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06-18-2022, 07:07 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Walsh
Posts: 4
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Older Outback, new Ram
Hello all! I’ve been 5th wheeling with family numerous times, but my wife and I finally decided to buy a 5th wheel for ourselves. It’s a crème puff ‘09 Outback. We are pulling it with a 2022 Ram 3500 dually.
Does anyone have any suggestions to get us level while towing? The trailer is running uphill just slightly. We can’t adjust the neck of the trailer any more or else I think we might get into the bed/tailgate. No adjustments on the axles either.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
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06-18-2022, 07:12 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,351
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Welcome to the forum
First off congrats on your great find. How much uphill is it? on level ground if you have 5-6 inches between the bed rails and the bottom of the trailer you should be good in about 99.9% of any situation. I say that because 1 time in Oregon turning off a major highway onto a road the crown was excessive and I touched.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-18-2022, 07:19 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Walsh
Posts: 4
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It’s just one tick off level (according to the level on the trailer) while hooked up. Not sure how much room there is between the trailer and bedrails. I’ve only had it hooked up once just to bring it home to get it ready for a trip in a couple weeks. I don’t remember for sure, but I’d say it’s less than 5 inches. It was closer to the tail gate than the bed rails I think.
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06-18-2022, 07:23 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,351
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Is your truck a shortbed? the tailgate shouldnt be any higher than the bed rails. You can get a variety of different tailgates if needed.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-18-2022, 07:25 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
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As was mentioned, your bed rail clearance is critical. Sometimes you just cannot achieve level and keep the clearance necessary, especially with the newer trucks, they sit sooo damn high these days. If the axles are above the springs, you can flip them and put them below, that will raise the trailer some. Most are already below the springs so people will give them a lift by placing blocks between the axle and spring. IMO, that’s a bit extreme and I wouldn’t bother unless you are extremely nose high.
__________________
Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
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06-18-2022, 07:33 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad.cook81090
It’s just one tick off level (according to the level on the trailer) while hooked up. Not sure how much room there is between the trailer and bedrails. I’ve only had it hooked up once just to bring it home to get it ready for a trip in a couple weeks. I don’t remember for sure, but I’d say it’s less than 5 inches. It was closer to the tail gate than the bed rails I think.
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Is that a metric “Tick” or imperial “Tick”?
We tow a 2005 Copper Canyon with a 2016 Ram 3500 DRW. We have about 5.5 inches of clearance at the tailgate, the 5er has 16” tires and I installed a Correct Track system which gave about 2” of lift at the axles, we tow level.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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06-18-2022, 07:42 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,399
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I think lots of folks have used blocks to add lift at the axles. If it were me I would first set the hitch height to achieve 6”+ clearance at the bed rail. The tail gate should be fine and won’t set any taller than the bed rails. After setting the best hitch height then I would check to see just how unlevel I am. You might get that far and report back for some consensus. Many (Most?) of us run a little nose high with our 5ers. But too much could place more than desired load and stress on the rear axle.
As stated, newer trucks are, IMHO, just unnecessarily too tall. But it is what it is. Trailers of the same vintage as yours tend to ride just a little lower than newer rigs so it’s possible that you would want to make some kind or correction to get closer to level. I installed the CorrectTrax on a previous 5er to gain 2”.
Anyway, welcome aboard and congrats on a good find. Let us know how it’s going.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-18-2022, 07:46 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
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Someone else mentioned a good point, your outback might have 15” wheels. If it does and you have clearance, it may be possible to switch to a 16” wheel/taller tire combo to achieve a little more height on the trailer.
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06-18-2022, 07:47 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717
I think lots of folks have used blocks to add lift at the axles. If it were me I would first set the hitch height to achieve 6”+ clearance at the bed rail. The tail gate should be fine and won’t set any taller than the bed rails. After setting the best hitch height then I would check to see just how unlevel I am. You might get that far and report back for some consensus. Many (Most?) of us run a little nose high. But too much could place more than desired load and stress on the rear axle.
As stated, newer trucks are, IMHO, just unnecessarily too tall. But it is what it is. Trailers of the same vintage as yours tend to ride just a little lower than newer rigs so it’s possible that you would want to make some kind or correction to get closer to level.
Anyway, welcome aboard and congrats on a good find. Let us know how it’s going.
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Depends on the brand and truck, our 2016 Ram 3500 4x4, is the same height as our 2001 Ram 2500 4x4 was.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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06-18-2022, 07:53 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhagfo
Depends on the brand and truck, our 2016 Ram 3500 4x4, is the same height as our 2001 Ram 2500 4x4 was.
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I think the problem with the newer ones is the auto leveling systems. They just don’t allow the truck to squat onto the springs l like the older trucks did. Hitches height seems to be the main issue. I don’t own one of those trucks so I don’t know how much adjustability exists with them, if any.
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06-18-2022, 07:53 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhagfo
Depends on the brand and truck, our 2016 Ram 3500 4x4, is the same height as our 2001 Ram 2500 4x4 was.
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I’m sure you’re right. We moved from a 2000 Ford 4x4 to our current 2012 RAM 4x4 and gained a few inches in height. It was definitely too tall for the 5er we had at the time. But it’s fine with our newer Monty, which is a full profile model. So the config/profile of the 5er also makes a difference. My guess that the OP’s 5er is a mid-profile model so he’s got a little bit of a hill to climb to level it up to that new RAM.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-18-2022, 08:15 AM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Walsh
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
Is your truck a shortbed? the tailgate shouldnt be any higher than the bed rails. You can get a variety of different tailgates if needed.
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It’s a long bed dually. I’ve thought about a tailgate possibly. I just hate to mess with that because we use that pickup for so many different things. But it is an option.
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06-18-2022, 08:53 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717
I’m sure you’re right. We moved from a 2000 Ford 4x4 to our current 2012 RAM 4x4 and gained a few inches in height. It was definitely too tall for the 5er we had at the time. But it’s fine with our newer Monty, which is a full profile model. So the config/profile of the 5er also makes a difference. My guess that the OP’s 5er is a mid-profile model so he’s got a little bit of a hill to climb to level it up to that new RAM.
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Well DRW seem to just sit lower than SRW for some crazy reason. This is the 2001 2500 back to back with the 2016 3500 DRW.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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06-18-2022, 08:58 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,223
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So here is the same 5er hooked to both the 2500 and 3500, didn’t even need to adjust the hitch.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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06-20-2022, 06:17 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Middletown PA
Posts: 149
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Load the trailer and report back mine is nose high empty nice and level after she adds stuff
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06-20-2022, 08:55 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad.cook81090
It’s a long bed dually. I’ve thought about a tailgate possibly. I just hate to mess with that because we use that pickup for so many different things. But it is an option.
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If swapping tailgates is the only option, keep the original & swap them when towing, it takes about a minute to swap them & no tools required.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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06-20-2022, 11:59 AM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Walsh
Posts: 4
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Good info. Our outback has 15 inch wheels. I'm thinking there is plenty of room to go to 16's and maybe that would give us enough clearance.
Thanks!
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