New truck bed rail clearance concerns

[Lantley]

I am contemplating trading in my current TV a 2007 Chevy Dually for a 2019 Chevy 3500HD. My concern is bed height and maintaining the proper clearance between the truck and 5'er. I want to be sure the nose/overhang of the trailer does not contact the truck.
For those of you with newer trucks has this been an issue. Have you had to make alterations to truck or trailer to maintain or create proper clearance?

[Groover]

I don't own a fifth wheel but it sure seems to me that a low side rail bed for fifth wheels and slide-ins with campers made to take advantage of the low bed would offer a lot of benefits. I used to own a slide-in and part of the reason that I got away from it is that the new rigs have to be so high to clear the bed rails.

[MFL]

Lantley wrote:
It seems like there is a clearance issue with some new trucks. In other words don't be surprised if I am nose high!

In my area, I see many more FWs being towed nose-high, rather than level. In my experience, a little nose-high tows just fine. Some are too nose high IMO, and likely crowding the FW rear axle/tires. As to the towing nose-high feel, a FW is pretty forgiving.

Jerry

[Lantley]

It seems like there is a clearance issue with some new trucks. In other words don't be surprised if I am nose high!

[Cummins12V98]

Bed rail height is irrelevant. It’s the loaded bed rail height that counts.

My RAM DRW with factory rear air is 55” at back corner loaded to full RAWR of 9,750# or empty

[RollingOnDown]

I recently purchased a 2019 F450 Platinum 4x4 with off-road package to replace my 2008 F450. The new truck is 5" higher at the tail gate plus I had a Truxedo cover installed. My 5'er is nose high with 4.5" of clearance at the tailgate. The new truck only had a 1" spacer on the rear axle block and my 5'er has it's springs on top of the axles. I had the 1" spacer removed and only gained 1" at the tail gate. On the 28th of this month I have an appointment to have my new hitch adjusted at the RV dealer and hopefully don't have additional clearance issues.

Has anyone run into this with a new truck and older 5'er yet?

[IdaD]

I did an axle flip on our camper and it sits level now. I think it raised it 4-4.5" or thereabouts. I probably have 7" of bedrail clearance plus a lot better clearance on the camper going over uneven terrain.

[transamz9]

My 16 Ram is 58" at the tailgate. My camper sitting level is 57". My truck levels automatically when load is added so I would say that it it 57-58" loaded. I run with 5.5" clearance so that means I run roughly 6" nose high on a 42'6" overall length 5er. My last 5er was pretty much the same. I've had no issues with either one in probably 70,000 miles total.

[transamz9]

My 16 Ram is 58" at the tailgate. My camper sitting level is 57". My truck levels automatically when load is added so I would say that it it 57-58" loaded. I run with 5.5" clearance so that means I run roughly 6" nose high on a 42'6" overall length 5er. My last 5er was pretty much the same. I've had no issues with either one in probably 70,000 miles total.

[ulvik]

With my 2018 Ram 3500 DRW I had 5.25 inches with the camper level. I wanted a little more clearance so cured this with tires on my fifth wheel. I needed to replace the tires anyway so I replaced the tires with a little taller tires and now I have over 6 inches of clearance after I raised the hitch up also an inch. I just went from 235/80/16 to 238/85/16 and raised it just enough.

[Wills6_4_Hemi]

Had same problem, 2016 ram 3500 DRW cc lb 4x4. Had to lower rear of truck and to be perfect I still need to raise 5er 2 inches.

[4x4ord]

My trailer is about 5" nose high....it works as is but I am considering adding a sub frame to address the proplem. I'll likely add a third axle at the same time.

[Lantley]

Super_Dave wrote:
Have you put a tape measure on your current truck bed so you can simply compare it to the truck you are looking at?

I haven't had a chance to. I guess I'm not quite that serious yet, but I am getting there.
I guess I'm trying to find out if it is a common practice to make modifications when hooking up a newer truck to an older 5'er.

[rhagfo]

Super_Dave wrote:
Have you put a tape measure on your current truck bed so you can simply compare it to the truck you are looking at?

Yep, I was looking a 2012 Ram 3500 DRW, 1.5” taller than my 2001 2500, both 4X4.

[Super_Dave]

Have you put a tape measure on your current truck bed so you can simply compare it to the truck you are looking at?