Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-29-2020, 06:42 AM   #1
Ike59
Established Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: -
Posts: 22
M.O.C. #26301
5th Wheel Clearance

What should be the clearance between the truck bed top rail and the bottom of the 5th wheel at the hitch be. Anyone know the correct measurements?
Thanks
 
Ike59 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 06:59 AM   #2
jimcol
Montana Master
 
jimcol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,702
M.O.C. #7992
Send a message via AIM to jimcol Send a message via MSN to jimcol
I don't know that there is a correct measurement. Consensus on this forum seems to be 6". More is better as long as it doesn't make the 5'er nose high.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
jimcol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 08:33 AM   #3
Tom N OH
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Edgerton
Posts: 218
M.O.C. #17678
As jimcol says, 6” is the accepted measurement. That being said, some have had issues at 6” & some get away with less without any issues. It all depends on what kind of places you get yourself into. Tow vehicles, trailers, camping spots, driveways, etc. are all different. I’m right at 6” with the present truck & trailer. Was more like 5” with the previous truck & trailer. Never an issue, but it got close at times.
Tom N OH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 09:25 AM   #4
Ike59
Established Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: -
Posts: 22
M.O.C. #26301
Thanks Tom.
Ike59 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 09:44 AM   #5
Mikelff
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Keller
Posts: 500
M.O.C. #26851
I have had dealer techs and Keystone tell me minimum 6”. More is better but just depends on if your rig can sit level, or as level as possible. The newer trucks can have nose high issues because they have higher road clearances. You can go lower but increase risk of hitting your rails. Have seen it happen. NOT a cheap fix.
Mikelff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 10:01 AM   #6
twindman
Montana Master
 
twindman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,925
M.O.C. #5651
In case you are somewhat new to 5th wheels, the clearance needed is for when you have the truck tilted by driving over something uneven - like a sloping campsite just at the front - or pulling into or out of a gas station on a hill with a steep curb. Truck rotates to the side and rails get higher on that side and hit.
__________________

Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
twindman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 01:25 PM   #7
DutchmenSport
Montana Master
 
DutchmenSport's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,544
M.O.C. #22835
More is better. If you can put on a flat bed, bed, on your truck, that would be best!
__________________
Who you are right now is a sum total off all you use to be.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
DutchmenSport is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 08:07 PM   #8
Sdgood1
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Chino Valley
Posts: 226
M.O.C. #23720
Like the above answers, 6” would be min.. My old Salem 5er had the axles turned and had almost 9” and still touched occasionally when we drug it off-road. 7” on the Montana and don’t take to far off road, and haven’t bumped it yet, but bound to touch someday. Get as much clearance as you possibly can.
__________________

Steven & Denise
New to us 2014 3150RL
Chino Valley, AZ
Sdgood1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2020, 04:57 PM   #9
AZMont
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Chandler
Posts: 79
M.O.C. #26281
We don't offroad our 2015 RL 3100 and 6" has worked well for us. Am also using a pull rite auto slide hitch on a short bed pick up.
AZMont is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2020, 04:55 PM   #10
Byron B
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Georgetown
Posts: 302
M.O.C. #18751
From experience, a minimum of 6”. I tore up the underside of the nose of our Mobile suites.....
Byron B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2020, 06:07 PM   #11
Jester
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Fort Edward
Posts: 112
M.O.C. #25910
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ike59 View Post
What should be the clearance between the truck bed top rail and the bottom of the 5th wheel at the hitch be. Anyone know the correct measurements?
Thanks
I have about 5 and have had a couple of close calls I’m not going to raise the hitch cause I’m at 13’ 5” now. I’m going to raise the front of my Ram 2.5 “. This should give me an extra 1.5” I need.
Just my thoughts.
Jester is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2020, 07:59 PM   #12
Traveltimers2
Established Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #19203
I have had many dealers agree to the at least 5" to 6" rule. Easy way is to make a fist and if you can fit it between bed rails and nose or 5er, should be ok. But also agree with others here, depends on entering or exiting places, up and down drives, over curbs. Just be careful when turning, entering or leaving..
Traveltimers2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2020, 08:34 PM   #13
twindman
Montana Master
 
