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Old 08-22-2014, 11:51 AM   #1
Canada Goose
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Question Truck And Fifth Level When Hooked Up

I have a 2014 Ford 250 and have added air bags. I am towing a 2014 Avalanche 355Rk. When hooded up with the truck quite level The fifth seems quite high in the front. 3 to 4" higher than back. Should I have this much slope?
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Old 08-22-2014, 12:37 PM   #2
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If the floor of the fifth-wheel is level and the roof slopes from front to back, then you should expect the same when hitched.

I'm certainly no expert, but most fifth-wheels that I have seen have some taper from front to back (slightly taller in front than they are in the rear).

Edit - you can most likely disregard this as I interpreted the question as "should the roofline be sloped" and not "should the frame be sloped"
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Old 08-22-2014, 12:38 PM   #3
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No, it should be as level as possible. You don't mention whether 4x4 .. bedrail clearance ... can hitch be lowered???? For best ride while towing truck and trailer should both be level in an ideal world. Frame should be level NOT roofline!!!
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Old 08-22-2014, 12:41 PM   #4
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I try to have mine ride level but can be hard to do at times depending on your set up. I was a little nose high also and ended up lowering my fifth wheel hitch. Seemed to do the trick.
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Old 08-22-2014, 02:41 PM   #5
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Level with 6" of clearance from the bed rail to the bottom of the trailer frame riding over the bed is the ideal.
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Old 08-22-2014, 03:35 PM   #6
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I'm kinda stuck "in between". I'm just a little nose high and have 6 1/2" of clearance between truck rails and the 5th. Hitch adjustments are in 2" increments. That would be too low I think.
I'm thinking re-arch the springs is the only solution.....down the road maybe.
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Old 08-22-2014, 03:47 PM   #7
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Some pin boxes are adjustable.
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Old 08-23-2014, 07:38 AM   #8
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Pin boxes can usually be adjusted as well as the hitch. 6" clearance to bed rail is ideal, but isn't written in stone. the biggest concern there is trailer roll. If you don't go over rough terrain causing heavy side to side body roll and you take it easy you can get away with less.....much less. For me, I'm comfortable as long a I have at least 4", but I'm also very aware if I have minimal clearance. Level or as close as you can get is a major concern for towing. If I was in your shoes I'd drop the hitch and deal with the 4.5" clearance. Also check your trailer suspension, some are adjustable to gain a little height there as well. Just realized you said you have airbags, drop them a bit as well. Your truck does not need to be at stock height, a little squat is fine
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Old 08-25-2014, 12:16 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gearhead View Post
I'm kinda stuck "in between". I'm just a little nose high and have 6 1/2" of clearance between truck rails and the 5th. Hitch adjustments are in 2" increments. That would be too low I think.
I'm thinking re-arch the springs is the only solution.....down the road maybe.
I think my problem is I have a Pull Rite Sliding hitch that I cannot lower. I have 10 " of clearance between bed rail and bottom of trailer with only one bolt hole of pin box adjustment. I will be talking to Pull Rite about this problem. I am 17" from bed rails to top of hitch plate. Hope I don't have to change my hitch.
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Old 08-25-2014, 12:21 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by bsmith0404 View Post
Pin boxes can usually be adjusted as well as the hitch. 6" clearance to bed rail is ideal, but isn't written in stone. the biggest concern there is trailer roll. If you don't go over rough terrain causing heavy side to side body roll and you take it easy you can get away with less.....much less. For me, I'm comfortable as long a I have at least 4", but I'm also very aware if I have minimal clearance. Level or as close as you can get is a major concern for towing. If I was in your shoes I'd drop the hitch and deal with the 4.5" clearance. Also check your trailer suspension, some are adjustable to gain a little height there as well. Just realized you said you have airbags, drop them a bit as well. Your truck does not need to be at stock height, a little squat is fine
Thanks for the info. I cannot lower my hitch It's a Pull Rite Slider. I have lowered my air bag pressure and still have 10" of clearance between Bed rails and bottom of trailer. I have 5" of slope from front to back on trailer. I can live with this if I have to. Don't want to change hitches.
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Old 08-25-2014, 12:28 PM   #11
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Dang that is a lot of clearance. Does the Pull Rite adjust at all? I bet that rear axle has a load on it.

I got out at daylight yesterday and lowered my hitch a bolt hole. I'm now at 5" +/- of tailgate clearance. I put a torpedo level on the trailer floor and it was good, then a cheap 36" carpenter level showed good too. What the heck, put the Starrett 98 machinery level on it. Naaaw....it's a couple thousands off!
But I gained 1.500" at the rear bumper, which I needed badly. Previously it cleared the driveway by 1/4" when backing in from the street.
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Old 08-25-2014, 04:39 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Canada Goose View Post
I think my problem is I have a Pull Rite Sliding hitch that I cannot lower. I have 10 " of clearance between bed rail and bottom of trailer with only one bolt hole of pin box adjustment. I will be talking to Pull Rite about this problem. I am 17" from bed rails to top of hitch plate. Hope I don't have to change my hitch.
I can't see this as your problem. I am also 17" from bed rails to the top of the hitch plate. If you have 1 hole of adjustment available on the kingpin, I'd start by raising it up as high as you can. That will gain you a bit. Keep in mind that your adjustment front to rear will double as you are pivoting in the middle. Dropping the nose 2" will raise the rear 2" since the axle provides a teeter totter effect. That should get you pretty close. Having 5" difference is quite a bit and 10" clearance to the bedrails is really high.
Some pics would be helpful for us to see exactly what you're dealing with.
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