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08-18-2013, 05:02 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 175
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Leveling my 3/4 ton and towing my fifth wheel
OK..I know I am probably going to get chastised here for even asking. I am currently towing my 34' Mountaineer fifth wheel with a stock F250 Super Duty Crew cab and Hellwig helper springs. The truck only sags about 1" under full load and the camper sits pretty level.
I want to add a leveling kit to the truck which will incorporate 2 1/2" coil spring spacers in the front and 2" blocks in the rear. I currently have about 7" to 8" of clearance from the bed to the camper. Is anyone else towing a fifth wheel with a leveled or lifted truck and if so, tell me how it has worked out?
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2019 Montana HC 331RL
2017 F250 Super Duty Crew Cab
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08-18-2013, 08:19 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Green Valley, AZ
Posts: 782
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Nobody else has replied yet so I will jump in with a "why"? We had a similar setup with about of sag so it was a non issue. It sounds like you have an ideal towing setup. Why mess with it?
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Earl
2007 33.5' Arctic Fox Fifth Wheel used for full-timing for several years--now sold
2011 Hideout 23RKSWE that we now use for poking around local parks
2007 Chevy 3/4 ton diesel with Prodigy Brake Control
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08-18-2013, 08:29 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Arizona
Posts: 233
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I don't see any issue with your situation. Bed clearance sounds great, sag is fine, just gas up and go.
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08-18-2013, 09:52 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,357
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As you know the rear of the truck is high when empty. If the rear is lower than level with 5er and headlights point up. Add spacers or air bags etc. If it sits level but, just lower, that is how the springs work and take weight. My rear springs can be nearly flat with a heavy load and the truck is lower but still level because the front lowers also.
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2013 24RKSWE (27ft TT) Cougar 1/2 ton series SOLD 10-2021
2013 Ford F350 4x4 CC 6.7 engine, 8 ft bed, 3.55 rear end, lariat package
Retired from Oregon State Police in 2011 than worked another 9.5 years as a small town traffic cop:
As of 05-2020, I am all done with 39 years total police work. No more uniforms for me.
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08-19-2013, 03:46 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fla
Posts: 351
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Yea sounds like you have a good setup.
We have a dodge 3500 and tow a 310 fuzion all I did was add air bags load the trailer and add maybe 50lbs to each bag and good to go.
To me the air bags make it less hard of a ride.
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2012 Fuzion 310 Toy hauler
2010 Dodge DRW 4x4 3500
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08-19-2013, 05:12 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Posts: 552
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I get the impression the OP wants to raise his truck up to be a bigger 4x4, not for towing purposes. With the decreased bed clearance I think he's wondering if he would run into issues?
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2013 Passport 3220BHWE, upgrade axles, Kumho Radial 857's, all LED, TST507 TPMS, Reese DCSC, DIY corner stabilizers
2012 Ram 1500 Sport crew cab, Hemi, 4x4, 3.92 LSD, factory brake controller, S&B CAI w/scoop, Moroso air/oil can, 87mm ported/polished/knife-edged throttle body, Magnaflow exhaust, 180* t-stat, Rear lowered 2", Airlift 1000.
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08-19-2013, 06:20 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego Il
Posts: 820
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You may need to raise the 5er also; flip axles to maintain the bed clearance. You should always have a minimum of 4 to 5 inches preferably 6 inches. If not the 5er and truck will create this clearance by dining the bed rails for you. You may also need to raise the hitch up in the bed too but the trailer my ride with the nose up some creating more of a sail and loading the rear trailer axle more. Another issue the pin load may not be evenly distributed too the truck frame if you are nose high.
Are you putting a lift on to run larger tires also? If so make sure the rims and tires are load rated for the king pin and trailer load that the truck will see.
Jim W.
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Jim & Jill
2010 318SAB Cougar
2008 Dodge 6.7LCummins the original 6.7L engine, w/68RFE Auto
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08-19-2013, 05:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by audio1der
I get the impression the OP wants to raise his truck up to be a bigger 4x4, not for towing purposes. With the decreased bed clearance I think he's wondering if he would run into issues?
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Yes...this is what I was asking. I want to use 35" Nitto tires and need the additional height for clearance.
__________________
2019 Montana HC 331RL
2017 F250 Super Duty Crew Cab
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08-21-2013, 11:45 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Ottawa Valley
Posts: 329
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Once you add the lift and tire height increase you will probably have to flip trailer springs to above axle or add lift block on top of trailer axles already flipped. Your fuel mileage will be affected in the wrong direction in a big way.
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2011 325SRX , Mor-Ryde Pinbox
2004 Ram 3500DRW 6spd,4x4,QC.LB ,340L aux tank
1999 Concours
2014 FJR
2014 Jetta TDI
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08-21-2013, 05:29 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,357
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You can disregard my post. #4
__________________
2013 24RKSWE (27ft TT) Cougar 1/2 ton series SOLD 10-2021
2013 Ford F350 4x4 CC 6.7 engine, 8 ft bed, 3.55 rear end, lariat package
Retired from Oregon State Police in 2011 than worked another 9.5 years as a small town traffic cop:
As of 05-2020, I am all done with 39 years total police work. No more uniforms for me.
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