5th wheel vertical adjustment for TV

[Martymar]

Hi all, went from a TT to a 5th wheel and while researching hitches seen there are multiple vertical adjustments (14-17, 16-19, 17 1/2-21 1/2) to mention a few. Wondering which height is best for a 2015 Ford F-250, 6 3/4 bed, SCrew, 4x4 off road w/20 inch tires. Towing a 2015 Crusader 296BHS tow weight 8991lbs. Appreciate any advice on how to select/measure for the proper hitch height.

[ependydad]

I don’t think anyone here can tell you. At the end of the day, you want the camper to be level front to back when towing and you want at least 6” between the truck bed rails and the underside of the fifth wheel.

For me, it was a matter of trial and error. I lowered my hitch fully and raised my king ping/pin box by a set of holes.

[farmncamp]

I have a 2012 F350 and it was also trial and error with my B&W Companion. Once I leveled it vertically, I ajusted the fore-aft position until I was satisfied with the feel. It isn't hard. Just takes time and observation.

- Be sure to torque the bolts exactly to specs once you find the right spot.

[Martymar]

Thank you both for your replies. From the bottom of the truck bed to the top rail measures 21 inches. I guess I will look for a hitch that is that tall so I can make the adjustments to level it out. I seen one that was a 17 1/2 -21 1/2 tall that may be a good start. I hate to get a hitch that sits to far down in the bed and not tall enough to level it out to the 6 inches you mentioned. Thanks again.

[acadianbob]

I think you can come real close to what you need by doing some computations.

1. Measure the distance from the ground to the underside of your 5er nose. The ground and your trailer must be level when you do this. Typically 58 to 63 inches.
2. Measure the distance from the ground to the top of your bed rail. Typically 55 to 59 inches.
3. Measure height from bed to top of bed rail. Typically 21"
4. Measure the distance (vertical) from the underside of your 5er nose to the slide plate of your 5er pin. (I don't have a typical guess for this one; 10"?) Or you can derive it by measuring from the ground to the underside of the pin plate while your trailer is level and on level ground. Subtract that value from your under nose height.
5. The underside of your 5er nose needs to clear your bed rail by 6"

Hypothetical Values: Truck 59", trailer 61", Pin plate to under 5er nose 10", bed depth 21" (bed height from ground is then 38"; 59 - 21)

Computations: Bottom of 5er nose needs to be 65" (59 +6" clearance); 65" minus 10" means bottom of pin plate needs to be at 55"; bed height is 38" plus 17" (your hitch height!) equals 55"

38 + 17 + 10 = 65

Don't be confused by the fact that your truck will sag. The computation remains valid. That 65" requirement (in this hypothetical example) means your trailer would be 4" nose high (vs level 61"). But, your truck is likely to sag 2" (or more) bringing your trailer to near level.

The 59", 21", 38" figures are actual on a new Super Duty. Older SDs are lower. Your trailer is likely to be near 61". So, these are near real number calculations.

Give it a try. This works. I did it with my new truck and it worked great. This should help you get the right hitch.

Make sure you read, understand, and assume your own liability when you make these calculations. If you think this through, it should make sense to you. If not, don't do it.

[acadianbob]

Addendum:

Remember that your pin box is most likely adjustable too.

If your bed height is 38 and your trailer needs to be at 65, any combination of hitch height and pin box height totally 27 inches works.

I like to keep my hitch at a height that allows me to close my tonneau cover when the trailer is not attached.

[Martymar]

Acadianbob from an engineering perspective this makes perfect sense. My heights are right in the ballpark of the numbers you used in your examples. I have to go to base and get the camper measurements and put it all together. I'll check back in once I get all the numbers. Thank you great information.

[Martymar]

So I ended up getting the B&W patriot. Went with the slider due to the 6 3/4 bed and first time 5th driver. The distance between the top of my bed rail and bottom of the camper is 9 3/8 inch. The installer set the hitch height at 18 inches so I can go down to 17 or up to 19. Next week I'm getting the Air Lift 5000 installed. Is 9 3/8 too much space between the rail and bottom if camper? When I level it out with the air bags will the front of the camper sit higher? Should I drop down to 17 inch? Hopefully the picture attached.

[Martymar]

How do you calculate if you are nose high? As stated I am 9 3/8 from bed rail to under the camper. Do I need to go lower closer to six inches? Does it look nose high? hard for me to tell with the curve in the roof. When I level the truck with the air bags (install on Friday) will it go up even higher? Thanks.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Martymar

How do you calculate if you are nose high? As stated I am 9 3/8 from bed rail to under the camper. Do I need to go lower closer to six inches? Does it look nose high? hard for me to tell with the curve in the roof. When I level the truck with the air bags (install on Friday) will it go up even higher? Thanks.

See that line where the dark paint on the bottom skirts meets the lighter color? That is supposed to be close to the floor line and some folks measure from that to the ground. Other folks measure from the bottom of the major frame rails (i beams). No sense worrying about level until you get the air bags and new hitch installed though.

[Martymar]

Thank you. I went with the B&W patriot it's set at 18" I can drop to 17". I won't be able to measure until Sunday by then the air bags will be in. What do you think about being 9 inches above the bed rails. I've only driven on Post so nothing above 25 MPH so not sure if it will affect towing. Appreciate the info.

[NMWildcat]

You want a minimum of 6" between tailgate and fiver. Anything over is fine as long as the trailer is within 1" of level front to back, if there is enough adjustment. I would rather have it be high in front.