F350 too tall for fiver

[johndeerefarmer]

I got my new Columbus 295RL and with my '15 F350 I am sitting at around 13'7". Has anyone lowered theirs?

I see several ways:
1. I can raise the pin box one hole and drop 1" or so- it will only go up one hole
2. change from my 20's to 18" wheels and tires and drop by 1 1/2"
3. Possibly take out the 4" rear blocks and put in the 2" blocks from a F230- but I have read of others doing this and having issues with axle wrap and shuddering.

I would like to be sitting around 13'4" max.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[johndeerefarmer]

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:

johndeerefarmer wrote:
I got my new Columbus 295RL and with my '15 F350 I am sitting at around 13'7". Has anyone lowered theirs?

I see several ways:
1. I can raise the pin box one hole and drop 1" or so- it will only go up one hole
2. change from my 20's to 18" wheels and tires and drop by 1 1/2"
3. Possibly take out the 4" rear blocks and put in the 2" blocks from a F230- but I have read of others doing this and having issues with axle wrap and shuddering.

I would like to be sitting around 13'4" max.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

🙂 Hi, if the 18" tires are 1 1/2"s lower, it will only lower your truck by half of that. So this will only drop your truck by 3/4".

Thanks- I wasn't thinking

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

johndeerefarmer wrote:
I got my new Columbus 295RL and with my '15 F350 I am sitting at around 13'7". Has anyone lowered theirs?

I see several ways:
1. I can raise the pin box one hole and drop 1" or so- it will only go up one hole
2. change from my 20's to 18" wheels and tires and drop by 1 1/2"
3. Possibly take out the 4" rear blocks and put in the 2" blocks from a F230- but I have read of others doing this and having issues with axle wrap and shuddering.

I would like to be sitting around 13'4" max.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

🙂 Hi, if the 18" tires are 1 1/2"s lower, it will only lower your truck by half of that. So this will only drop your truck by 3/4".

[ACZL]

13'6" for semi trailers. Anything taller than that needs to be permitted/escorted.

[BB_TX]

From the federal DOT web site about interstates;


No federal vehicle height limit is imposed. State standards range from 13.6 feet to 14.6 feet.


dot web site

[johndeerefarmer]

All eastern states have a max limit of 13'6"



http://www.heavyhaultrucking.co/trucking-legal-height-limits-map/

[W4RLR]

Considering that the minimum height on interstate highways is fourteen feet, and 18 wheelers are typically 13'9", unless you are going through some highways in the east with low clearances, I wonder what your concern is? My rig, on a 4x4 F-250 and the fiver having the A/C and satellite dome on the roof on flipped axles, is at 13'7" and I've never had a problem with clearance anywhere.

[johndeerefarmer]

I do need to get an accurate measurement before I do anything. I am currently waiting on a replacement part for my Pullrite slider. The latch somehow got bent the first time I hooked it up. Parts should be here tomorrow then I will load up the camper and take another measurement. I just don't want to be over that 13'6" height.

[Garry_Gayle]

Have you loaded the trailer ready to camp? I did the 350 to 250 block change on an 04 F350 and after towing a couple thousand miles and the newness of the rear springs wore off, I ended up putting the 350 blocks back in. If it were mine I would load it up and tow a bit (watching for overhead clearance) to break in your springs it will settle a bit.

I measured a new F350 and it sits the same height at the tailgate as a 2004 F350 that's never really been loaded up.

[Golden_HVAC]

Yes moving the hitch will give you one inch, and still have 6" between the tailgate and trailer, so that part is good.

I have heard that you do not want to be less than 6".

IT is really something to think about before buying a 4X4 F-350. I am thinking of getting a 2 WD for that reason, I want to be able to see over the pickup bed! I will not get any 'fancy bling' such as the 20" tires. I enjoy the vibration absorption of the balloon tires. The dealership manager that ordered the 20" tire option was not considerate of your ride long term. 20" rims will make the truck feel like it is on rails as you go around a corner at 30 MPH, but a balloon tire will absorb potholes much better, without transmitting nearly as much vibration into the truck.

Good luck!

Fred.

[MFL]

If you raise the pin box to gain 1", you will still have 6"s bed rail clearance. I think going from 4" block, to 2", really should not be a problem. The 350 is just jacked up that couple of inches in the rear, where the 250 sits closer to level.

I think the axle wrap, or shudder problem happens when a truck is severely overloaded, and the rear end squat is excessive.

The tires would help too, but at huge cost, for new tires, and wheels.

If after P-box and spacers, you are still 2"s or less nose high, I would call it good. JMO

Jerry

[BB_TX]

I had the 4" replaced with 2" blocks on my '07 F350 FX4 SRW and had no problems at all with the truck towing or not, 35' 5er. But on the current 2012 F350 FX4 SRW I left the 4" blocks on. 5er rides just a little nose high but not enough to be a concern. I did lower the hitch on the new truck 2 bolt holes. 6" clearance to bed rails on both. 20" wheels on both.

[johndeerefarmer]

The 18"s are 1 1/2" shorter than the 20"s. I found this out when i removed the spare to install my slider hitch. I put it up against my 20" and its way shorter.

I have about 7" between the camper and truck rails

[ScottG]

I think you'll find that the difference between those two tires sizes is not that much because the 20's are lower profile.

[45Ricochet]

How much room between your camper the the truck rails?