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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Tow Vehicles -> Bed rail clearance?
Post Info TOPIC: Bed rail clearance?
CraigAs


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Bed rail clearance?
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We have a 2017 F350 Super Duty Crew Cab Long Box truck. The top of the bed rails is about 60" when empty. We just purchased a 2008 Domani and the owner is delivering it to us as we do not have the 5er hitch mounted yet. He is throwing in his 22K Reese hitch. In measuring everything I could, I see that it might be a challenge to achieve the 6" clearance between the bed rails the the 5er overhang. When I load the truck with 2,000 pounds, the bed rails height drops down to about 57 1/2".  The 5er height from the concrete while sitting fairly level is about 62". Any ideas on how to get that 6+" inches of clearance without making the 5er sit nose high?
 


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Craig Sanders
Bill and Linda


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CraigAs wrote:
We have a 2017 F350 Super Duty Crew Cab Long Box truck. The top of the bed rails is about 60" when empty. We just purchased a 2008 Domani and the owner is delivering it to us as we do not have the 5er hitch mounted yet. He is throwing in his 22K Reese hitch. In measuring everything I could, I see that it might be a challenge to achieve the 6" clearance between the bed rails the the 5er overhang. When I load the truck with 2,000 pounds, the bed rails height drops down to about 57 1/2".  The 5er height from the concrete while sitting fairly level is about 62". Any ideas on how to get that 6+" inches of clearance without making the 5er sit nose high? 

 

Only two correct ways such that you don’t have extra weight on the trailer’s rear axle, possibly overloading it, and have some stability issues towing:   Raise the trailer at the axles or put on a hauler bed.  Those really are the only ways.  There is no short cut without compromising weight distribution and towing safety

This is a common problem with all new ~2011 and forward, pickups.

MORryde does this trailer lift all the time and knows how to do it properly and safely.  It’s really no big deal,  just money.

The hauler bed, assuming the truck’s rear axle can take the extra weight along with the trailer’s pin weight, solves this, gives more storage space and keeps the trailer lower.  That said, don’t get all concerned about raising the trailer 3” as long as you stay below 13’6”.  Branches are branches and 3” doesn’t matter in that regard.

I'd opt for the hauler bed if the budget and rear axle weight rating of the truck can handle it.  Being an F350 and the trailer you mentioned it most likely would be fine as the F-350 has a good RAWR.  (Higher than an F-450.)



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Bill & Linda
Terry and Jo


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With regards to Bill's comment, be sure and check bridge and overpass heights on one's route.  I've not checked for it yet, but we encountered an underpass that was 13' 3" on our move from Utah to Oklahoma.  There is a KOA north of Pueblo, CO where there is a one lane underpass that one has to navigate if they are traveling North on I-25 and need to cross "under" to the park.  Fortunately, our Mobile Suites with our 2008 Ford F450 comes in at 13' 1".

If one is traveling South on I-25, there is no need to cross over unless one needs to turn back north for some reason.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

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RonC


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Bill and Linda wrote:
CraigAs wrote:
We have a 2017 F350 Super Duty Crew Cab Long Box truck. The top of the bed rails is about 60" when empty. We just purchased a 2008 Domani and the owner is delivering it to us as we do not have the 5er hitch mounted yet. He is throwing in his 22K Reese hitch. In measuring everything I could, I see that it might be a challenge to achieve the 6" clearance between the bed rails the the 5er overhang. When I load the truck with 2,000 pounds, the bed rails height drops down to about 57 1/2".  The 5er height from the concrete while sitting fairly level is about 62". Any ideas on how to get that 6+" inches of clearance without making the 5er sit nose high? 

 

Only two correct ways such that you don’t have extra weight on the trailer’s rear axle, possibly overloading it, and have some stability issues towing:   Raise the trailer at the axles or put on a hauler bed.  Those really are the only ways.  There is no short cut without compromising weight distribution and towing safety

This is a common problem with all new ~2011 and forward, pickups.

MORryde does this trailer lift all the time and knows how to do it properly and safely.  It’s really no big deal,  just money.

