do.

I even remember one guy on here saying he liked his rig a little a little higher so that when he stops and doesn't unhook, he can just drop the landing gear and raise the rig and back of the truck slightly rather than have to unhook just to drop the front of the rig.

16's put my tires close together but my chocks still fit between them.

As someone else said the truck will squat plus how much weight will the hitch and other junk add? My hitch is 300 plus generator 130 and metal enclosure, propane, gas cans, storage bins....700 to 750?





tn_terry_t
Explorer
Explorer
SCCamper wrote:
tn terry t wrote:
dexter makes a kit to put the axles under the springs in which will give about four inches I have put two of these kits on with no problems also you could have a sub frame built. I've seen 2x4 and 2x6 square tubing to build these sub frames


Terry, did you have any problems with the height clearance (low bridges, tree limbs in campgrounds) or did you notice any problems with stability in crosswinds on the interstate?

Thanks-Brian
no sir I had no problems at all hight or other wise I have an older fifth wheel so its no as tall as a lot of the newer ones. also I have been reading where a lot of the newer rigs come with the axles already under the springs have you had a look under there yet?

RustyJC
Explorer
Explorer
SCCamper wrote:
My Dad has a 2014 Dodge 2500 4x4 he would like to use to tow a 5th wheel. The issue is that the truck be is 60-61" high which I believe is 6-7" too tall for most fifth wheel campers. There is no easy way to lower the truck.


Is the truck stock (no lift kits, larger tires/wheels, etc.)? If so, then there shouldn't be a problem with many NEWER 5th wheels - they are being designed for the higher and higher bed sides of the newer trucks.

In the case of our DRV Mobile Suites, DRV offers a 2" riser that's installed between the frame and suspension (typically a MorRyde independent suspension system) of the RV. My MS 38RSSA has the 2" riser (it was bought from dealer stock) but it isn't needed with my 2WD dually. As far as the newer 4WD duallies (including the Ram), some DRV owners are ordering their units with the 2" riser; others are not. I haven't seen anyone reporting that they are unable to get an acceptable setup for towing either way.

With a 2500, towing a DRV isn't an option, but I bring this up as other 5th wheel manufacturers may have similar options.

Rusty
2014.5 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSSA #6972

2016 Ram 3500 Dually Longhorn Crew Cab Long Bed, 4x4, 385/900 Cummins, Aisin AS69RC, 4.10, 39K+ GCWR, 30K+ trailer tow rating, 14K GVWR

B&W RVK3600

C-Bears
Explorer
Explorer
SCCamper wrote:
Hi all, new member here.

My Dad has a 2014 Dodge 2500 4x4 he would like to use to tow a 5th wheel. The issue is that the truck be is 60-61" high which I believe is 6-7" too tall for most fifth wheel campers.

Thanks


My F350 measures 58" from the ground to the top of the bed rails. I am surprised that a 3/4 ton Dodge would sit 2 - 3" higher, so does he have some type of lift kit or oversize tires on his truck?

If the Dodge is "jacked" or has some type of huge aftermarket tires then I would correct those issues. Otherwise, if the truck is generally stock then you probably don't have anything to worry about even if it is 61" high. As others have stated you can make adjustments to hitches or adjustments to pin boxes. Either way you are not going to be 6" or 7" too high for a 5th wheel, or at least nothing produced in the last 10 years.
2014 Montana 3725RL (Goodyear G614 Tires, Flow Thru TPMS)

SPENDING THE WINTERS AT OUR HOME IN SW FLORIDA. THE REST OF THE YEAR SEEING THE U.S. FROM OUR LIVING ROOM WINDOW!

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
New 5th wheels tend to sit higher,60" is not too tall many also come with the axles under the springs already. keep in mind the TV will settle a bit 1" to 2" or so with the weight of the 5er. Then there is the sub-frame option.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

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