New Truck Now Towing Nose High

[fivecodys]

Hi Guys,
I just bought a new truck and my superglide 5th wheel hitch is now sits 6.5" higher than my old set up.
Needless to say this has created a nose high towing situation.
I have 6" of clearance between the rails and the trailer.
Looks like I need to find a way to raise the trailer.
Not an easy task with torsion axles.

Any ideas?

[upflying]

You probably need a shank with more drop.
Ooops, sorry I didn't realize the Flagstaff is a 5th wheel.

[CurtPutnam]

Ideally, you want the hitch ball and TT cup to be the same height. Adjustments are made via the shank on the drawbar. Until you run out of reasonable options adjusting the shank, I'll suggest that you do not fool with your suspensions.

[fivecodys]

Originally Posted by CurtPutnam

Ideally, you want the hitch ball and TT cup to be the same height. Adjustments are made via the shank on the drawbar. Until you run out of reasonable options adjusting the shank, I'll suggest that you do not fool with your suspensions.

Thanks for the comments. I have a 5th wheel.

[CurtPutnam]

Ahhh. Sorry. I do not have all the model numbers memorized and made an assumption.

[rocco52]

Originally Posted by fivecodys

Hi Guys,
I just bought a new truck and my superglide 5th wheel hitch is now sits 6.5" higher than my old set up.
Needless to say this has created a nose high towing situation.
I have 6" of clearance between the rails and the trailer.
Looks like I need to find a way to raise the trailer.
Not an easy task with torsion axles.

Any ideas?

Is your truck lifted? I have a Chevy 3500 and my 5th wheel sits level with 7" of clearance. 6" is probably ok if you are careful. Raising the trailer via the suspension is tricky. I believe the maximum height allowed is 13' 6" and your trailer is probably at that height right now.

[CaptnJohn]

Is your 5er hitch at the lowest setting? Can you adjust your pinbox height? If you adj the pinbox remember to use new bolts and torque as mfg suggests. With the Chinses bolts of today, I figure a #8 is equal to an old US #5.

[aeblank]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

Is your 5er hitch at the lowest setting? Can you adjust your pinbox height? If you adj the pinbox remember to use new bolts and torque as mfg suggests. With the Chinses bolts of today, I figure a #8 is equal to an old US #5.

?
The bed rail clearance is what he wants. Those adjustments would change that. Camper up or truck down.....
Both seem expensive. Big part of why I got a TT...

[Bnrc73]

Not familiar with your hitch, but with my DemCo I can adjust it in about two inch intervals. I just hook up the tv and use the landing jacks to take the pressure off of the adjustment pin. Pull it and use the jacks to raise or lower the hitch plate. Do it on a level surface and watch your clearance..

[Tundra 2014]

You do not say what brand of truck you have. I know on the Fords, they went to a 4' block under the rear axle for 2019, the 2017's had 2 1/2" blocks. You can swap the blocks and drop the rear 1 1/2" pretty easy. Looking at your picture, looks like a Chevy. I do not know if the same is true on those on blocks. Just an idea.

[Rich5117]

Could you post a picture of your rig hooked up on level ground? Where is your 6 inches of clearance? What base rails are you using for the superglide? How does the truck set hooked up?

[fivecodys]

Originally Posted by Tundra 2014

You do not say what brand of truck you have. I know on the Fords, they went to a 4' block under the rear axle for 2019, the 2017's had 2 1/2" blocks. You can swap the blocks and drop the rear 1 1/2" pretty easy. Looking at your picture, looks like a Chevy. I do not know if the same is true on those on blocks. Just an idea.

Sorry. It's in my signature. 2019 GMC 2500 4x4 Duramax

[Daycruiser]

Originally Posted by aeblank

?
The bed rail clearance is what he wants. Those adjustments would change that. Camper up or truck down.....
Both seem expensive. Big part of why I got a TT...

This guy is right, I've fixed this condition in the past. You need to maintain your rail clearance just the way it is now. If you have Torflex axles they are Dexter which make a Dexter lift kit just for this purpose. Get the tallest kit they make for your specific Axle number and install it. you'll need to lift the 5er by the frame up high enough so you can drop the axles to get the clearance needed to install the lift kit.

[fivecodys]

Lowering the Pin box is not an option. I need the rail clearance.
Lowering the hitch is not possible either. I have a Superglide hitch with the Super-rail system.

After contacting Forest River I was referred over to Lippert (the frame manufacturer). They believe that that have a lift kit that will work with the stock Alko axles. I have to crawl underneath and get them the Numbers off the axles to make sure. If they were Dexter axles then this would have been an easy fix as their lift kits are readily available but................

Both Forest River and Lippert have been very nice to work with. I will report back when I have the solution.

[KyDan]

Trucks are getting taller for no good reason other than marketing.
The RV makers have to know this by now.
Something's gonna have to change.

[fivecodys]

Well.....

First I called Forest River who sent me to Lippert (who makes the frame) who sent me to ALKO (who makes the Axle) who had me crawl under my rig and get the axle numbers. By the way, ALKO has now been purchased by Dexter.

To make a very long story as short as possible.......There is not a kit available to raise the ALKO Torsion axles that is compatible with a Lippert frame.

So I either live with it or I can call a metal fabricator to see if the part can be made.

No room left to lower the pin box without the risk of rubbing the rails and that is not an option.

Oh well!

[RWtoy255]

I had/have the same issue. 2019 GMC 2500HD and 2019 Cherokee2555RR which already sits at 13-5 when sitting level.
Attached to the truck its very nose high. This also created a clearance issue with the rails and the 5er. More in the front and less at the tailgate.
The truck is super tall so my solution was to lower the truck without affecting the handling, tow capacity or warranty.
This has worked will for my situation, but still somewhat nose high. Now looking into upgrading kingpin box.

[D W]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Trucks are getting taller for no good reason other than marketing.
The RV makers have to know this by now.
Something's gonna have to change.

Got that right! I have two neighbors that work in downtown Anchorage. Their jobs afford them parking garage privileges. One has a new Ram 3500, the other has a new GMC 3500. They can no longer get in the parking garage because of height, nor can use the parking garage at the airport.

For the better part of a hundred years light duty trucks sufficed to have 15, 16 and 16.5" tires. Now, all of a sudden we have to have 17, 18, 20 and sometimes 22" tires! Between the tires and the "blown-out" body styles, the manufacturer's are causing limitations on these trucks as daily drivers.

[frank4711]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Trucks are getting taller for no good reason other than marketing.
The RV makers have to know this by now.
Something's gonna have to change.

My 2020 Rockwood 5ver came with 235 80 R 16 and it is lighter and shorter than my previous 5th that had 225 75 R 15 ... maybe taller tires for taller trucks ??

[TheWolfPaq82]

Be nice to see a pic to see how bad it is. It may not be high enough to really cause a problem.