Towing with a 2012 Dodge

[sfretts]

We have a 2008 Mountaineer that we had been towing with a 2007 3/4 ton Dodge. I have a short bed and have the super Glide hitch. Could turn the trailer at a 45 degree angle and never a problem.

Recently upgraded to a 2012 1 ton Dodge. It sits about four inches higher. Put the same hitch in and it seems that the side panels in the bed are taller.

Anyway, have towed the trailer a few times with no problems and recently added a roll n lock tonneau cover. The other day, I had to make a sharp turn in a parking lot (pulling the trailer) and yep, it hit and crunched the side rail.

Question is that I need to raise the trailer tongue(?) up a couple inches so this does not happen again. Anyone out there encounter the same problem and how did you fix it?

Thanks

Steve

[DQDick]

Most hitches have height adjustments. On my Reese there are two bolts on each side. The pin box should also be adjustable. Depending on how your trailer is riding you may need to adjust the suspension also to keep it towing level. That could be a bigger issue. In my case I changed the suspension anyway so it worked.

[triplehorn]

What DQDick said. My 2012 3500 had to be adjusted also as you describe from the 2005 3500. Both the hitch and the pin box needs to be changed.

[catskiner]

Have heared where some have cut or shaved off the back of the pinbox to add a little more clearence.

[Art-n-Marge]

Four inches higher... Wow, that's a lot. How about the spacer(s) used at the leaf spring pack? There was a year that Ford inserted 4" spaces at the spring sets and for a while owners were able to take their truck back to the dealer if they had issues and get 2" spacers installed instead. I don't know if this is an option to lower the stance of the Dodge truck.

BTW - I think the OP meant turns of 90 degree or over, not 45 degrees. A TV better be able to do 45 degrees with ease...

[sfretts]

Pullrite sells a 3 inch riser for the hitch. I am going to do some measuring and see if that will do the trick. Thanks for the replies

Steve

[mach111]

We are towing a '09 2980RL Monty with a 2012 Dodge 3500 4 x 4 w/ B & W Companion Fifth Wheel hitch. After reading several post about bed rail clearance I raised the hitch one notch so I could have 6 inch clearance between Monty and bed rail. I am now as high as I can go w/o getting out of level. The pin box and hitch has more adjustments but I will not tow that far our of level. Maybe I need to check the spacer blocks on TV. The truck does a great job towing so I do not desire to change tow vehicles.

[Bigsky3625RE]

quote:Originally posted by sfretts

We have a 2008 Mountaineer that we had been towing with a 2007 3/4 ton Dodge. I have a short bed and have the super Glide hitch. Could turn the trailer at a 45 degree angle and never a problem.

Recently upgraded to a 2012 1 ton Dodge. It sits about four inches higher. Put the same hitch in and it seems that the side panels in the bed are taller.

Anyway, have towed the trailer a few times with no problems and recently added a roll n lock tonneau cover. The other day, I had to make a sharp turn in a parking lot (pulling the trailer) and yep, it hit and crunched the side rail.

Question is that I need to raise the trailer tongue(?) up a couple inches so this does not happen again. Anyone out there encounter the same problem and how did you fix it?

Thanks

Steve

I also added a Retraxpro cover. Took a sharp turn in a lot and shaved a little of the tonneau cover side rail.

Can't raise the hitch or will be nose high. If I adjust the tounge same thing.

I decided I would just keep an eye on the tounge and not turn so sharp.

So far so good.

[steelpony5555]

On some of the newer trucks you may have to check into flipping the axles if possible..... But I still don't understand what turning has to do with hitting you bed or covers.....Now hitting the rear window I understand that....

[Art-n-Marge]

Hitting the bed rails can happen on uneven ground. It almost happened to me once coming up an incline the leveling out onto a road that was mostly level. I have a long bed and that angle only gave me a fraction of an inch. No telling how this would have worked with a short bed, slider hitch, and NO 4x4 engaged but some people know how to handle what they'be got better than I ever will.

BTW - My axles are already flipped and I have a very slight upstance (I think I calculated a hair over one degree, but upstance nevertheless. I'd need spacers or something more grandeous if I wanted to do something about it. I am happy with the 7" bed clearance at the worst part, at the rear bed rail corners.

[Bigsky3625RE]

quote:Originally posted by steelpony5555

On some of the newer trucks you may have to check into flipping the axles if possible..... But I still don't understand what turning has to do with hitting you bed or covers.....Now hitting the rear window I understand that....

The 5er didn't hit the tonneau rail the edge of the pim box did....

[vangoes]

Its the rear of the pin box that comes around and hits the rails. I've seen pictures where people have ground some metal off the rear of the box.

[steelpony5555]

Oooooooooooohhhhh now I get it