Carbon 357 Cap length

[mxdad559]

Just purchased my first 5th wheel, it is a 2015 Carbon 357 model. The wife and I fell in love with the layout and everything about this unit. I am still waiting for PDI and am scheduled to pick the trailer up this Saturday the 27th. Last week I wanted to do a test fit with my tow vehicle as I have a lifted F250 Crew cab short bed. I backed the truck under the unit and lined the pin up with the center hole for the goose neck attachment. I seemed to me that the cap of the unit sticks out much farther than other brands. I started looking around online and at friends rigs and it seem like the point of this cap is a good 12-15" past the king pin. That got me thinking and talking with my local truck shop about options. I looked at goose neck conversions, offset balls etc... I read that converting is a bad idea and will void warranty so I decided to go with the B&W slider companion as I just installed the turnover ball mount. My question is (weights and everything else aside) does anyone have experience towing the raptor or carbon with this extended front cap with a short bed truck? The slider was a given for backing, but will I have clearance problems for normal forward towing? I called Keystone and tried to ask if there were any known problems towing with a short bed or if this trailer was a long bed only trail and all I got was, "we cannot provide any information regarding a tow vehicle". Thanks keystone. My slider hitch comes in tomorrow, and I will do a hook up test at the dealership for the final word, but just throwing it out there to the experts. If this unit doesn't cut it I will be forced to go with the cyclone 310 which we didn't like as much, but it was shorter and lighter with a smaller front cap. Thanks in advance for any input. See pic for reference.

-JW

[Festus2]

While we don't have that particular RV model, we do tow with a short bed truck. The hitch can be manually moved back allowing more room to maneuver and swing but we have not had to use it in 5 years of towing with our Cougar 5th wheel. It does have the "rounded and recessed" corners which does allow for some extra tolerance and distance between the cab rear window and the corner of the Cougar.

I don't know how much of a recessed front you have on the Carbon but I would think that with the slider, you would be ok. As far as towing forward, you should be fine there - it's just the tight turns you need to be concerned about - going in both directions.

Is it possible for you to make a deal that hinges on you being able to maneuver your Carbon with enough clearance before you sign the papers or are you past that point?

[mxdad559]

Thanks for the reply. I won't be taking the trailer off the lot until I am 100% sure I can tow it without having clearance issues. We haven't signed anything yet, just gave deposit to start prepping the trailer.

[gearhead]

Maybe this with a regular 5th hitch if they will take the slider back.
http://www.reeseprod.com/products/pin-boxes/sidewinder/sidewinder/Jsbr87GrqXnSUklc3VW5HrcuGlg!ABL9

[Major105bc]

I pulled my carbon 357 home on 13 December. I had no problems with the front cap. That includes maneuvering in and around gas stations.

[Major105bc]

I do have a slider hitch. I thought I might have to use it to get in my driveway. But I made it without having to use it.

[mxdad559]

@Major, and assuming you TV is a short bed? That makes me feel more comfortable, I think I am worrying for no reason, I just don't want any issues. Do you have any pics with your rig hooked up?

[Major105bc]

mxdad,

TV is 6.5 ft bed. I don't have any good pictures yet. This is the best I got so far.

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_154859_0_8b1514559810ef63a72cccb30b379537.jpg

[notanlines]

I don't normally bring this up, but are you a little close on your weight limits and towing ability with your 250? Be careful with that setup.

[mxdad559]

Ok, got the Companion Slider installed and did a test hookup at the dealership. full hookup weight off the jacks. I feel much better about the clearance now that this hitch is in. I do need to drop it 1" and that will still give me 7" between the bed and the overhang. Truck sag was 1" with the weight on.

[CarbonFun]

I have a Carbon 327 and had a 2010 F250 Short bed with airbags and a pulrite Superglide hitch. I did not have any problems with clearance going forward or back. The day I picked it up I went to a large empty parking lot to test the turning radius. I was able to get it to 90° with about 2 inches of clearence with the sliding hitch.
However, because I was close to or exceeding some weight ratings in the F250 I traded in for a 2015 F350 DRW longbed. The comfort and security are so much more appealing in the new truck.
I would suggest you consider ALL your weight ratings especially since your truck is lifted. As you know, a lifted truck puts additional stress on the suspension and drivetrain.

[Bman916]

mxdad559, looks like you and I bought the 357 from the guys in Rocklin. I sent you a PM with my number, I also have been up late all week stressing about my 2500 pulling this thing. When I called Keystone they told me the listed hitch weight was @ 16,500 so dry it should be less?

[bpyle311]

Well Gents I understand your dilemma's, I too have a short bed F250 but like Carbon Fun I installed the Pullrite superglide hitch (18k) and firestone airbags on my F250 and have had no issues to date. I have pulled from So. Cal- Wyoming with absolutely no problem. With that said, my truck is not lifted and is stock other than the airbags and I do not tow any true "toys" other than mountain bikes and kids toys.

One other thing I would like to pass along is please do yourself a favor and inspect your roof thoroughly!! While in Wyoming last year on our maiden voyage my roof completely delaminated due to the rubber "Dycor" sealant being defective. Check your roof's sealant and reinsure that it is plyable like gum, not hard. This has been an issue for a few Keystone owners and I would hate for you to have to go through what I have in the past 6 mos. on an expensive investment like this.

