pressure_welder
brandon
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Joined: 02/05/2012
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Ive been given some advice that i may be taking into consideration, aparently quite a few guys with our trucks have been lowering the rear end to accomodate fifth wheels better. Iam just not sure weather i can get her down enough and still maintain a decent bedrail clearence.
2012 Duramax Denali Dually
2003 Triple E topaz 29' luxury touring edition.
1850 crestliner sportfish w/ 150 optimax
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The Mad Norsky
Yankton, South Dakota
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Joined: 04/14/2003
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I think some have already posted your biggest problem.
What size tires DOES that 27 foot fifth wheel have on it???????
If its on 15 inch rims, well gosh, there's your problem.
If the size tires/rims on the fifth wheel are NOT comparable to the size tires and rims on the tow vehicle, then bed clearance and pulling nose high on the fiver results.
In other words, you're running say 235/80R17's on the truck, then the fiver better have 16 or 17 inch tires too.
If its running just 15's, no way I'd classify that as a high end fiver. No weight rating, or not enough to carry what a high end fiver should weigh.
The Mad Norsky, Doll, Logan, Korey & Rocky
2011 Ford F350 Power Stroke dually
RV'ing since 1991
We never know where we're going till we get there!
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bailer6334
Prescott, AZ
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X2 what Mad Norsky said. I've run 16" tires on 2 Rams and my new Chevy 4X4 and have NOT had a problem with the 5er.
2011 Arctic Fox 29-5T 5th Wheel
2011 Silverado HD 3500 6.6L Duramax Diesel Crew Cab
Short Bed 4X4 SRW LT
50gal Transfer Flow Aux. Tank
16K Valley Hitch w/bed saver
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j2catfish
Newport, NC, U.S.of.A.
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If you rarely use the 4X4 on bad roads, you can easily lower the back of the truck. I dropped my Chebbie 3 inches using lowering spring shackles. Only problem I encountered is the mounting bolts for the rear of the springs are installed with the bolt facing out board. When trying to remove them, they strike the chassis rail and I had to raise the body up to remove them. (I re-installed them with the bolts out!) Been on some gold hunting trips off road in the desert and have had no ground clearance problems. (Without the 5er of course).
Catfish
K3500; Teton Homes 5er;
Native Texan - Transplanted Tar Heel
Retired USMC Mustang (LDO)
Semper Fi !
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45Ricochet
North Idaho
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Joined: 09/04/2009
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I would 1st look at your hitch and pin box for adjustments.
06 Ram 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins Smarty Jr 48RE Jacobs brake
GVWR 12,200 RAWR 9350
06 Grand Junction 34' High profile 15500 GVWR 3200 pin Mor/ryde 5500 Onan genny Dual A/C Wet bolts
27' Hallett 502, 500HP
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MaxspeedGSX1300R
NY
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I lowered my truck and then moved the pin up as high as I could.. It was a little work... Ok I know it not the same type of truck but think it out and you can get it done.
2003 International 8500 with HT530 diesel and 10 speed standard, 2006 38' Coachman Adrenaline fifth wheel toy hauler, 2000 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R, 2008 Suzuki B-King, 2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250S
Take it to the limit!
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pressure_welder
brandon
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No adjustment as we sit right now, if i lower the pin box itll just push the nose of the camper higher and even more unlevel, hitch in the box is in the highest position to get more bedrail clearence, if i lower it at all itll be way to close to the bedrails. The camper does have 16" billet aluminium wheels (wheels/tires measure 28" high) so thats not the issue its just these new gm trucks, beds are 2 1/2" deeper and the rear ends ( as per my dealer ) is 2" higher. Camper is going in to have axles flipped, hopefully this will remedy the issue
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asuperheat
Florida
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joebedford wrote:asuperheat wrote:I'm sure you dont want to here this but since you already own the truck maybe pull the bed and put a flat bed on it? Pulling the bed is quite easy and it could be put back on later for resale. Just a thought. I know the OP is Canadian but don't know from what province. Be careful with this poster's suggestion: in Ontario the RV exemption for pulling a trailer over 4500kg REQUIRES your truck to have the original body.
Oh yeah, my Chev LTZ (basically the same truck as your Denali) tows my trailer perfectly level but I wish I had a bit more bed clearance. I'm going to switch to 85 series tires which will help a bit.
Not from Canada myself so I will take your word on it. Is a bed of a pickup conciderd the body of the vehicle? Here in the U.S. you can buy them from the dealer already set up this way although usually outfited by the dealer and aftermarket.
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The Mad Norsky
Yankton, South Dakota
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Joined: 04/14/2003
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28 inches are a rather small sized 16 inch tire.
Just as an example, a 235/85R16 is about 31.5 inches tall. Thats what is on my fiver. (2003 Hitchhiker).
Is there any room between the fiver tires which would allow a slightly larger tire to be used???????
Just an idea which may, or may not be worth checking into.
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gmcsmoke
Butler
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33" tires on the truck, 28" tires on the camper. it has nothing to do with the body height. Flip the axles and move on.
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