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Old 11-29-2017, 12:52 PM   #1
vipermanden
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Truck bed rail to 5th wheel clearance recommendations?

I have a 2016 RAM 3500 4 X 4 dually with the auto air bag leveling, and the Companion 25k hitch I have, is on the lowest setting, and it still seems that my 5th wheel is tail low. So I told the dealer to raise my pin box to the highest set of holes to see if i finally get level, but then I'm wondering if my bed rail to bottom of 5th wheel clearance will be too little? I can't measure it right now, because it is at the dealer being worked on. So do you take the 5th wheel hitch, and rock it back and forth and measure the angle and transfer that travel out to the width of the trailer and if the number is less than your level clearance you are good? Or is there some other number you all shoot for to be above the minimum clearance?
 
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Old 11-29-2017, 01:31 PM   #2
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6” is generally considered the minimum clearance to be safe. There will be a lot of up and down movement back there going across dips and going in and out of sloping drive entrances. If you frequent parks and campgrounds with less than level roads and sites you may want a little extra.
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Old 11-29-2017, 04:39 PM   #3
waynemoore
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Yep 6" works for me also.
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Old 11-29-2017, 05:14 PM   #4
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I have been running 5" for years on 2 different 5ers. New B&W Patriot going on tomorrow,,, will check next weekend for any difference.
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Old 11-29-2017, 05:28 PM   #5
hunts800
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I run 6” and still come close on angled driveways, especially if turning.
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Old 11-29-2017, 06:03 PM   #6
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I run 6" seems to work fine so far.
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Old 11-29-2017, 06:13 PM   #7
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6" from Bed Rails to Underside of Overhang is normally OK, but depending on King Pin, especially those Extended ones. During a tight turn the rear of the King Pin Box may contact the side of the bed rails. I have the grooves in the tonneau cover rails to prove it.
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Old 11-29-2017, 06:21 PM   #8
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On the DRV Elite Suites site, I see all of them have to put 2" risers on their 5th wheel suspension to get the trailers level, wondering if we need to do that too, rather than getting too close to the bed rails? I will let you know what mine measures with the pin box up to it's highest setting and my companion 25k hitch at it's lowest setting. Maybe I should not have opted for the 4 X 4 on my truck, but i do live up in Tahoe? I would have saved on weight and height?
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Old 11-29-2017, 06:33 PM   #9
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Many of the DRV's are delivered with the Mor/ryde IS and as part of the IS install is the addition of an additional riser added to the Frame, sometimes 2" but more on some.
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Old 11-29-2017, 07:55 PM   #10
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I am right at 6" and have come close but have not hit yet and we go into the backcountry
a lot ya'll just need to watch it on the angled turns and dips.

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Old 11-30-2017, 02:38 PM   #11
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Looks to me like you could unhook on level pad, then level RV. Then measure from the ground to the bottom of the RV near the pin box. Then measure from the ground to the bed rails on your big 4x4. The RV should be about 6 inches higher. If not, add risers to your RV to bring it into the 6 inch clearance parameter. Then backing under the RV, check if you really do need to adjust your pin box. "The taller the truck the taller the RV".

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Old 11-30-2017, 05:34 PM   #12
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Actually you need to check the clearance while hooked up, preferably on a level surface. With the trailer weight sitting the pin box, the truck is going to sag some amount. Measuring independently would not give a true clearance figure unless you knew the exact sag amount to figure in the numbers.
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