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Old 07-12-2019, 11:08 AM   #1
Penhall
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Raising Older 1/2 Tonne Series

Just wondering if anyone has raised their old 1/2 tonne series 5th wheels to work with newer trucks. I have a 2006 276EFS that matches fairly well with my 03 F250 but the wife is hinting (pushing) for a newer crew cab which all appear to be quite a bit taller than my 03. Just curious on other's experiences.



Happy wife happy something something.

Thanks
George
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Old 07-12-2019, 06:00 PM   #2
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It’s difficult to see in the picture but it looks like on your trailer the axles are on top of the springs. On my previous 2000 Newmar American Star fifth wheel it was the same way. My 2000 Chevy 3500 fit perfectly it was so low even with 4WD. When I upgraded to the 2004.5 Duramax 3500HD, things were out of wack. My dealer was able to perform the “axle flip” which isn’t really a flip at all but the axles are removed, the perches are relocated from the bottom to the top, and the axles are remounted under the spring in turn raising the trailer. We pulled that trailer for another 12 years with only normal wear and tear issues.
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Old 07-12-2019, 08:07 PM   #3
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Before hitting the panic button, measure. Measure your current truck, then measure other trucks as to their height. Our new 2016 Ram DRW 3500, is only 1” taller than our 2001 Ram.
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Old 07-15-2019, 12:13 PM   #4
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Thanks ... I didn't intend the pic to be of help in the current situation of the 5th wheel, just the current situation with the wife. ;-) The axles are currently below the springs so a traditional 'flip' isn't really an option. But Russ is right (or Paula or Belle, whichever one actually responded), I think I'll wait and see what the actual difference is; eye-ball measurement is 2-4 inches difference at tailgate freestanding but will have to see what the measurement is post-squat once I decide on a vehicle.

Cheers!
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Old 01-28-2020, 01:37 PM   #5
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Picked up a 2012 F350 and looks like I have to deal with an additional 2 1/2 inches, as measured wheel centres to top of box. I may be able to get an additional 1" from my king pin adjustment so probably a couple inches will make it level-ish with the new truck.

Hoping a suspension change, Morryde type will help, otherwise will probably have to weld new hangers or something.

Don't want to go too crazy expense wise as now the wife is hinting at a different 5th wheel but that won't be this year, or so I think.

But it's still January, so time to think it through is all I got.
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Old 01-28-2020, 02:14 PM   #6
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If all you're going to need is a couple of inches, the Lippert Correct Track system may be your solution. Here's one source, it's DEFINITELY available cheaper, but this Amazon link will get you started on what it does complete with some reviews from people who have installed/used it:

https://www.amazon.com/Lippert-87220.../dp/B00JMHF15G
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Old 01-28-2020, 02:30 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
If all you're going to need is a couple of inches, the Lippert Correct Track system may be your solution. Here's one source, it's DEFINITELY available cheaper, but this Amazon link will get you started on what it does complete with some reviews from people who have installed/used it:

https://www.amazon.com/Lippert-87220.../dp/B00JMHF15G
Thanks John, I will look into that option.

Cheers!
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Old 01-28-2020, 05:09 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
If all you're going to need is a couple of inches, the Lippert Correct Track system may be your solution. Here's one source, it's DEFINITELY available cheaper, but this Amazon link will get you started on what it does complete with some reviews from people who have installed/used it:

https://www.amazon.com/Lippert-87220.../dp/B00JMHF15G
This got our 5er level!
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Old 01-30-2020, 04:55 AM   #9
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I am considering adding the correct track system to our trailer in order to gain some additional clearance.
Concerned about adding stress (leverage) to the spring hangers. Has anyone had any problems adding the correct track to the stock hangers?
Our trailer is equipped with 4400# axles and the spring hangers are not too stout.
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Old 05-13-2020, 06:53 AM   #10
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Well, finally got the new (2012) truck hooked to the 'ol 5th wheel. So far without any modifications except raising the king pin, it sits levelish, but a bit nose high and my clearance isn't ideal. I think I'll have to go down the Lippert system suggested.

Yeah, I know, old thread now but thought it'd be useful to someone if I keep my quest for level documented.



