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Old 08-30-2019, 03:30 PM   #1
msubobcats
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Distance between 5th Wheel and truck bed...

Haven't I read that the optimum distance between the bed and the 5th Wheel is 4" to 6" ...

Now that I put on the new 10 ply tires I am thinking it is 7" to 8" ... Am I imagining???
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Old 08-30-2019, 03:54 PM   #2
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I think you will find that most folks will suggest 6" is the minimum distance that you may be comfortable with. My 2016 F350 Dually, running a 25K Companion hitch and towing a 2018 Momentum 394M has a little over 8" of clearance. The turn from the blacktop road onto my gravel road, which is downhill, takes that 8" down to a tiny bit over 2" during the turn. I'm happy with the 8" and would be sweating it if I only had 6"
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Old 08-30-2019, 04:10 PM   #3
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I've got 6 inches and may drop the king pin another set of holes to 7 for a little more room. All depends on what the total height will be afterwards for the second AC and bridge clearance. Fortunately I don't have to curb hop to back it into the back yard.
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Old 08-30-2019, 04:28 PM   #4
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I had 8 on my old truck, on my new one I have 6.5". have been through some pretty unlevel areas and haven't had an issue but I don't think I would want to be any tighter.

Steve
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Old 08-30-2019, 06:21 PM   #5
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Here's a recent thread on the same subject: http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums...ad.php?t=39175
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Old 08-30-2019, 08:25 PM   #6
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Minimum needed if 6”, Im right there and occasionally need to take a different route over rough ground to avoid hitting the bed.
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Old 08-31-2019, 05:07 AM   #7
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6 inches or so, and keep the trailer level...that's it.
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Old 08-31-2019, 06:15 AM   #8
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6 inches or so, and keep the trailer level...that's it.
X2
Unless you go off the beaten path.
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Old 08-31-2019, 12:15 PM   #9
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I’ve been debating the same thing. Even to the point of looking at the holes on the hitch and king pin and debating if I want to take it on last week on a day off. It looks like the top of the king pin is welded where it meets the camper. Which is more common or where would be the recommended place to start. The hitch height or lowering the king pin?

Have a 2019 Sprinter 32FWBH.
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Old 08-31-2019, 03:01 PM   #10
mtofell
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I have about 7.5" and have been in some pretty hairy situations without a problem.... close a couple times but no damage to truck or trailer. My closest calls are at the back corners of the truck bed when the 5th wheel is lower than the truck. I am a couple inches nose high which doesn't help that.
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Old 09-08-2019, 07:54 AM   #11
Farside
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THANKS A LOT GANG! This is one of those areas that I hadn't thought about for years. But, now that I'm taking the 5th wheel to and fro on some undeveloped property I'll have something else to worry about. I'll have to go out and do some measuring and then watch for that next dip, short hill, and pot holes on the uneven dirt road.
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Old 09-08-2019, 06:22 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by BauerAP View Post
I’ve been debating the same thing. Even to the point of looking at the holes on the hitch and king pin and debating if I want to take it on last week on a day off. It looks like the top of the king pin is welded where it meets the camper. Which is more common or where would be the recommended place to start. The hitch height or lowering the king pin?

Have a 2019 Sprinter 32FWBH.
I am also curious as to which is prefered...hitch height or king pin?
My damn Super Duty 4x4 is so tall. I have less than 6", and have scuffed the truck already, but no damage. Trailer is level, but if I change the height, the trailer tail will be facing down. Cant raise axels as I am already at 13'4" and I believe 13'6" is max. Fyi when I changed trailer tires, I went 1 size larger thinking it would help my level issue...which it did, but raised my height a bit.
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Old 09-15-2019, 07:22 AM   #13
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I had mine the standard height from the dealer. Last year driving around a real tight campground one side of my trailer went off the road a bit. It tilted so much that the 5th wheel hitch on the trailer hit the rail on my truck and put a dent in my new f350. When I got home I noticed on the trailer there were two more bolt holes that I could lower the hitch about another 3". Did that and now much more clearance between the trailer and the bed.
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Old 09-16-2019, 07:16 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by Stircrazy View Post
I had 8 on my old truck, on my new one I have 6.5". have been through some pretty unlevel areas and haven't had an issue but I don't think I would want to be any tighter.

Steve
I just went out and measured this weekend while I was in Banff camping. Apparently I only have 5" haven't had an issue in 3 years and have been in some pretty unlevel sites....

Steve
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Old 09-16-2019, 02:10 PM   #15
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Still not sure which is preferred, but just went out today and raised my hitch 2 holes...2" or so. Next time I hook her up I will check clearance and level.
What are my options when this just makes my *** hang low?
Btw, I'm at 13.4" total up top... So no raising the suspension.
Troy
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Old 09-17-2019, 01:30 PM   #16
Kzneft
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5th clearance

This is my truck/5th. It was not the 5th wheel that put a dent in my side rails on my truck, it was the hitch. See where the red arrow is. I was a a sharp angle when my rv went off the shoulder a bit. I raised the hitch up and now I have 9 1/2" clearance.
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