This first part is just a set up for the problem, so bear with me.
This came about because I was all worried about the clearance between my bedrails and my fiver. To get to where I want to go, I am going down through basically a bar-ditch and then down a half mile of forest path.
So I adjusted the hitch to get my 6 inches minimum and I will watch it real close.
I got to thinking about all the adjustments to hitches and pinboxes, and axle flips and airbags and everything we do and it seems like it is all tied to the bedrail height on our tow vehicle. So I measured a sample of Chevy, Dodge, and Ford siderail heights (bottom of bed to top of rail). Turns out that Dodge and Chevy are both right at 19 inches for every model I measured. However Ford is at 22 inches on the newer models.
That means that Ford drivers have to jack thier rigs 3 inches higher than anyone else. And that affects the center of gravity, the side-to-side sway, as well as raising the roof another 3 inches above factory height.
So (Finally) why did Ford do that? Is it just to make thier F150's look beefier than Chevy and Dodge? The older model Fords were about the same height as everybody else. It seems to have occured about when they went to the bubble-sided model. Did they just not think about what it would do to all the owners of trailers out there? Is there another motive?
OK, let the flames begin.
Fun is that stuff that happens in between mistakes.
2006 Chevy 3500 D/A DRW Prodigy, AirBags, CoPilot, EarPlugs
34 ft River Canyon with most of the pieces still attached
Upon the introduction of the new 2004 F150, the Ford design team said..."All boxes are two inches deeper than before giving the F-150 the most cargo capacity in its class." Bragging rights! WhooHooo!
between 2000 and 2001 Dodge raised the body 2" for ???, who knows. I used to like the fact you could get a F150,250... and not have to get a step ladder to get out and in.
I have to agree with your comment about needing to be bigger badder... than brand D or C.
In light of what is needed for towing fuel economy it seems to me if someone were to build a capable 4x4 that wasn't in the clouds there might be one or two buyers out there interested in buying, think aerodynamics.
I'm really think about what jefff929 said. He is correct that the 2500's and 3500's of every manuf stand a little taller and a little boxier than the 1500's. Maybe if they were lower and more streamlined, They might get better gas mileage?? The front decks of Fivers would then not need to be so tall and the combo rig might get a little better mileage too. Hmmmmm...
BTW the f350 also has tall siderails. and they don't add anything to cargo handling capacity unless you are hauling water.
Sort of off topic, but these posts got me thinking. Given that trailers have gone to enclosed underbelly's to cut down wind resistance and save a bit of fuel, and the aerodynamics of the underside's are critical to race cars, etc., I'm surprised that given the current fuel economy issues that car manufacturers (or trucks) havent gone with something similar to enclose the undersides of vehicles for those same reasons. Maybe the potential fuel economy gain, or the aerodynamic improvements are just too small to make it viable for the manufacturing cost, or extra weight.
2008 Jayco Eagle 325BHS
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 MegaCab 4X4, Cummins
2 kids age 6 & 8, and a 6 year old golden retriever...
I'm not so sure Fords are taller, in total height anyways. Maybe 1/2's tons.
I know I gained almost 4" with the Ford F350 in clearance over my Dodge 3500.
07' KZ New Vision ToyHauler 38SBx3
08' Ford Lariat F-350, 4x4, DRW Tow Boss, Nav, DVD +
20.5K Super 5th w/Super Rail kit
Well I can't speak for the F150 since I have two F350 diesels but when I went to transfer the fifth wheel hitch from the '05 into the '08, I had to raise it two notches to be able to see it from my driver's seat. In the '05 I could just see the top of the skidplate and was able to line up on the kingpin. But I couldn't do the same when the hitch was installed on my '08. So now that it has been raised, I can see it very well and I am still towing level with the fiver. Both of these trucks are 4wd but the '08 is a duallie while the '05 is a SRW (if that makes a difference).
"There's no such thing as too much tow vehicle!"
Wes, Linda, & kids
"Tow Twuck" - 2008 Ford F350 DRW CC LB 6.4 Powerstroke
"Cougar" - 2006 Keystone Cougar 289EFS Fifth Wheel Our Website
I agree with creeper, they are trucks and are designed to carry things in the bed. I seriously doubt that the fact that the bed side height might impact a few 5th wheel owners ever entered the designers mind. That is not where their market is.
USN Retired
2007 Cedar Creek 30 RLSTS
2008 F350, DRW, V-10, B&W hitch,
Pressure Pro, JT Strongarms
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