Can anyone tell me what minimum space I need between the bed rails and the body of my 5th wheel. On my '08 F250 I had a good 7 1/2" at the hitch with minimal if any tapering to the rear/tailgate. On the new truck I'm probably closer to 6 1/4+" at the hitch, tapering to maybe 5 1/4" at the rear/tailgate. I'm using a B & W hitch. I can still raise the hitch another inch, and I think I need at least that inch, even though it will throw the trailer a little more off level. Just wondered if there was any rule of thumb on the space needed.

 

I've always used 8 inches all around as my minimum and my last setup was 7.5 at the tailgate. The area of impact for my trailer was not the sides but the tailgate. I would pull the trailer though some pretty uneven terrain and I was always watching the tailgate just barely miss the underside of the 5th wheel. 5 inches at the tailgate would not be enough for me. I would be raising it all I could.

I used a B&W companion and turnover ball setup on my 2011 and it worked great but I like the B&W even more now that I have the Ford 5th wheel prep. I got a new base and am re-using the head on my 2017. It is set to the middle height setting and turns out it has just a little bit more clearance which I did not expect. The new base must be quite a bit taller than the old base. It fits under the Retrax easily.

 

6" is considered the standard minimum but many run 5" and get away with it. It all depends on how off angle you tow as well. If you're always on smooth, flat roads, then you are fine with less. If you're the type who tows off road where the truck and trailer angles are more extreme, then more is better. Personally, 6" is fine for me.

 

I also remember 6" being the magic number. I also just got done reading the "installation instructions" for the gooseneck hitch I bought to replace my king pin hitch and they say minimum distance is 6".

A person could go less, but like others have said, all depends on if you tow and get into some steep angles. I wouldn't go less than 6"

 

Thanks for all the info. I had seen the 6" referenced before, but I sure felt better with my previous 7 1/2".

 

I totally agree, the more clearance the better. My issue is that with my 2006 F350 I had 6.5" of clearance with the 5th wheel nose slightly angled up. When my 2017 gets here I am wondering how that is going to work out since I know they are taller.

 

Subscribed for future reference.

 

I was worried about the taller truck too, but the trailer skirt to ground measurements front and back are actually very similar to the measurements with my '08.

 

Me three. Truck is taller, bed rails are taller, hitch base is taller, everything is taller but the trailer sits as flat as it did with my 2011. Granted the rear end squatted more without airbags but height turned out to be no problem.

 

You SHORTEST distance (most likely at the tailgate) should be at LEAST 5 inches IF your nose bottom edge is parallel to your truck rails...if you are nose up then start at 6" as your shortest.

I ran 5" fine even on dips and crossing ditches in the RV park which were more like shallow water run offs.

Then there is the length of your bed, if you have a long bed you might want to add a ½" if parallel giving you a target of 6.5 as your min...

 

Lots of room to play

 

I'm really close at 6 inches when I turn out of my driveway. Driveway has a slight rise to the road. Not really noticeable.
I would like to drop to 5" to get the rig better leveled (40') but I'm sure I will hit at 5"