[Bman916]

Well Gents I understand your dilemma's, I too have a short bed F250 but like Carbon Fun I installed the Pullrite superglide hitch (18k) and firestone airbags on my F250 and have had no issues to date. I have pulled from So. Cal- Wyoming with absolutely no problem. With that said, my truck is not lifted and is stock other than the airbags and I do not tow any true "toys" other than mountain bikes and kids toys.

One other thing I would like to pass along is please do yourself a favor and inspect your roof thoroughly!! While in Wyoming last year on our maiden voyage my roof completely delaminated due to the rubber "Dycor" sealant being defective. Check your roof's sealant and reinsure that it is plyable like gum, not hard. This has been an issue for a few Keystone owners and I would hate for you to have to go through what I have in the past 6 mos. on an expensive investment like this.


I also have a 2014 ram 2500 6.7L with the 18k superglide and firestone air bags. Pulling the Carbon 357 with no issues

[Major105bc]

I don't normally bring this up, but are you a little close on your weight limits and towing ability with your 250? Be careful with that setup.


Right. I ended up trading to a Chevy 3500hd drw. Pulled to FL this past weekend and it pulled & stopped like a dream. I also put Firestone air bags on the 3500.

[CarbonFun]

It's amazing how much more comfortable it is to tow with the 1 ton dully. My F350 DRW gave my wife and I a very pleasurable and secure feeling while towing over 8000 miles last year. With new new trailers getting longer, bigger and heavier, the need for bigger tow vehicles is a must.

[Major105bc]

True statement. My dually is a 2008 bought in early January 2015. Much to my surprise, they had trouble with the integrated trailer brake controller. So did I. I replaced the rear plug harness, but it didn't solve the problem. I relented and took it to the Chevy dealer. It was the brake light switch. In and out for under $400. Pulled and stops like a dream now.

[firekat96]

Are air bags a must?? We pick up our new 357 this Thursday and yall have gotten me a little worried. My TV is a 2006 Dodge 3500 4x4 mega cab SRW.

[JRTJH]

Are air bags a must?? We pick up our new 357 this Thursday and yall have gotten me a little worried. My TV is a 2006 Dodge 3500 4x4 mega cab SRW.

What is the GVWR, the payload and the weight (when loaded with passengers, fuel and gear, ready for camping) of your 2006 Dodge 3500 4x4 mega cab SRW ?

[firekat96]

I have never put the truck on the scale so I couldn't even tell you .

[firekat96]

We picked up our 357 yesterday and must say I don't see how you only had 1" drop on a 250 unless you have added bags or something. My ram 3500 dropped about 3".... more than I would like so the bags are going on soon. Mines a mega cab short bed 6ft 4" and I could actually turn pretty sharp to my surprise. Still used the slider to back in the yard though.

[DiverB]

post pictures please! :applause:

[firekat96]

8156

Not sure how to from my phone

[DiverB]

Looks great, hopefully soon I will have one behind my Ram

[firekat96]

8158

Notice how much my truck is squatting and it's a 4wd.

[DiverB]

My 3500 dully will likely squat a little also, but I have airbags installed. I highly recommend them. I had them in my 2007 Ram 2500 as well and it sure made it towing my toy hauler and a load of fire wood in the bed easier

[firekat96]

Definitely going to put them on in the next week or two.

[Major105bc]

Loaded up and heading to north GA this morning. Running 80 psi in my air bags.

[MontanaMike]

I just bought a Carbon 357 as well to tow with my 2006 Dodge 2500 4x4 Quad-cab standard box (6'5") and I just wasn't comfortable towing overloaded like that. My truck is listed with a 2,138 pound haul weight and a 13,000 tow weight. The pin weight on the 357 is almost 3,060 pounds with a total weight of 16,500 pounds. Definitely over the rated capabilities of the truck and our local Department of Transportation cop is pretty strict. Could end up paying big fines if he decided I was over the capabilities of my tow vehicle. Still...it towed well from the dealership to my house with the Pulrite 18k Superslider hitch. I thought it would hit the cab but it never did.

Long story short, we ended up getting a new 2015 Dodge 3500 4x4 Crew Cab long box with a B&W turnover-ball/20k companion hitch and it's I'm in a much safer boat now. I put a pair of Timbren SES's on my 2006 2500 and it just so happens they fit on my 2015 3500 so I'll get the nice level ride if I ever put that much weight on the truck. This new truck is rated at 4,433 haul and 16,950 towing so I'm good to go there.

[firekat96]

Just got back from our first trip in our 357 and we absolutely love it. The biggest issue we found was the black/grey tanks were labeled wrong, yes this came as a great surprise when you think your about to empty a little grey water.

We also found that the shower incloser was cracked at some point and repaired. Very hard to see but it's there. Went to the dealer yesterday and as I truly believe they didn't know anything about it and wants to see it to send pictures to Keystone.

[Festus2]

We seemed to have got blown off course here and the OP's question/topic has gotten lost ("Cap length of 357 Carbon /long and short bed PU's").

If you have any further suggestions or comments relating to the OP's topic, please continue to post them here so he can consider them and we can get back on track. Otherwise, it might be best to start a new thread for "new stuff".

Thanks.