2017 Truck sit sooo high

[CC75]

Anyone towing 5th wheel with one of the new 2017 diesel trucks. 2017 F350 sits almost 6 inches taller than my 2012 F250. Chevy and Ram seem to be about the same height. Even flipping the axes on my Cedar Creek may not be enough.

[5picker]

While my 2017 isn't a diesel, I'm pretty spot on.

[JohnVtx]

I went to an anderson hitch to solve problem

[CC75]

Originally Posted by 5picker

While my 2017 isn't a diesel, I'm pretty spot on.

Does look level. If I may ask, do you recall the weight of the Flagstaff, and is that a 250?

[Bob_Sback]

I have the same height issue. I tow a 2018 CC Silverback 33IK with a 2017 RAM 3500. I made the mistake of having the dealer install a Trailair Flex king pin on the trailer when I bought it, which just made the problem worse since it lowers the king pin by 5". There was no way that I could tow with a level trailer with the Reese Titan hitch I have - I have it on the lowest setting. On Monday, I'm replacing my hitch with a Comfort Ride and putting the factory king pin back on. The result should be a lowering of my trailer by up to 7" or 8", which should get me level. The Comfort Ride is highly adjustable and has air cylinders to give me the smooth ride that I was anticipating with the Trailair king pin.

[BandJCarm]

I don't have a problem........at least not that I'm aware of. I can lower or raise the B&W Companion hitch one hole if I needed to.

Do you mean you are hitting the truck rails? Which hitch do you have? Is it adjustable?

[5picker]

Originally Posted by CC75

Does look level. If I may ask, do you recall the weight of the Flagstaff, and is that a 250?

I'm at 12k.
Yes a 250 but it sits the same as a 350 as specked. I backed mine and a 350 dually on the lot, tailgate to tailgate and they were the same.

[davem1974]

My last tel was Rockwood 8289WS with torson axle, Dexter makes some spacer kits for some of the suspensions. I put 2 5/8 inch kit under ours & was just about right height with my F-350

[cody1884]

They will sit the same unloaded. The 350 has more suspension than the 250 so it won't squat or lower as much as the 250 with the same weight .

[SilhouettePenny]

Originally Posted by CC75

Anyone towing 5th wheel with one of the new 2017 diesel trucks. 2017 F350 sits almost 6 inches taller than my 2012 F250. Chevy and Ram seem to be about the same height. Even flipping the axes on my Cedar Creek may not be enough.

We are towing a 5th wheel with the '17 F350 but I determined early in the planning process that a 4x4 had 4" spacer blocks between the axle and springs. A 4x2 has significantly smaller spacers and with the 5th hitch at its lowest mounting point my bed to camper clearance was good, hence the two wheel drive. Less cost, less weight and smoother ride.

Also the F250 came with 18" wheels and the 350 dually has 17's, so I gained a little there. Just do your research and keep in mind that our Trailair pin box also helped lift another inch of frontal clearance when inflated, without 80 PSI in the bag my cab to camper distance is questionable.

If you get the long bed the 48 gallon fuel tank is really sweet! As are the massage seats and 400 watt 110 volt power outlets. Now I can do my hair enroute to the FROG rally.

[ba964]

Be careful flipping axles, may put trailer over 13'6" high.

[CC75]

Originally Posted by ba964

Be careful flipping axles, may put trailer over 13'6" high.

Yup, plus now your trailer sits higher and center of gravity has just moved up, adding to possible stability issues during cross winds. Also, that 13'6" may be questionable on some older roads if the road has been resurfaced many times. Do you trust your government workers have ensured that the road has not gained a couple of inches and the 13'6" bridge really is 13'4".

I had the Trailair added after I bought the trailer, I may have to look into getting original pin, or I might check too see how the MORryde pin box is. I sure like the Trailair hate to give it up, but may have to.

Unfortunately, due to parking space constrains, a full size dually is not in the cards for me.
Thanks Detroit for making the truck unnecessarily high and the beds deeper.

[n1joh]

I have a 38fl6 cedar creek and tow with a 2016 ram dually 3500 with a trail air and have no problems

[n1joh]

My rig is a 2016 38fl6

[CC75]

Originally Posted by n1joh

I have a 38fl6 cedar creek and tow with a 2016 ram dually 3500 with a trail air and have no problems

Been a Ford guy since my '65 mustang. This time around may have to look to the RAM and Chevy.
My rig is level now, and I have the B&W hitch at the lowest. I do have one notch left on the pin to raise. Currently there are 6 bolts that anchor the pin to the trailer. I believe I only need 4 bolts, since my trailer is the tiny Silverback. Going to 4 bolts on the pin, would allow the pin to be moved up, and hence lower the rig traveling position.
I will have consult with Lippert at the rally.

Thank you everyone for your input.

[saus]

We pull our Wildcat 5er with a new F250 4x4. I have always been concerned with it being too high. I have the pin as high as it will go and my companion hitch as low as it will go. I thought that I was still a little high so I asked a mechanic if there was anything he could do to make it more level. He told me that it looked fine and that he wouldn't start adding spacers to the suspension of the camper due to stability issues. He said that should be your last resort and you would have to be riding pretty high to consider doing that.

[CC75]

Originally Posted by saus

We pull our Wildcat 5er with a new F250 4x4. I have always been concerned with it being too high. I have the pin as high as it will go and my companion hitch as low as it will go. I thought that I was still a little high so I asked a mechanic if there was anything he could do to make it more level. He told me that it looked fine and that he wouldn't start adding spacers to the suspension of the camper due to stability issues. He said that should be your last resort and you would have to be riding pretty high to consider doing that.

I agree with the "last resort" statement. I will not be raising the rig. For me, the last resort is to keep my 2012 F250 diesel. I was ready for a new truck this year.
As a judgement call, if I thought that the nose is riding too high, vs. just barely high, I would weigh both axles of the fully loaded rig. This way I would get a better understanding of the weight distribution. The end goal is not to exceed the weight limits on the rear axle, wheels and tires. Sometimes eyeballing a situation is not enough; one needs real data when it comes to safety.

[theczar]

I had same concern. When calculating what was needed to keep the trailer level the bed on the 2016 F350 4x4 was too high. I was coming from a 2003 F350 4x2. I could not lower the hitch / pinbox enough and maintain enough clearance with the bedrails. I noticed there was a fair amount of rake in the truck so figured the rear could be lowered. Part of the deal to buy the truck was to have the dealer put on the 4x2 rear spacers which cut 2 inches of lift. They gave me the old ones too if I ever want them on again. Rides pretty level and am happy.

[corn flakes]

I have a 2017 Ram DRW mega cab short box with the factory air bag system which allows me to lower the truck a little over one inch while towing, just have to touch one switch on the dash. Works great, I am very close to level, just need about two more inches then it would be level. Have Super Glide hitch which I purchased new feet for to connect to rails which lowered the hitch about two inches, my pin is a Trail air, if I were to raise it one more hole then the air valve would rub on the front cap, sure don't need that. I looked at changing the air valve for a flexible one but I don't think there is enough room. I looked under my truck but I did not see any spacers to remove to lower the truck.

[Kenny kustom]

I removed the spacers under my leaf pack on my ram 3500.
Ford uses large blocks under the springs.
You could swap the blocks from an F250.

( to the OP.. not the air suspension poster)