5th wheel hitch height for shortbed

[Nmcdowell]

Hi,


We are new to towing a 5th wheel with a pick up. We have a 2006 dodge 2500 mega can shortbread diesel and we just bought a 5th wheel you hauler.

I have driven tractor trailers before but never pulled a 5th wheel with a pick up. How high should the sides of the fifth wheel sit over the bed rails to be safe and avoid damage to the pick up?

[RichR]

Rule of thumb is 6",more is also good!

[TXiceman]

6" is considered the normal minimum. You can get by with about 5" minimum if you are careful.

Ken

[SmokeyWren]

Caveat that 6" answer. 6" clearance between the closest points between the underside of the 5er overhang and the pickup bed is "normal" for folks that stay on pavement and never cross a dip or ditch, and never go out into the rough stuff to find that perfect boondocks camping spot.

The most I could get with my last rig without drastic measures was 5". But I had to cross ditches and dips and turn around in kinfolks rough pastures, and as a result I had two big depressions in the top of my bed, one on each side. Didn't hurt the trailer, and the bed wasn't ruined, but it was definitely wounded.

So I would say 6" minimum if you promise to stay on pavement and never cross a dip or ditch. Otherwise, 8".

And you cannot simply raise the hitch or lower the pinbox, because the floor of the trailer must be level front to rear after you have adjusted the hitch and or pinbox.

[Nmcdowell]

Thanks for the info. Sales guy told me you want about a fist's distance between truck bed and trailer which seemed short to me. Will shoot for the 8" mark should be able to do that without much problem.