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Yea, something isnt right. In my shortbed, when I'm hitched up, it looks like your truck in the maneuver position. I'd actually be afraid to turn corners in your rig as close as that is, even with the tailgate up. Can you take a couple more photos down into your pickup box of the hitch? And a photo of the entire pin box? It seems like your hitch is mounted too far forward, or your pinbox is too short. In your last photo, it almost looks like the kingpin is way forward of the rear axle too. Did you buy this trailer from a dealer? If so, I am very surprised they didnt say anything?
Pin boxes come in short, medium, and long lengths. I would determine which I had and then check with the manufacturer and see if you can go longer. Quite often going one step up in length is permissible.
I have a Reese slider on my 2016 F350 but never use the slide. CW installed the rails with a new rail bolt kit after I removed the hitch from my F250. I took the Husky 5er tailgate off the last truck and put it on the F350 the 2nd day I owned the truck and never drop the gate to hitch or unhitch (love that thing) but now curious to see how much space I have. My wife says she feels certain we had the gate down once while hitched and it did not hit the 5er.
Here are a few more pictures. I checked the measurements again and the rails are mounted at 32 1/4" per the instructions. The pin is just forward of the axle as per instructions. The trailer came with a Lippert 1621 pinbox. The pin box is 17 3/4" from the front set of mounting holes. I'll have to see if they make a longer pinbox. I know there is a 10" extension that clamps around the pin and bolts to the original pinbox. The only issue with that is it raises the nose of the trailer 3 1/2". I'm already as low as I can go with the hitch. I have no issues when turning with clearance between the trailer and the cab.
I'm not the expert, but looks like that hitch in the towing mode is way too far forward? My hitch, although different brand, when towing the kingpin is just about directly over the axle. Looking at the top picture, does the slide rails extend beyond the front rail? It almost looks like you could have the slide rails installed backwards.... If they do, it would seem like they should extend past the rear rail, not past the front. My slider starts at the axle, and slides back 14".
Nevermind, I went to Reese website, and pulled the instructions for your hitch, and mounting rails, and you appear to be installed correctly. It's over my head now...
This is the same hitch I used in my '03 Ram 2500 with the 6' 4" bed and never had an issues. I know this box is 6' 9" but didn't think the just added the extra length to the rear of the bed. Not sure if the tailgate step makes any difference. It doesn't look like I have any extra clearance in the front between the cab and trailer.
I've done some google searches, and there are a number of hits for this particular hitch, and complaints about being too far forward. You might consider looking at some different hitches as others mount further back. for example the Pullright instructions call for the rear rail to be mounted just over 26" from the rear of the bed.
I personally wouldn't want to continue towing with your current setup. too much room for damage to occur.
I have the same truck and my 5th whl hitch is not that far forward in the bed. I have a lot more room between the rear of the truck and the front of the trailer underbelly.
I probably have the same amount of space in tow position as you seem to have in maneuver position.
ssunit1, can you give me what your measurements are and what type of frame mount you have? If you can take some pictures of your hitch setup, I would appreciated it. Talked with Reese for over an hour this morning and they can't figure out why. There are two different styles of mounting kits, one that goes in front of the bed support rails (p/n 56016 and one that goes around the support rails (p/n 50026). The 56016 puts the center of the hitch 7/8" behind the center of the axle and the 50026 puts the center 2 11/16" in front of the axle. Very confusing.
All I can say here is having worked on dozens of hitched fivers, it has never been so tight I could get the front compartment open enough to check the batteries with me in the space. I don't know what is wrong here, but this is not right!
beasley714, are you using a slider hitch? If so, what brand? If you are able, can you give me the measurement from the front of the bed to the center of the hitch? With my Reese Kwik Slider I am at 33 1/2".
Thanks, John
st.rodder2, The back rail is 27 5/8 in from back of bed to back edge of rear rail. Hope that's what you are asking for.
I have kit # 56016 for the rail mounts.
Hope this helps and good luck. Let us know what happens.
I pull a 2011 Montana High Country with a 2000 F-250 short bed super cab truck and an Andersen Ultimate Hitch in the bed. When backing the truck up to get the ball/mount in line with each other the tailgate is down. Once the ball/mount are lined up there is probably a good 8-10 inches between the down tailgate (top of gate) and the trailer. Once we close the tail gate, there is plenty of room to walk between the truck and trailer.
Our rails are mounted in the typical/standard location in the bed of the truck. We have zero problems with clearance between the truck and trailer even in a near 90 degree turn.
As mentioned above, something is not quite right and I think the shorter pin box on your trailer might be one of the main causes. Our pin box is a medium I would say and provides enough distance between the truck and the trailer to do what we need to.
10-17-2016, 08:16 PM