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Old 05-13-2020, 07:35 AM   #11
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Maybe you just need a newer 5er to go with than newer truck
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Old 05-13-2020, 08:19 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717 View Post
Maybe you just need a newer 5er to go with than newer truck
You've been talking to my wife, haven't you?
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Old 05-13-2020, 05:54 PM   #13
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Hey Penhall, some F350s have a 3" spacer block between the axle housing and the spring, It can be replaced with 1 1/2' spacer from F250. check it out.-----Lou----
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Old 05-13-2020, 07:37 PM   #14
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Quote:
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Hey Penhall, some F350s have a 3" spacer block between the axle housing and the spring, It can be replaced with 1 1/2' spacer from F250. check it out.-----Lou----
Wouldn't that make the truck nose high? On Ford trucks the headlights are already pointed too high, wouldn't this shine them straight up?
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Old 05-13-2020, 10:20 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trucker LOU View Post
Hey Penhall, some F350s have a 3" spacer block between the axle housing and the spring, It can be replaced with 1 1/2' spacer from F250. check it out.-----Lou----
Actually, I'm already air bagged but thanks

Cheers
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Old 05-14-2020, 07:02 AM   #16
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Wouldn't that make the truck nose high? On Ford trucks the headlights are already pointed too high, wouldn't this shine them straight up?
The way I understand the "previous model SuperDuty" (2011-2016) the F250 used a 3" spring block and the F350 used a 2" spring block (to keep the trucks relatively the same height with the additional springs on the rear of the F350. Most F250's have 2 leaves with an optional overload leaf (3 total) while F350's have 4 leaves with a fifth which is the overload leaf.

All SuperDuty trucks in that model run (2011-2016) AFAIK, have a 2" rear axle rise on the body. That's a 3" block in 250's and a 2" block in 350's (because of the increased thickness in the rear leaf assembly). That causes the trucks to "sit lower in the front" by 2". When a "reasonable load" is placed in the bed, the truck is designed to sit level. Mine sits "nose down" when in the garage with an empty bed and sits "slightly nose high" when connected to the fifth wheel.

When you couple the above with the extremely long leaves used by Ford (to soften the unloaded ride for comfort) there is a need to "rake the truck" so as the load settles the rear of the truck, the "headlights don't shine on the stars"....

Many people install a 2" lift kit to the front axle to "bring the truck to level" when it is unloaded. That makes the "headlights in the sky" issue even more pronounced with that mod.

I don't know what (if any) mods have been done to the OP's truck that might affect how it sits "unloaded and with the fifth wheel pin weight on the rear axle", so it's a "best guess" whether a 2" a 3" spring block or air bags or ???? is the best way to level his trailer....

If the truck is "not modded in height" then I'd suspect there's no need to change the assembly until the trailer, hitch and pin box have all been properly adjusted.

Anyway, I wanted to point out that SuperDuty trucks do have "spring blocks" and there is a "rhyme and reason" to how they're installed by Ford.
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Old 05-14-2020, 07:50 AM   #17
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Thanks for that.

Cheers!
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Old 05-14-2020, 12:39 PM   #18
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Love your truck's color scheme!!. I had the same on my 2002 F-250 super duty crew cab 4x4. After 17.5 years I sold it and purchased a white 2016 F-350 DRW 4x2 super duty crew cab with 2000 miles (lease return). Best move I ever made. Never needed the 4x4; only used it to pull a ski boat tandem trailer up a steep, wet ramp. So after that purchase guess what?.......my wife convinced me to purchase a longer (41 ft) and heavier (16,600 GVWR) fifth wheel trailer last January. Now I have to get a class A noncommercial driver's license since the trailer GVWR is > 15,000 lbs and guess what?...........the DMV is closed, not only for the written trailer test but for a driving test (and I am quite happy to do these with a N95 mask).

Since the truck sits lower than a 4x4 it is way easier to get into, has a really nice ride and probably better diesel mileage. Of course, I had to raise the hitch in the truck bed....no big deal with my hitch.
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Old 05-14-2020, 01:08 PM   #19
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George, I may be the downer on this thread. You badly need to bring up that 9th grade math and do a little figuring. Let's assume you are going to raise the RV 2 or 3 inches at both axles. We will pick 2.5 inches as the example. Your hitch pin is approximately 24 feet from the CENTER of the two axles. That means that 12' back from your hitch pin the RV is only 1.25 inches higher, and 6 feet back it is only .62 inches higher, and now for the bad news: Three feet back of your hitch pin, the approximate distance of your tailgate, the bottom of your RV is only 3/16 of an inch higher than this very minute.
You are CONSIDERABLY more likely to have success raising your hitch, or lowering your pin box.
I say buy the new truck and then come back and we'll help you even more.
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Old 05-14-2020, 02:08 PM   #20
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It would have to be a combination of both the hitch/pinbox height and then raising the 5th wheel a bit more than that. Not just adding the height to the axels will do as you said. Trying to get a balance between level and clearance. Honestly, getting one more inch of bed rail clearance would make me more comfortable which would probably entail a couple inches of suspension lift paired with raising the king pin back up an inch.

The truck is bought and as the pics show, my initial setup of just raising the king pin makes it OK but not ideal for clearances - just trying to get it a bit better for comfort. Or just go with Jeff and Sandi's suggestion which would make the wife happier.

Cheers
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