body lift and a 5th wheel set up

livincountry · May 2, 2004

I am looking at the purchase of a 5th wheel camper (6800 GVW). I need to add a fth wheel hitch to my pickup with a 3" body lift. From what I have read, you attach the fith wheel to the bed and there are brackets that ultimately attach to the frame rails. Based on the lift I need to add 3" spacers or something to make up the difference. Does anyone know if this is safe or possible?

MikePA · May 2, 2004

you attach the fifth wheel to the bed 
I do not have a 5th wheel, however I have a gooseneck hitch, which is almost the same. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif There is nothing attached to the bed, at least on mine. The only thing that's done to the bed is some holes are cut into it to permit access to the pieces that are attached/welded (depends on hitch mfgr) to the frame that come up through the bed.

I advise emailing/calling the hitch mfgr you are interested in and asking them. My guess is many, if not all, of the kits are designed with a stock bed in mind. Raising any of the brackets up three inches, without a specific kit/blessing from the mfgr, sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

johnday · May 2, 2004

I'll bet the truck looks real bad---, but thats a problem you run into when you lift a pickup beyond stock. It makes it very difficult to properly tow anything. Have you thought about the trailer, about how high you'll have to jack that in order for it to be close to level? Not only that, but you will have also have raised the center of gravity, probably increasing your side exposure to winds.
I'd suggest getting that truck back down to stock. You see alot of combinations out there, quite a few of them are unsafe at any speed. I don't know everything, but I've dragged a number of trailers around, and keep away from the combinations that I wouldn't do to my own vehicle.
My computer, my dime. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

RobS · May 2, 2004

The fifth wheel hitch needs to be connected to the frame. You could potentially fab some spacers to get a solid connection but I suspect you'll find another problem. As Johnday mentioned, you want the camper to pull level. You also want some clearance between the camper and the bed rails of the truck. All that translates to getting the camper raised as well, probably as much as the body lift.

I pull a fiver behind my stock Ford 4X4. Because the Fords (and Dodges) sit up higher the trailer manufacturers provide for "flipping the axles". This means putting the trailer axles under the springs instead of above. For my truck it worked perfectly. The camper sits about five inches higher and provides about eight inches of clearance between the camper and the bed rails. For a raised truck you'd have to raise the camper even more which sounds precarious running down the highway. You'll also have problems at camp as your stabilizer jacks are now that much higher off the ground.

So, can it be done? Sure. Should it be done? Only you can answer that one for yourself. I wouldn't raise my camper any higher than what it is now /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bird · May 2, 2004

( You also want some clearance between the camper and the bed rails of the truck )

Yep, like many 5th wheel pullers, I once went into an unfamiliar state park well after dark and had to make a fairly tight left turn and down a steep hillside; got the left rear corner of the truck up against the bottom of the trailer; barely made a dent on the corner of the pickup, but had white paint from the trailer on the truck and red paint from the truck on the trailer. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

livincountry · May 2, 2004

Thank you for the replies. I thought as much in regards to the safety issue but it doesn't hurt to ask. This was just the first trailer we had the opportunity to buy. I have until late July before we need the camper for the county fair so I have time to shop around. We sold the old camper last year and wanted a newer one. Looks like I'll be buying another conventional hitch trailer.

thanks again,

Tony