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10-14-2020, 08:40 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Tehachapi
Posts: 11
M.O.C. #27223
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Companion adjustment/2018 Ram 2500
I am new at towing 5th wheels and I just installed the B&W companion on my 2018 Ram 2500 4x4. I adjusted the hitch as far back as I could to allow for tight turning and in the middle position for height. I took my new Montana out for a test drive today to try everything out and my trailer sits pretty high in the front. I’m going to adjust it to the lowest setting but it’s only an inch lower. In order for the trailer to be level it needs to come down about 6 inches if I had to guess. I do have air bags and the truck only squatted less than 2 inches. Is it normal for the front of my trailer to sit so high? If I can figure out how to post pictures I will.
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10-14-2020, 08:49 PM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 492
M.O.C. #17391
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It may look like just one inch on the hitch but it may be more than that when you hook up. I have mine in the middle and lowest hole. I have a Ford and not sure what Montana you have but middle position works best for me. 03 3280 RL
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10-14-2020, 08:52 PM
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#3
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Tehachapi
Posts: 11
M.O.C. #27223
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I took this picture today.
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10-15-2020, 06:19 AM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Edgerton
Posts: 218
M.O.C. #17678
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It’s really hard to tell by that picture, but it doesn’t look terrible. Remember that when the front of the trailer goes down, the rear will also come up. Kind of like a teeter-totter. Also keep in mind that you want to keep at least 6” from the top of your truck bed/tailgate to the bottom of the trailer’s nose, if you can. Park on a flat, level surface & measure from the lower belt line molding on the side of the trailer to the ground, at the rear corner & at the propane compartment, then compare.
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10-15-2020, 01:40 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Check on your kingpin as alot of the time you can also raise the kingpin which will lower the front.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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10-15-2020, 07:19 PM
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Tehachapi
Posts: 11
M.O.C. #27223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DQDick
Check on your kingpin as alot of the time you can also raise the kingpin which will lower the front.
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That’s a good idea. I checked my kingpin and I do have room to raise it 2 inches. Thanks.
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10-15-2020, 09:17 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Carson City
Posts: 2,017
M.O.C. #21963
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The Rams are high in the rear. Lift blocks on the axles can help. I installed 1 1/2" and it raised the rear 2 1/4".
__________________
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.
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10-21-2020, 01:49 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 665
M.O.C. #26399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pkbirdog
I took this picture today.
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WOW, that's a lot. Left like this your rearmost RV axle will be overloaded as well as the tires. If the truck is stock then I don't get it, but if you did something to the truck to raise it up you need to undo that. The only other viable option is to modify the RV part of the hitch as long as you still have truck bed clearance. Good luck!
__________________
2018 Keystone Montana 3811MS
2017 Ford F450 diesel dually
600AH Battle Born Lithium Batteries, 1,080 watts solar
3,000 watt hybrid inverter with 120A charger
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10-21-2020, 02:50 PM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Indio
Posts: 103
M.O.C. #19705
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Measure your truck rail to 5vr body...if over 6", try lowering the Companion mounting position one bolt hole then check your rail clearance...from the looks of it, you should be very close to trailer level going down one bolt mounting hole on the Companion...a LOT less work than raising your 5vr kingpin.
__________________
Richard & Judy Blackwell
Indio, Ca.
2014 F350 DRW 4x4 Diesel
2013 3402RL
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10-21-2020, 02:55 PM
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#10
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Estacada
Posts: 77
M.O.C. #25265
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pkbirdog
I am new at towing 5th wheels and I just installed the B&W companion on my 2018 Ram 2500 4x4. I adjusted the hitch as far back as I could to allow for tight turning and in the middle position for height. I took my new Montana out for a test drive today to try everything out and my trailer sits pretty high in the front. I’m going to adjust it to the lowest setting but it’s only an inch lower. In order for the trailer to be level it needs to come down about 6 inches if I had to guess. I do have air bags and the truck only squatted less than 2 inches. Is it normal for the front of my trailer to sit so high? If I can figure out how to post pictures I will.
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Let us know how it turned out. ✌🏻️
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10-21-2020, 03:54 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SWFL
Posts: 964
M.O.C. #17801
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Looks too high to me, but the truck bedrail to bottom of the fiver looks close, maybe too close. You need 5-7" bedrail to fiver. As dqdick said, move your pinbox up, but if you don't end up with at least 5" clearance, you may be looking at changing the fiver ride height.
__________________
2016 Montana 3711FL
2005 Ford F350, 6.0 diesel, short bed
Demco Hitchiker Auto Slide hitch
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10-21-2020, 04:13 PM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Coatesville
Posts: 54
M.O.C. #24081
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I have same truck, same hitch, and looks about the same as your picture, no problems.
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10-21-2020, 04:55 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,318
M.O.C. #17894
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Looks quite nose high to me. Find a nice flat level parking lot and measure from the I beam bottom to the ground in front and back. You can then determine how far off it is.
If you have around 6" or clearance from bed to fiver then changing anything with the hitch or pin box will not help. In that case the trailer has to be raised at the axles.The only (correct) way to do that is to remove the entire suspension/cut off the spring hangers/weld the needed height tube steel to the frame/ re-weld the hangers and reinstall the suspension. Axles should be aligned after that.
Any competent large truck repair shop should be able to take care of that.
__________________
2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
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10-21-2020, 05:02 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: POINTBLANK
Posts: 1,888
M.O.C. #19944
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pkbirdog
I am new at towing 5th wheels and I just installed the B&W companion on my 2018 Ram 2500 4x4. I adjusted the hitch as far back as I could to allow for tight turning and in the middle position for height. I took my new Montana out for a test drive today to try everything out and my trailer sits pretty high in the front. I’m going to adjust it to the lowest setting but it’s only an inch lower. In order for the trailer to be level it needs to come down about 6 inches if I had to guess. I do have air bags and the truck only squatted less than 2 inches. Is it normal for the front of my trailer to sit so high? If I can figure out how to post pictures I will.
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Do you have air bags or the RAM Auto Air Level? On my '17 Ram I sent the Auto Air Level on "Alternate" setting - dropped the bed almost 2"
__________________
RAM 22' DRW 3500 Crew LB 40 gal reserve tank / RETRAX Bed Cover / 2020 373RD HC / IS / MOPEKA Tank Monitor / Furrion Side&Rear Cameras
Slide Toppers / EMS-HW50C / Sailun 85's
3rd AC / Dometic 320
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10-21-2020, 07:41 PM
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#15
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Tehachapi
Posts: 11
M.O.C. #27223
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Thanks for the responses. Yes the truck is stock but I did put in airbags and it only dropped the bed about 2 inches or less. I did adjust the hitch to the lowest setting which was one slot down and I moved it forward towards the cab. I haven’t hooked it up since I did that but when I do I’ll post a picture.
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10-21-2020, 07:56 PM
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#16
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Heber City
Posts: 117
M.O.C. #23676
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Hitch Height
I have the 3820FK on a GMC 3500 HD and the identical hitch. I was told to have at least 6" clearance between the bed rails and and bottom of the 5er, so that's the middle hole on the B&K. My kingpin is in the lowest (closest to the frame) setting and mine sits just a little nose high, maybe a little less than yours. The lower hole on the B&K had it too close to the top of the bed rails.
__________________
Craig and Mary
2017 Montana 3820FK
2020 GMC 3500HD
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