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09-29-2020, 06:42 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: -
Posts: 22
M.O.C. #26301
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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
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09-29-2020, 06:59 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,710
M.O.C. #7992
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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.
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2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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09-29-2020, 08:33 AM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Edgerton
Posts: 218
M.O.C. #17678
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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.
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09-29-2020, 09:25 AM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: -
Posts: 22
M.O.C. #26301
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Thanks Tom.
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09-29-2020, 09:44 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Keller
Posts: 503
M.O.C. #26851
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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.
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09-29-2020, 10:01 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,973
M.O.C. #5651
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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.
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Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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09-29-2020, 01:25 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,634
M.O.C. #22835
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More is better. If you can put on a flat bed, bed, on your truck, that would be best!
__________________
History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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09-29-2020, 08:07 PM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Chino Valley
Posts: 226
M.O.C. #23720
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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.
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Steven & Denise
New to us 2014 3150RL
Chino Valley, AZ
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09-30-2020, 04:57 PM
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#9
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Chandler
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #26281
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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.
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10-04-2020, 04:55 PM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Georgetown
Posts: 310
M.O.C. #18751
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From experience, a minimum of 6”. I tore up the underside of the nose of our Mobile suites.....
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10-04-2020, 06:07 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Fort Edward
Posts: 112
M.O.C. #25910
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ike59
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
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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.
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10-04-2020, 08:34 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,973
M.O.C. #5651
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jester
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.
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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
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10-04-2020, 08:39 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Fort Edward
Posts: 112
M.O.C. #25910
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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.
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10-05-2020, 06:33 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Carson City
Posts: 2,017
M.O.C. #21963
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jester
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.
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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.
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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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10-05-2020, 06:46 AM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Fort Edward
Posts: 112
M.O.C. #25910
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Don’t need to, Ive towed it over hill and dale and the only place I come close to contact is at the rear of the bed.
If there ever comes a time I see that hitting the side or front I’ll raise the hitch and drop a left out of my rear springs so everything stays the same.
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10-04-2020, 07:59 PM
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#16
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #19203
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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..
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10-04-2020, 09:35 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: new caney
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #19873
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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.
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10-05-2020, 05:13 AM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,710
M.O.C. #7992
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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
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10-05-2020, 06:10 AM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Fort Edward
Posts: 112
M.O.C. #25910
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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.
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10-05-2020, 06:21 AM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,710
M.O.C. #7992
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jester
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.
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The rear goes down but if you don't adjust the hitch the clearance stays the same.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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