Can a 5th Wheel Trailer be Towed with a Lifted 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Long Bed

Question:

Hello- I have a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Long Bed. It has a 2inch suspension lift and currently running with 35inch tires, so all total the truck is about 5inch taller than when it was original. Is the truck too tall to tow a 5th wheel? from what I can find, there is about 4inch of adjustment in the 5th wheel hitch and maybe a couple in the pin box to help level the rig when connected to the truck. Im seeing conflicting information on-line as to whether the tow vehicle can be lifted or not when towing a 5th wheel.

asked by: Lonny

Expert Reply:

Most 5th wheel trailer hitches and pin boxes on 5th wheel trailers are height adjustable so you should be able to compensate for the taller truck. The only issues you might run into are 1) the lift on the truck makes the towing capacities unknown (unless Dodge can tell you what it would be) and 2) even after adjusting the height on the hitch and/or pin box the trailer may ride nose up at the front instead of level.

I can help with the second issue. As long as the trailer uses double-eye leaf spring suspension with the stack currently mounted under the axle you can use an over-under conversion kit, # K71-384-00 for a 2-3/8 inch diameter round axle or # K71-385-00 for a 3 inch diameter round axle.

You will gain height at the back of the trailer equivalent to the diameter of the axle plus the height of the leaf spring stack.

If you cannot use an over-under conversion kit then you would need to have a qualified welder remove the spring hangers and weld on some taller ones. I have included a link to the hanger main page for you.

For a custom 5th wheel installation kit you can use # C16420-204. The included rails will accept Curt, Draw-Tite, Hidden Hitch, Reese, Pro Series, Valley and Husky hitches that fit in above the bed rails. For a hitch it is going to depend on the gross trailer weight. I have included a link to the 5th wheel hitch and install kit main page for your 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 long bed.