Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-07-2014, 08:00 AM   #21
Senior Member
 
MotocrossCamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 653
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaMan View Post
Although the rails are "universal", make sure the install kit is "custom". Usually doesn't require any drilling into the frame, whereas the "universal" install kit does.
I did spend an extra 120 bucks and ordered the custom brackets. I wasn't that excited to drill 12 new holes in the frame.

I haven't done a search yet, but if anybody wants to throw out your thoughts on setting the height I'd be willing to listen.
MotocrossCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2014, 08:32 AM   #22
Senior Member
 
5erDriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 172
I'm sure there a more official formulas for height. My advice. Start high and go from there. Have your hitch more in the higher position as a starting point. The 5er wants to be basically level to the road when hitched. Measure from a common point at front and back when hitched to see. Bear in mind the truck is going to drop some on the suspension therefore lowering the front and raising the back of the camper when you hitch. The most important thing is that the bottom of the camper is not too close to your bed rails when maneuvering on hills or inclines. For example my driveway is a moderate downslope from the road. The camper is all the way angled on the slope when I back in and the truck is still level on the road so you want to be sure you have clearance in these type of situations. Im sure there are people on here that at least know of someone who has damaged bed rails from inadequate clearance. You can put your hitch all the way up and if you still need more height you can drop the pin box down some. There are situations I've seen where people have done that for the extra height for one reason or another. I'm sure others will have good advice on this too. Good luck!
__________________
2013 Sandpiper 365SAQ
2008 Ford F350 Super Duty
6.4L Powerstroke Long Bed CC
5erDriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2014, 08:35 AM   #23
Senior Member
 
Ford Idaho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
Set the pin box and or hitch so you have around six inches between the top of the bed side rail and the bottom of the trailer.

Check the level of the trailer and truck and adjust from there if the nose is to high or low.
__________________
2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
Ford Idaho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2014, 09:22 AM   #24
Phat Phrog Stunt Team
 
AquaMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
Quote:
Originally Posted by MotocrossCamper View Post
I did spend an extra 120 bucks and ordered the custom brackets. I wasn't that excited to drill 12 new holes in the frame.

I haven't done a search yet, but if anybody wants to throw out your thoughts on setting the height I'd be willing to listen.
Also make sure you drop the spare and get it out of the way, even if it doesn't look to be in the way. As for height, measure from the floor of your truck bed to the top of the bed rail, add 5-6", subtract the distance from the overhang of 5er down to the king pin plate. Set your hitch at this height and hook up. Your truck will squat, see if camper is level, and you have at least 5" between rails and 5er. If it is, you're done. If low you can raise hitch, if high and you have raise camper at axles (being a little high is OK,)
__________________
2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
AquaMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2014, 09:23 AM   #25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: VA
Posts: 291
I just let a shop deal with it.
jbrostek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2014, 10:41 AM   #26
Senior Member
 
Dovetail's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 325
Quote:
Originally Posted by jbrostek View Post
I just let a shop deal with it.
Ah, the checkbook solution! The older I get the more often I see myself using it.
__________________
Rick and Linda, Lindale, TX
2011 Flagstaff 8528 CKSS
2006 F350 SW
Camping nights 2013: 130
Camping nights 2014: 17
Dovetail is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2014, 11:04 AM   #27
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: VA
Posts: 291
Actually installed many universal rail kits. drilling the holes are easy if you have good bits and oil properly. I just happen to trade in a diesel pusher for my 2014 5er and made the hitch with install part of the deal on this latest truck. So much nicer then spending 2 hours drilling those 8 frame bolt holes.
jbrostek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2014, 01:04 PM   #28
Senior Member
 
MotocrossCamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 653
Quote:
Originally Posted by jbrostek View Post
I just let a shop deal with it.
I have a bad habit of never letting anybody do something I can do myself. Sometimes I wish I didn't feel that way! I've towed trailers all my life but I'm new to the 5er world so I want to know everything I can. Installing the hitch and setting the proper height is all part of the process too me.

Thanks for all the tips so far!
MotocrossCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 11:04 AM   #29
Member
 
RamLab2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 45
I installed my own fifth wheel hitch on my 2011 F 250. I would highly recommend the extra few dollars for the custom brackets for the bed rails. Mine was a Reese bed rail kit with a Draw-Tite slider hitch. the only drilling I had to do was through the bed to bolt on bed rails. bought hitch and rail kit from etrailer.com.
RamLab2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 11:40 AM   #30
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 289
^X2!

I installed my own hitch with custom rails. Took a little longer since I did it in my driveway without a lift or removing the dually wheels. I measured several times before drilling the first holes.
__________________
2014 Blue Ridge 3715BH <- Read the saga
2013 Sierra 3500HD Denali CCLB DRW 4x4 Duramax w/ Reese 20K

USN Retired (26 years), but not Retired retired
Home Port Orlando
Narboza is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 08:39 PM   #31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Tomball, TX
Posts: 298
I just installed a Reese custom kit with 58080 Reese rails this weekend. I took my time and it took about 3.5 hours. Pretty easy, measure 4000000000000X and drill once, LOL. Harbor Freight has some decent step drill bits for putting the holes through the bed nice and clean. I did need an extra pair of hands when putting the nuts on some of the bolts, but could have accomplished the same thing with a brick (they just needed to hold down the bolts from the top). Universal kit was $175.00 with the rails, custom bracket kit brought the price up to $200.78, and used the existing holes in the truck frame. I bought my stuff from E-Trailer.
__________________
ST Williamson
Current TV:'14 F350 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4 Short Bed SRW Diesel w/ Pullrite 2700 (16K)
Current
Fiver: '15 Puma 295BHSS Anniversary Edition
Past TV: '13 F150 HD Payload SCrew EB, '08 Tundra CrewMax 5.7L, '02 'Burb 5.3L, '97 Dakota 3.9L
Past Trailers: '09 Wildwood LE 27RB, '02 Palomino Yearling RL, '87 Jayco 1006dlx
campingwilliamsons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2014, 11:23 PM   #32
Senior Member
 
leencharlotte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 268
Did my F350 with the custom Reese brackets and only had to drill 1/2 the bed holes as the previous owners hitch holes lined up with one side of each of the rails. Found a video on YouTube showing the install and that helped. Also Camping World is advertising the $39 install
__________________
2011 F-350 SRW Lariat FX4
2014 Sandpiper 365SAQB
leencharlotte is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2014, 11:29 PM   #33
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Tomball, TX
Posts: 298
For $39.00 I would definitely let them do it. Local shop around Houston charges retails price on a universal kit (only thing they install) + $250.00 for the install. Piece of mind, no extra holes in the frame, and install price all meant I did it myself.
__________________
ST Williamson
Current TV:'14 F350 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4 Short Bed SRW Diesel w/ Pullrite 2700 (16K)
Current
Fiver: '15 Puma 295BHSS Anniversary Edition
Past TV: '13 F150 HD Payload SCrew EB, '08 Tundra CrewMax 5.7L, '02 'Burb 5.3L, '97 Dakota 3.9L
Past Trailers: '09 Wildwood LE 27RB, '02 Palomino Yearling RL, '87 Jayco 1006dlx
campingwilliamsons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2014, 05:47 PM   #34
Senior Member
 
MotocrossCamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 653
Thanks to everybody for your replies! Got it done this past weekend. The custom brackets made it pretty simple. Took about 2 hours and I had the hauler hooked up and out for a test drive!


Click image for larger version

Name:	image-2375468834.jpg
Views:	140
Size:	46.6 KB
ID:	46877
MotocrossCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:34 PM.