Setting up for 5th wheel

[Kach]

I've been all over the map on what to get for the next rig - now looking at an Arcic Fox 23-5a. Is anyone familiar with this trailer/clearances. I haven't seen it in person yet, but it appears that it has a spring-over axle conversion (due to high ride height).

My truck is a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 short bed - bed rails sit at 56.5" in the rear and 24.5" in the front of the bed. The truck has oversized tires, so I'm a bit worried about clearance (295 70 r17, otherwise stock ride height). The truck had a 5er hitch when I bought it (hmmm, should have kept that) so the holes are already drilled for the rails/install kit.

Any ideas on what the best hitch would be? Do you think my clearances would be OK? Will I have the adjustability to switch to smaller tires in the future (I'm thinking about doing this anyways, getting too old for the mud tire whine and not worth the extra expense to me anymore...).

Thanks!

[Kach]

Yep, that was supposed to be 54.5" in the front of the bed and 56.5 in the rear of the bed clearance...

I haven't seen the trailer in person yet - not sure how close my clearance would be. How much adjustability do 5th wheel hitches typically have? New tires would likely lower my truck about 2" based on what I've been looking at. I would rather not have to do that for quite a while because my current Toyos have plenty of capacity and lots of life left in them.

[Miles_Away]

I see from your post that the trailer axles have already been flipped and are mounted below the springs, so there is no other adjustment in that venue.

I don't understand your bed rail measurements, unless there is a typo. You have stated your front bed rail height is 32" lower than your rear, when I think you meant to say 2".

You may want to scrap the over sized tires as they make the truck awful high for fiver towing and reduce your torque.

Lastly, I highly recommend the B & W 5th wheel hitches.

[wittmeba]

Smaller trailer seem to be designed to fit the F150/1500 trucks.

When connected to an F250/2500 you can always adjust the hitch and pin box to accommodate the needed clearance but doing so may cause your 5th wheel to be nose high and you will always look like you are pulling your rig uphill.

An alteration to the axle may be the only answer whether flipping or having some extensions added to the shackles.


Links to most hitch mfgs:

http://gotnarcosis.com/brucewittmeier/technical/FifthWheelHitchComments.html