twindman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,925
M.O.C. #5651
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jester View Post
I have about 5 and have had a couple of close calls I’m not going to raise the hitch cause I’m at 13’ 5” now. I’m going to raise the front of my Ram 2.5 “. This should give me an extra 1.5” I need.
Just my thoughts.
I don't think raising the front of truck will change anything. My hitch is centered right over the rear axle. So raising/lowering the front end just pivots the truck around the read axle and the height of hitch doesn't change.
__________________

Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
twindman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2020, 08:39 PM   #14
Jester
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Fort Edward
Posts: 112
M.O.C. #25910
True, but think about it, . The hitch is above the rear axle so it becomes the fulcrum. If you raise the front anything behind the rear axle must go down. So the part that would contact the trailer first is the side at the tail gate . I’m going to get the extra inch without raising the height of the camper.
Jester is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2020, 09:35 PM   #15
Texan
Montana Master
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: new caney
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #19873
I'm not sure i follow you on this one. My hitch on my Ram is actually about 2'' in front of the axle. If this is the case on yours then i don't see where you would gain anything and you sure don't won't to raise the front of the rv if you are already at the 13.5 mark which is where most of us are. I have 8'' clearance on my truck and my rv runs level so i can't get any better than that but there are quite a few on here that have problems with leveling and clearance. Maybe some engineer can get on here and explain just what needs to be done to give you the clearance you need.
Texan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2020, 05:13 AM   #16
jimcol
Montana Master
 
jimcol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,702
M.O.C. #7992
Send a message via AIM to jimcol Send a message via MSN to jimcol
I think I follow what Jester is doing. He raises the front of the truck which lowers the back. Then he either raises the hitch or lowers the king pin to gain more clearance from the bed rails.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
jimcol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2020, 06:10 AM   #17
Jester
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Fort Edward
Posts: 112
M.O.C. #25910
It’s very simple, take a small triangle and put it on the table. Not take a 1foor rule an balance at the 8 inch mark on the point of the triangle. The side with the 12th inch is the rear of the truck.
No lift the truck at the 1 inch side. As you do the rear goes down.
Jester is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2020, 06:21 AM   #18
jimcol
Montana Master
 
jimcol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,702
M.O.C. #7992
Send a message via AIM to jimcol Send a message via MSN to jimcol
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jester View Post
It’s very simple, take a small triangle and put it on the table. Not take a 1foor rule an balance at the 8 inch mark on the point of the triangle. The side with the 12th inch is the rear of the truck.
No lift the truck at the 1 inch side. As you do the rear goes down.
The rear goes down but if you don't adjust the hitch the clearance stays the same.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
jimcol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2020, 06:30 AM   #19
Jester
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Fort Edward
Posts: 112
M.O.C. #25910
Where will it hit first?
At the closest point. Which the rear of the bed.
And yes everything else stays the same. Which , by the way , is what I wanted in my original comment.
Jester is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2020, 06:33 AM   #20
Montana Man
Montana Master
 
Montana Man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Carson City
Posts: 2,017
M.O.C. #21963
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jester View Post
I have about 5 and have had a couple of close calls I’m not going to raise the hitch cause I’m at 13’ 5” now. I’m going to raise the front of my Ram 2.5 “. This should give me an extra 1.5” I need.
Just my thoughts.
Jack the front of the truck and see what happens. It could be that you gain some clearance at the rear of the bed but lose some at the front. You need good clearance all around the bed.
__________________
2016 3160, Legacy, Sailuns, Splendide 2100 xc vented, 1 1/2" axle lift blocks, disk brakes. 2014 Ram 3500 SRW SWB 4X4 6.7 Aisin Mega Cab, EBC slotted disks and brakes, Titan fuel tank.
Montana Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:20 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.