I've placed every combination of syntax I can think of in the "Search Box" above trying to find a median truck bed height or pin height for a fifth wheel set-up.
Anybody got a site to go to for specifications or know what is accepted for safe towing.
The 2001 Dodge 2500HD CTD - 4 x 4 - TV I'm considering has a bed height of 36" +/_ a little. It appears to be pretty standard for the Dodge trucks, but is it?
The 30' to 32' 5'ers I'm considering will end up with a wet weight of between 13,000 and 14,000 pounds
Any assistance will be appreciated.
Thanks
Roger
1991 - 38" American Eagle - 8.3 Cummin's w/Allison 4spd
(Purchased 4-15-10 w/5,600 miles on it)
99 Dodge Durango/SLT 4X4 - Toad
My 05 Dodge 4x4 lower bed height by the tailgate is 38". The Dodge sits tail high. I'm not understanding the question I guess. The bed height has nothing to do with how much you can tow or what is accepted for safe towing. I'd be more interested in GVWR or tire load range or pin weight of the trailer.
Hey Roger, are you trying to be too analytical here?
If you buy a 5er that has no modifications that affect the factory pin height, and you buy a truck that has no modifications that affect the bed height, and you buy just about any of the popular hitches, what are you worried about?
Even trucks with reasonable lift-kits, reasonably oversize tires & wheels seem to do just fine. Now if you buy a truck that is so high you need a ladder to get into the cab, I might worry some.
The question is what is the standard height of the trucks and/or the 5'er pins as I didn't know what the starting point is B4 the lift kits come into the picture.
The question has now been answered the truck I'm looking at does not appear to have been lifted. Many of the trucks I've looked at have been lifted some moderately some to the extreme and I was beginning to be concerned as to cavitation caused by high front attitude of the tow.
I was not concerned with the weight factor just throwing in some additional information suggesting that I had addressed that portion of the equation.
Roger, I think just about every 5er hitch and pin box is adjustable for height differences. Bed height is a concern, but the one you really need to be concerned with is clearance between your bed rails and the 5er. That is were the hitch and pin box adjustments really come in.
Anthony
wife, 2 daughters, and a dog that thinks she runs the place
Cincinnati, OH
2007 Eagle 325 BHS
2006 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab 6.0 PSD
rchonly wrote: I've placed every combination of syntax I can think of in the "Search Box" above trying to find a median truck bed height or pin height for a fifth wheel set-up.
Anybody got a site to go to for specifications or know what is accepted for safe towing.
The 2001 Dodge 2500HD CTD - 4 x 4 - TV I'm considering has a bed height of 36" +/_ a little. It appears to be pretty standard for the Dodge trucks, but is it?
The 30' to 32' 5'ers I'm considering will end up with a wet weight of between 13,000 and 14,000 pounds
Any assistance will be appreciated.
Thanks
Roger
OK, Roger I think I can address some of your questions. I have a 2001.5 2500 4x4 Dodge/Cummins. I ended up flipping my axles and then lowering my trailer on the jack plates for a net 3.5 inch increase in height. This leveled out the trailer. Click "my rig" in sig and look at pictures. The Picture "Cardinal on the Oregon Coast" is after raising the trailer 3.5 inches.
The next issue, is that a 13,000 to 14,000 lb trailer is a bit to much for a 2500. I scale at around 9500-9600 on the truck with a standard cab truck, with a 12k trailer. I also have done a lot to the truck to improve towing power, as it was a bit doggy at the stock 235 HP.
Read about it here: SNOKING Dodge
Chris
* This post was
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edited 09/02/07 04:20pm by Chris *
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My Rig
2001.5 2500 STD CAB AUTO SLT 4x4, CTD 4:10's, Bomb'd to Tow
2005 Cardinal 29WBLX.
Roger, Chris is quite accurate in his reply.
I used to tow with a 1996 Dodge, CTD, BR2500HD. It handled our old 30' 5er great. DW decided she just had to have a Grand Junction 35TMS, with a GVW of 15,500#, empty weight of 11,9xx #. My beloved CTD had the power to tow it, but rounding a corner I could feel the 5er pushing the rear of the truck, especially when braking in a corner.
The up side is- It was now easy to convince her I had to buy a new Chev Duramax K3500, LB, CC! My Chev tows our new 5er easier than the Dodge towed the old 5er.
The bottom line is: stay well within your truck's weight limits.
The other thing to know is that 2001 Dodges had drum brakes on the rear. 2001.5 had four wheel disc brakes. If you get an auto, then you want the 4:10 gears. With the 6 speed 3.54's are ok, for towing that heavy.
Most 2001.5 like mine came with the camper option, that added the sway bar and overloads to the rear. And most also came with the larger 265 tires. The camper option was really the SRW 1 Ton in those years, except that Dodge left the GVWR at 8800. Mine BTW weighs in at 7K ready to tow with me in it. The 6 speeds have a Dana 80 rear diff and the auto's have the Dana 70 rear diff. Without mods the auto can not take much extra power or an exhaust brake. The 6 speed stock clutch also will not take to much increase in HP before it needs an upgrade. Chris
Just to clarify a little I went back to the specs on the few used 5'ers I've narrowed the field to and find all come in at very close to or under 10,000# Dry Weight.
That being the case I think the 5th should be around 11,500# to 12,000# wet weight and within the GCWR of the Dodge I'm considering.
dadwolf2 sent me a PM regarding the bedrails and the bottom of the 5th wheel being of concern if the height and attitude are not correct. This is much appreciated and does present a possible problem just getting in and out of my driveway. I may have to do the Culvert and filling act to cure that one.
Keep 'em coming guys I need the education to transition from an old Class A to 5th wheel RV'ing.
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My Chev tows our new 5er easier than the Dodge towed the old 5er.
