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11-04-2018, 07:52 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 16
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Truck Height
I'm not sure if this attachment went through correctly, but I'll ask my question anyways. Im looking at an 08 f350. The ad says it has a lift kit. It doesn't look like much of one, and I've asked the dealer a couple questions and so far unfortunately the salesman doesn't seem to want to need the sale all that much. The truck is 8 hours away. What questions should I be asking to determine whether or not the truck will be to high or if anything can be done differently. If the attachment didn't work, I'll give it another shot. Thanks in advance for any info you could offer up.
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11-04-2018, 07:54 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 16
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11-04-2018, 07:58 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 16
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I should mention, I have not purchased an 5er yet, nor do I have a hitch set up picked out.
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11-04-2018, 08:10 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Austin,TX
Posts: 464
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Ask them to measure from the ground to the top of the tailgate.
Most late model 5ers are 60" at the overhang. The truck will settle some with the weight on it.
I panicked when I measured out RAM 2500 and it measured like 58 I think. With the 5er attached it's fine. 6 inches of clearance rails to overhang after properly adjusting the hitch. 5er rides level.
__________________
2018 Primetime Crusader 319RKT
2013 RAM 2500 4X4 Laramie CrewCab, 6'4'' bed, 3.42 RAR, 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel, Payload 2547, Max tow 17,480, PullRite Superglide
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11-05-2018, 05:37 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 671
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If it has the 6.0 L Diesel engine don't Walk, Run away from it
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11-05-2018, 06:54 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Loraura
Ask them to measure from the ground to the top of the tailgate.
Most late model 5ers are 60" at the overhang. The truck will settle some with the weight on it.
I panicked when I measured out RAM 2500 and it measured like 58 I think. With the 5er attached it's fine. 6 inches of clearance rails to overhang after properly adjusting the hitch. 5er rides level.
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So, If i'm measuring from the tailgate to the ground, then from the overhang of the 5er to the ground, I'm also going to need a hitch/receiver height to figure in there as well, I'm assuming. You mentioned your truck was 58. 58 from where to where? You have to account for the measurement of the receiver and what I'm assuming is called the king pin (the neck that comes down from the 5er that the pin is attached to).
I'm going off assumption once again. If most 5ers are roughly the same height at the pin and most 5th wheel hitches are the same measurement, is there not an average tailgate height? I understand the hitch is adjustable but in the end, the trailer has to be level and if the truck sits to high and you lower the hitch, then you lose clearance at the bed rail. Am I close here? I guess I was just hoping someone could throw out an average bed height to determine if a truck is in the same ball park.
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11-05-2018, 10:05 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,643
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danny285
If it has the 6.0 L Diesel engine don't Walk, Run away from it
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2008 should be the 6.4. Even worse than the 6.0. Its the first year too. IIRC those were the years that spit fire out the tail pipe and burned stuff to the ground.
Actually a fitting end to that pile of junk. Even ford fan boys shake their heads silently at the 6.4.
__________________
Professional mechanic.
2018 Ram 2500 HD Mega cab.
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11-05-2018, 11:40 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Carlos, Texas
Posts: 1,746
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In this case "lift kit" needs to be defined. My 12 Ram 3500 4x4 has one, but it's a level kit. It raised only the front to level the truck, which dropped the tailgate height 1.5 inches. newer 350/2500 trucks are significantly higher so before you do anything, you need to make sure that you know what the height is, see it for yourself. I had to add a 4 inch subframe to my 5'er to pull it level, and that was with the level kit that dropped the tailgate. Once you add the subframe, consider the resale value to drop alot on that 5'er. Only someone with a similar height truck will be able to tow it.
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11-05-2018, 01:15 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SLC, UT
Posts: 1,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badgerindoc
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That truck appears to have been lifted front and rear and has aftermarket at least 20"s if not 22"s tires? 5th wheel towing on SRWs CHEWS through tires. 22"s are spendy....you do the math.
Add in the fact its a 6.4 and the salesman sucks...I'd look elsewhere...
In General with lifted trucks:
If its a just level you'll be alright. Our 2005 6.0 had a mild level up front and still towed level with the stock rear suspension.
If there is any kind of lift on the rear suspension, I would look elsewhere - who knows what the rear suspension is up for if bits have been swapped out, also as mentioned any additional height is not good for 5th wheel towing. We actually had to lift our 2005 trailer just to tow level with our new 2017 truck.
