How much clearance to bed rails?

[432bartman]

I have 6" between the rails and 5th wheel.

[nellie1289]

I have 8”. I’m a little nose high. I don’t care. Rather have the clearance.

[rohrmann]

We were always running nose high and occasionally dragging the tail of the trailer. About two years ago, after dragging the rear hard enough to break one of the slide gears, I decided that was enough. I had seen a post about trailer blocks, so I went to their site, https://www.trailerblocks.com/ , and decided to purchase their 2" block kits that come with new 9/16" u-bolts and plates. The price is deceiving because it shows Canadian Dollars, so the price in US Dollars is less. Install wasn't too difficult, and the trailer now rides level. The bigger impact of getting the rig level is how much better it handles. The axles are also now equally loaded, so I'm sure tires will wear better too. This is the install before cutting off the excess bolts.

[Delaine and Lindy]

This is a great question, we have owned many 5th wheels, never ever had a bed clearance problem. However, we just purchased a 2021 GMC 2500hd, the bed is the tallest we have ever owned. The truck sits at 58" to the ground. We have also purchased a 2021 Montana 3762 BP. Sadly we have been unable to find a the wheel hitch, we ordered one on 25 April 21, however, we discovered it will be 6 weeks+ before it arrives. We will again be using a B&W Campion puck system with slider. The highest sitting is 17" to 19", we should be ok. However, 5" is the lowest sitting I would feel safe with. Anyone towing with a 2021 GM, I would appreciate a comment. Thanks.

Happy Trials.

[xr7gt]

We have a 2020 F350 DRW & a Montana 3791RD. Out trailer is level and we have almost 6 inches of clearance. We've went over bad roads and steep inclines/declines with no issue.

[432bartman]

Originally Posted by Delaine and Lindy

This is a great question, we have owned many 5th wheels, never ever had a bed clearance problem. However, we just purchased a 2021 GMC 2500hd, the bed is the tallest we have ever owned. The truck sits at 58" to the ground. We have also purchased a 2021 Montana 3762 BP. Sadly we have been unable to find a the wheel hitch, we ordered one on 25 April 21, however, we discovered it will be 6 weeks+ before it arrives. We will again be using a B&W Campion puck system with slider. The highest sitting is 17" to 19", we should be ok. However, 5" is the lowest sitting I would feel safe with. Anyone towing with a 2021 GM, I would appreciate a comment. Thanks.

Happy Trials.

Delaine, I have a 2020 Chevy 2500, pretty much the exact same setup as you. I'm using a Anderson hitch set at the mid position, I raised my kingpin up, and I put 2" blocks on my trailer, like Rohrmann, in order to get it level. These new truck do sit high.

[phillyg]

Optimum is 5-7". If you have 5" or less, watch carefully if you're turning into a gas station or similar, or boondocking.

[Cobra13]

13’7”??????

[Delaine and Lindy]

We have traveled in 44 States, my bed clearance was 5" or more, never ever had an issue. I may be wrong but, 5" worked for our travels.

Happy Trails.

[Kensil - 3855BR]

Approx 6" of bed rail clearance is the spec on my hitch installation guide. My hitch is on lowest setting and still nose high. I am raising the pin box on the 5'er to get that nose down and get as close to 6" of clearance.

[DutchmenSport]

I have 5 inches and I've made contact twice. The first time cracked my nose cap. I was able to fix it myself. The second touched, but did not hurt anything. If you ever camp in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Northern Alabama, Northern Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or any other area where it's hilly or mountainous, you can expect a lot of twisting between tow vehicle and fifth wheel. When the trailer is 41 feet long, it doesn't take much either.

On the other end, I've also drug my rear Lippert electric jacks too. I've lost one foot pad by dragging, and bent the ends of both by dragging. I have it straightened out now, and I raised the rear jacks 4 inches. Why it wasn't installed that way to begin with, I'll never know.

Longer fifth wheels are more subject to getting clobbered at both ends. And it does not take much of a dip or the end of business entrance drive way for something on the rig to make contact with something you don't want.

If you have that much clearance, and your tail is not dragging, then by all means, don't change it.

Towing a travel trailer with a bumper pull hitch was never, ever a problem. I did not realize how MUCH the tow vehicle and trailer can be twisted in opposite directions. With a travel trailer, there's never a problem with that. With a fifth wheel, it's ALWAYS a problem.

[AZMont]

I had a 2015 Ram 2500 Megacab SRW Diesel with the air suspension. "Alt Trailer Height" lowers the rear bed by 1" to level the truck. You can tow in the "Alt Trailer Height" setting. If you look at your truck, the rear is slightly higher than the front. It is due to the bed being 1" higher at the rear.

[grass man]

This is my 3931 with the 2021 Chevy 3500 dually. I just set it down on my Anderson hitch which I have the ball in the center adjustment. Towed twice so far to Myrtle from Delaware with no issues.

[dfb]

6 inches

[Delaine and Lindy]

We went and picked up our 2021 Montana, 3762 BP. The Montana is riding on a Trailer Saver Air ride BD5G 28,000 capacity. I have 10 3/4 inches of Bed Clearance. I'm almost perfectly level however I may lower the TS one hole.

Happy Trails.

[Daryles]

I have an F350 long bed dually with a tonneau cover (the rails add about an inch). I have 6" between the rear corners of the bed and the 5er overhang.
I thought that was plenty... until this road trip.
We stayed at West Point FMWR Round Pond, NY.
To get into the Campground it is very steep and switch back. Do not have an under rated TV or you may want to use 4x4 drive.
Leaving this CG, the road makes a sharp uphill, right turn, then drops off.
I now have a semi-circular scratch under the 5er overhang where the corner of the tonneau cover rail rubbed against it.

[Delaine and Lindy]

Picked up the 2021 Montana today.

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