Minimum Required Clearance Dimensions for 5th Wheel Trailer and Short Box Ford F-250

Question:

Installing RP30047 head on RP30048 slider base in a 2013 F250 short box. Concern is bed clearance. Use lowest set of bolt holes on head bracket?

asked by: Rudy S

Expert Reply:

The diagram I have linked for you shows the recommended minimum clearance distances for trucks towing 5th wheel trailers. The diagram includes vertical clearance at the bed rails as well as lateral clearance at the tailgate and bumper.

When adjusting your hitch and pin box heights you want to find the sweet spot where you get the maximum clearance between truck bed rails and trailer overhang that still keeps your trailer dead level or close to it. It may be necessary to also adjust the height of your pin box. Pin box wings have multiple sets of mounting holes to allow adjustment of pin box height. When you mount your hitch head on a slider base you will NOT be able to use the lowest height setting, so use the next one up.

Short bed trucks pulling 5th wheels usually benefit from using a fixed hitch with a replacement pin box called a Sidewinder. A Sidewinder bolts on in place of your standard pin box and moves the truck/trailer pivot point back by 22-inches. Often this is enough to substantially improve clearances. The linked article will give you additional details and includes a cross-reference of pin boxes for which a Sidewinder replacement is available.

expert reply by: Adam R