5th wheel tow w/short bed, tailgate damage

[TDiddy51]

I have a 2008 2500HD Silverado LMM turbodiesel with a 6.5 ft shortbed. I tow a 5th wheel with a Reese 18,000# Select plus hitch. The first time I shifted the hitch into the manuvering position and parked the trailer the pinbox on the 5th wheel grazed the tailgate and gouged the protector vinyl and slightly dented the tailgate. I'm trying to determine if the hitch was installed correctly or if my Trailair pinbox is longer than most. Any idea's or suggestions out there?

[duramax-rob]

I kind of have a simular situation with my 4 door long bed durally. My 5th wheel sits too low to the bed and either I have to lower the bed or raise the 5th wheel on its axle.

That is kind of your alternatives so you can get a different pin box angle over your tailgate. You could raise the front of the 5th wheel by changing the angle of the pin box. in other words, with the 5th wheel disconnected, unbolt the pin box and drop the pin portion down 2" and see if that works. That would be the simplest shing to start with.

duramax-rob

[TDiddy51]

Thanks for your reply. I'm thinking that the hitch is mounted too far back. The installer is checking with Reese to see if they need to re-examine the measurements for the 2008 6.5 ft short bed. I wouldn't think that the height of the hitch would be a problem and the bolts are in the uppermost holes. I'll be taking the 5th wheel down to the factory for some service and see what they think about messing with the pinbox. I wouldn't attempt to do anything with it for fear that some disaster would happen. Such as the pinbox & 5th wheel separate!

[fenmor]

I had a similar problem with my 07 GMC 2500 HD .
Is your 5 th riding level when hooked-up ?
mine wasnt , and I had to have my trailer axle's turned .
My trailer was making contact with the top rail of my p/u box when backing up into a spot where the ground was not completely level . Turning the axles on my trailer has solved this problem , and I would highly recommend doing this.

I should add that raising or lowering my hitch would have made my trailer unlevel.

[Big White Dmax]

I have had fifth wheels for over 20 years and and I have installed my own hitch on my last four trucks. I am no expert but I do know you need at least 6 inches of clearance between the top of your truck's box and your fifth wheel. On a level surface, if your fiver is fairly level, this space will be equal. Right now with my fifth wheel on, I have 6" of space at the front of the fifth wheel, but only 4.5" at the tailgate. This is too close for comfort.
My 06 Montana came from the factory with the springs on top of the axle as these units are made for tall trucks but not as tall as Chev decided to raise the rear end of it's 08 duallys. I have two options. I could get taller hanger brackets welded to the fiver frame but this would make my 13' Montana even higher and make it harder to sell down the road or I can get a good suspension place put rear shackles on my truck's rear springs that will lower my truck by 2" and that is what I am going to do.
One last comment on fifth wheel hitches, to have all the great handling characteristics of a fifth wheel, your trailers pin weight must be directly over the centre of your trucks rear axle or up to 2" toward the front of the truck.
The extended pin boxes on most newer trailers are made to do this and still work with a short box pick up but with any short box, you must be very careful that your fiver does not contact your cab if you turn too sharp.
Moving the hitch back to get more turning clearance is not the way to go. You must go to a sliding hitch.
Manual sliders are another PITA to deal with or you can go to an automatic slider, expensive but gives the short box owner the same piece of mine you have with an 8' box.
I have towed fivers with two short box Superduty Fords and never had a problem but Ford also has the longest SB.
I had a manual slider hitch but actually never had to use it but RV forums are full of posts about people hitting their trucks backing in fivers with SB pickups . My previous truck, an 05 Ford superduty was a long box as is my new Chev so I don't have to worry about this issue but if I were ever to go back to a SB, I would definitely get an auto sliding hitch.

[dieseldoc]

What type/model of 5th wheel do you have? I am in the market to upgrade from a travel trailer to a 5th wheel and am still undecided. How much does your 5'er weigh and how does your truck handle it? The fifth wheel tow ratings on these 2008 4x4 crew cabs is only for 13,500 pounds - does not make sense as the GCVWR is 22,000 and the truck only weighs 6,000. Give me your thoughts.

Thanks, Chris

[ronk49753]

Rule #1 loading/unloading put the tailgate down

Truck only weighs 6000.......GVWR (dually) is 11,400 - truck actually weighs about 7,000. Add together the GVWR for your truck and the GVWR for the trailer - the total should not be more than the GCVWR for the truck. Cops do NOT weigh any more. They do the formula and if you are over, it's ticket city (plus thay may make you park if you are a bunch over). Remember 26,000 & below most states require Chauffers license 26,001 & up, you need a CDL