Forum Discussion

carpetguy2's avatar
carpetguy2
Explorer
May 10, 2013

Bed clearance issuses

Just recently purchased a 2007.5 chevy dually Ltz.And a new draw tight high rise fifthwheel hitch18k.Only getting 5" of clearance between tonneau cover rails5 1/2" to bed rails.Had a 07 lifted gmc 2500 with reese pro 15k fw hitch and had 8"*
Raised the new hitch all the way up too..Any one have any ideas .any other duallys have low clearance
  • I assume your hitch is as high as it will go? If so you need to lower the kingpin box one hole. 5" in my opinion is too close. 6" is min. as far as I am concerned.
  • 5-6" is pretty minimal but not unheard of. I regularly see fivers running down the road and you couldn't fit a Sunday paper above the bedrails... I always wonder what they do when pulling into a raised or lowered driveway.
  • No solution. I am in the same boat. I am surviving so far with 5 inches.
  • The 2007.5 models marked a change in body styles, and a 2 inch rise in bed heights. It doesn't make the trucks look better, only increases the cubic capacity of the truck bed, but screws anyone with an "in the bed hitch". This is why you have less clearance with your new truck. You can probably get by with five inches, just be careful off road, like when backing into a parking spot. The usual solutions have already been posted, just be careful that you don't get the nose of your trailer too high while trying to gain bed rail clearance, as this will create a whole set of new problems related to weight distribution and overhead clearances.
  • I installed 2" dropped rear spring shackles on my 2011 to level the bed and increase clearance.

    About $100 and an hour work.
  • LOL
    I ran around 3 years and about 20k miles with 4". Yes every driveway I was watching it like a hawk. Then I joined this forum and found out 6" minimum was what most guys suggested. I was lucky to make a simple hitch adjustment to get the extra 2 inches. 5 and a half inches I wouldn't sweat it unless your doing lots of back road travel.
  • That is what is good about these forums, everyone needs to learn and it sure is nice to have people give ideas and suggestions so you don't have to learn the hard way!