The hauler bed, assuming the truck’s rear axle can take the extra weight along with the trailer’s pin weight, solves this, gives more storage space and keeps the trailer lower.  That said, don’t get all concerned about raising the trailer 3” as long as you stay below 13’6”.  Branches are branches and 3” doesn’t matter in that regard.

I'd opt for the hauler bed if the budget and rear axle weight rating of the truck can handle it.  Being an F350 and the trailer you mentioned it most likely would be fine as the F-350 has a good RAWR.  (Higher than an F-450.)

 As long as it’s a dually.  I suspect this is not the case here.



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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
RonC


RV-Dreams Family Member

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RonC wrote:
Bill and Linda wrote:
CraigAs wrote:
We have a 2017 F350 Super Duty Crew Cab Long Box truck. The top of the bed rails is about 60" when empty. We just purchased a 2008 Domani and the owner is delivering it to us as we do not have the 5er hitch mounted yet. He is throwing in his 22K Reese hitch. In measuring everything I could, I see that it might be a challenge to achieve the 6" clearance between the bed rails the the 5er overhang. When I load the truck with 2,000 pounds, the bed rails height drops down to about 57 1/2".  The 5er height from the concrete while sitting fairly level is about 62". Any ideas on how to get that 6+" inches of clearance without making the 5er sit nose high? 
 

 

Only two correct ways such that you don’t have extra weight on the trailer’s rear axle, possibly overloading it, and have some stability issues towing:   Raise the trailer at the axles or put on a hauler bed.  Those really are the only ways.  There is no short cut without compromising weight distribution and towing safety

This is a common problem with all new ~2011 and forward, pickups.

MORryde does this trailer lift all the time and knows how to do it properly and safely.  It’s really no big deal,  just money.

The hauler bed, assuming the truck’s rear axle can take the extra weight along with the trailer’s pin weight, solves this, gives more storage space and keeps the trailer lower.  That said, don’t get all concerned about raising the trailer 3” as long as you stay below 13’6”.  Branches are branches and 3” doesn’t matter in that regard.

I'd opt for the hauler bed if the budget and rear axle weight rating of the truck can handle it.  Being an F350 and the trailer you mentioned it most likely would be fine as the F-350 has a good RAWR.  (Higher than an F-450)

 As long as it’s a dually.  I suspect this is not the case here.

I should have been clearer.  When comparing the RAWR of the F-350 to the F-450 ... the F-350 must be a dually or there is really no comparison.  I think the OP has a SRW F-350. 



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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
Bill and Linda


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Concerning RAWR on SRW trucks - Yes, if the truck is a SRW a hauler bed will likely be too much for a SRW truck.  Honestly, I never think of SRW when considering a fiver.  Nonetheless, assuming the SRW is not over RAWR then raising the trailer is the only safe option.  One must always check routes for low clearances.

If one travels a lot checking on such things is just second nature.  Heights that is.  If one doesn't travel a lot one still has to check.  Just part of the drill.

All that said, you can check clearances, you can't make sure your bed rails won't contact the trailer by just "being careful."  It will happen, careful or not.  Seen it more then you might think.  Not pretty.

 

 



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Bill & Linda
Dave and Denise


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I must admit, engineering is not my strong suit. When we were about to purchase our 5th wheel and truck I was told by a number of folks that we would most likely have an issue with bed rail clearance on my 2016 F-450. I understand the 450 is a bit lower than the 350. Just measured ours unhitched and it came in around 57". Ours does "squat" 1" with the trailer hitched. Fortunately we did not have any issue. Our trailer high point is already 13'6". If we had to raise the trailer even a few inches it would be problematic for us. Here is my question, and for those engineers out there it is OK if you laugh at it. Does it really matter how high off the ground your trailer sits when you measure it at 62"? I wondered if the actual bed rail clearance isn't affected by the height/placement of your hitch in your truck bed with the trailer hitched? I also wondered how the landing gear/leveling system affects your measurement? I understand you want to tow as close to level as possible. If it were me I would put that hitch in the bed of your truck, hook up the trailer and see what you are doing with before making any modifications.

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2016 Arctic Fox Silver Edition 32-5M
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