I'm pretty conservative here but: A truck is rated at its towing and payload capacities with stock suspension and stock wheels and tire size. Any adjustments to either result in a truck that may...or may not...still meet its original specs. Added height reduces stability, larger tires reduce available power, large aftermarket rims may not have an appropriate load rating, new rear springs may or may not be rated to handle rated load, are those fancy shocks valved to handle the load etc etc etc. I'm sure there are some well designed aftermarket components out there and some have even been durability and load tested, but I guarantee there are a lot that aren't and are just throw together crap...
__________________
2017 F-350 6.7 Diesel, CCSB SRW - 2005 F350 6.0
2018 Alpine 3660FL - 2005 Alfa SYF30RLIK
--Full time 2016 to 2019-- Seasonal now
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11-05-2018, 01:46 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Carlos, Texas
Posts: 1,746
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...what he just said. You just don't know what's been done to it> Did they use the correct bolts and if not, are you going to be 200 miles from home with the back axle passing you. Modified trucks are always questionable unless you did it yourself or had a shop that you can trust do the work.
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11-06-2018, 07:01 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 140
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Just from the looks at the picture I think it does have at least a front leveling kit on it. Usually from a side view like your picture the front end will be a lot lower to the ground on account of the diesel engine being so heavy........
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11-07-2018, 08:16 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Austin,TX
Posts: 464
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badgerindoc
So, If i'm measuring from the tailgate to the ground, then from the overhang of the 5er to the ground, I'm also going to need a hitch/receiver height to figure in there as well, I'm assuming. You mentioned your truck was 58. 58 from where to where? You have to account for the measurement of the receiver and what I'm assuming is called the king pin (the neck that comes down from the 5er that the pin is attached to).
I'm going off assumption once again. If most 5ers are roughly the same height at the pin and most 5th wheel hitches are the same measurement, is there not an average tailgate height? I understand the hitch is adjustable but in the end, the trailer has to be level and if the truck sits to high and you lower the hitch, then you lose clearance at the bed rail. Am I close here? I guess I was just hoping someone could throw out an average bed height to determine if a truck is in the same ball park.
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Most good hitches are adjustable. I only measured from the ground to the top of the tailgate.
When my dealership was installing the hitch they mentioned being done and I asked for a photo showing the clearance. They provided a pic showing 6" of clearance between rail and 5er overhang when the 5er is level.
You don't so much need to know where the king pin ends or the top of the hitch sits, because that will be adjusted for levelness and rail clearance.
If a truck rides higher, the hitch can be lowered to keep the 5er level, up to the point that it doesn't leave you enough rail clearance.
I don't know of a great way to know 100% in advance if the 5er will ride too high, or not have enough bed clearance, because the weight of the 5er when hitched will lower the bed of the truck. How much depends on the weight and the truck's suspension.
__________________
2018 Primetime Crusader 319RKT
2013 RAM 2500 4X4 Laramie CrewCab, 6'4'' bed, 3.42 RAR, 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel, Payload 2547, Max tow 17,480, PullRite Superglide
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11-07-2018, 11:42 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,012
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Point of reference: 2017 Ram 4X4 dually - 57" tailgate, 2017 RAM 3500 4X4 SRW - 59", 2017 F350 4X4 SRW - 60 1/2". Many members over the years have needed expensive mods on their new trailers to fit the high new trucks.
Then there are the trailers. Some of the "1/2 ton towable" fifth wheels only have 58" of front overhang. If you are considering an older truck then maybe an older trailer. Older trailers didn't anticipate the truck height wars and were built with lower overhangs. My trailer is at 54" and barely fits a 14 year old 2WD dually. No way would my trailer fit a lifted or new truck.
It pays to take a tape measure when shopping. I would allow for 2" of truck squat with the fifth wheel hooked up. You can usually make the hitch fit, the critical part is sufficient bed rail clearance.
__________________
2004.5 Ram 3500 2WD DRW
2008 Carriage, tows at 10k#
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11-23-2018, 10:10 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wherever we are
Posts: 4,287
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Having owned 2 6.4L Fords, I would NOT purchase one of them again...
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'16 40QBH Phaeton
'21 Sahara HA toad
'15 38RSSA Mobile Suites--traded
'05 36TK3 Mobile Suites--retired but not forgotten
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