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Old 09-19-2016, 03:02 PM   #1
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Fifth wheel tows nose high - need help

Ok, we just replaced the TT with a fifth wheel and it tows nose high. I have the Anderson ultimate hitch adjusted to its lowest position, and I have the lippert 1621 pin box adjusted to its highest position and there are no more adjustments available. I have 9 inches of clearance between the bed rails / tailgate and the 5er. I just got off the phone with lippert hoping they produce a pinbox that has a different angle that would lower the nose, but they do not.
What is available to fix this problem?

The tech said something about the correct tract system to raise the trailer higher at the axles, but all I can find is that it is for alignment purposes.
I've already replaced constancy oem tires with Maxxis 235/80/16.

Very frustrating.

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Old 09-19-2016, 03:12 PM   #2
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I am facing the same thing now. I went from my 2012 F150HD to my 2016 F350. The truck is much higher and is a 4X4. I am now 5" high on the fifth wheel front to back. I have looked at 3 options, correct track, axle flip (cannot do this; already 'flipped') and having something fabricated up to lift the rig. As of yet I have not done anything as I am only 5" nose high.

I will be getting to the scales to determine how much I am transferring to the rear axle though.

Let me know how it goes.
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Old 09-19-2016, 03:16 PM   #3
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Replace the 4 inch axle blocks with some 2 inch blocks off a 250 near the same year, should be a direct swap.

New from the dealer or used from auto salvage.

Advantage, slightly lower center of gravity.
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Old 09-19-2016, 03:18 PM   #4
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Ford Idaho, I had thought about that also (forgot to mention that in my post). I was hoping to avoid doing anything with my new truck.
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Old 09-19-2016, 03:19 PM   #5
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I'll keep you posted. Axle flip won't work for me either, it came that way.
I am considering switching to the flat bed version of the Anderson ultimate. I may have to research that some more.
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Old 09-19-2016, 03:22 PM   #6
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In my case the contributing factor was also that my truck came factory fifth wheel prep'd and I wanted to keep my existing Reese hitch so I opted for the Reese RP31056 adapter kit which raise the hitch head another 3" or so.
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Old 09-19-2016, 03:25 PM   #7
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Ford Idaho, I had thought about that also (forgot to mention that in my post). I was hoping to avoid doing anything with my new truck.
I can understand that.

Nearly had a heart attack when I dropped the 250 off at the dealers so they could cut four huge holes in the bed for the hitch.



Did not feel much better when I drilled four small holes for the tool chest.

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Old 09-19-2016, 03:28 PM   #8
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I can understand that.

Nearly had a heart attack when I dropped the 250 off at the dealers so they could cut four huge holes in the bed for the hitch.



Did not feel much better when I drilled four small holes for the tool chest.

Oh how I know that feeling. I am having its first Krown rust proofing done soon and I don't have the heart to watch them drill into my new truck
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Old 09-19-2016, 03:39 PM   #9
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Oh how I know that feeling. I am having its first Krown rust proofing done soon and I don't have the heart to watch them drill into my new truck
I'm with ya.

Local bed liner place asks the owners of new trucks to leave because of the scuff work they do to the bed before they spray it, I guess some kinna freak out.

Anyway look forward to your solution and good luck...
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Old 09-19-2016, 04:01 PM   #10
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I just got off the phone with Jason at Andersen. He's going to swap out the base with one made for flat bed trucks. This will lower the nose 2 3/4 inches (approximately) which will give me slightly more than 6 inches of clearance between the bed rails and trailer. I hope it's enough. More to come.
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Old 09-19-2016, 04:33 PM   #11
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I am actually thinking about removing my Kwik slide and going with stationary legs as I know I can get another few inches that way. My rig has the contoured nose and I've never even come close to using the slider.
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Old 09-20-2016, 01:36 PM   #12
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I just got off the phone with Jason at Andersen. He's going to swap out the base with one made for flat bed trucks. This will lower the nose 2 3/4 inches (approximately) which will give me slightly more than 6 inches of clearance between the bed rails and trailer. I hope it's enough. More to come.
When I purchased our SRW 2006 F-350 new, it was too high in the rear. I had the dealer drop the rear 2". There was a TSB from 1999 that still applied to the 2006 model. That was enough to level the 5W. It is important to have 5-6 inches clearance above the truck bed rails (below the front of the 5W) for both turns and entering/leaving fuel stations, etc.
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Old 09-20-2016, 01:40 PM   #13
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Another thought - towing the 5W nose high (or low) puts undue weight on the rear or front axle of the 5W. Weight not part of the design of the trailer frame / axles.
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Old 09-20-2016, 02:30 PM   #14
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over height

Truck manufacturers keep building trucks taller to fit bigger tires for better fuel mileage. they don't think about someone wanting to pull a fifth wheel. I chose to lower my truck because it became to unstable . I like it low and slow , much better ride and handling.
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Old 09-20-2016, 03:00 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lesptr View Post
I just got off the phone with Jason at Andersen. He's going to swap out the base with one made for flat bed trucks. This will lower the nose 2 3/4 inches (approximately) which will give me slightly more than 6 inches of clearance between the bed rails and trailer. I hope it's enough. More to come.
That should help a lot and 6" is still OK for rail clearance.
That's about what I have and haven't seen it get close yet.

Remember dropping the nose will also raise the tail so if you come down 2.75" inches in the front the back is going to go up too. Not always 1:1 because of axle placement but you might wind up pretty level.
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Old 09-20-2016, 03:07 PM   #16
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That should help a lot and 6" is still OK for rail clearance.

That's about what I have and haven't seen it get close yet.



Remember dropping the nose will also raise the tail so if you come down 2.75" inches in the front the back is going to go up too. Not always 1:1 because of axle placement but you might wind up pretty level.


That's what I'm hoping for.
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Old 09-20-2016, 03:09 PM   #17
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Another thought - towing the 5W nose high (or low) puts undue weight on the rear or front axle of the 5W. Weight not part of the design of the trailer frame / axles.


That's why I'm try to get the rig level.
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Old 09-20-2016, 03:27 PM   #18
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Another thought - towing the 5W nose high (or low) puts undue weight on the rear or front axle of the 5W. Weight not part of the design of the trailer frame / axles.
Mine rides slightly nose high and I was concerned about stress on the rear trailer tires. Using a laser thermometer, I've found that the rear tires consistently run about 5 degrees (F) hotter than the front. Interestingly, while on interstates, the tires on the sunny side run 8 to 10 degrees hotter than the shady side. So far, no problems, but I did replace the load range Cs with Ds.
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Old 09-20-2016, 04:12 PM   #19
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The 235/85 tires would have raised the trailer almost 1".
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Old 09-20-2016, 04:42 PM   #20
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The 235/85 tires would have raised the trailer almost 1".


Maxxis does not make a tire in that size. I looked into Sailun tires, but no one carries them around here.
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