Options for Creating More Clearance Between 2015 Chevy Silverado Bed Sides and 5th Wheel Camper
Question:
i recently purchased a new 2015 Chevy 2500hd. i had my old 16k reese slide hitch installed in my new truck. there is not enough clearance on the hitch to clear the bedrails. i inspected the hitch in the truck and on the trailer and neither one can be adjusted to give me more clearance. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated? fyi. hitch bed rails where installed by Spiller custom hitches. also took mesurements on Dodge,Ford and my Chevy. my truck bed to rail is almost 1 3/4 inch deeper than the ford or Dodge
asked by: David S
Expert Reply:
One option to help provide the needed 6 inches of clearance between the top of the truck bed side and the bottom of your 5th wheel camper is to trade up your older model 16K Reese Sliding Hitch for a sliding 5th wheel hitch that is taller.
The tallest 16K 5th wheel sliding hitch we offer is the Curt A16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch with R16 Slider # C16521. This hitch is adjustable up to 21-1/2 inches tall, measured from the bottom of the base rail to the top of the hitch head. Based on my research, the truck bed depth of the 2015 Silverado 2500HD is 21 inches.
When the hitch height is increased in order to clear the truck bed sides, this often means that the trailer is no longer being towed level. To help try and correct this you can use an "over-under" kit, which will allow you to mount your trailer's axle under the leaf springs rather than on top of them. This will bring up the height of the trailer approximately by the diameter of the trailer axle. If your trailer has 3 inch round axles, the Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit # K71-385-00 will work to convert 1 axle.
However, sometimes even using an over under kit does not bring the trailer up enough to allow it to be towed level. Increasing the trailer's height using an over-under kit or other means can cause the trailer to be top heavy and affect the trailer's ride.
Over the last several years we have seen truck bed sides getting taller. We have also heard that Chevrolet typically has the tallest bed sides, which lines up with what you've found while taking measurements. Trailer manufactures are taking the taller bed sides into account for newer trailers, but we have had many customers who've had issues hitching their older trailers to their new trucks. Depending on the components on the trailer, some older trailers have not been able to be easily modified to be towed level with a newer model year truck.
Products Referenced in This Question
Curt A16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ R16 Slider - Dual Jaw - 16,000 lbs
- Fifth Wheel Hitch
- Sliding Fifth Wheel
- Above Bed Rails
- 4000 lbs Vertical Load
- 16000 lbs GTW
- Cushioned Double Pivot
- Standard - Double Jaw
- 17-1/2 - 21-1/2 Inch Tall
- 12 Inch Fore/Aft Travel
- CURT
more information >
Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit
- Trailer Suspension Parts
- Alignment and Lift Kits
- Boat Trailer
- Camper
- Car Hauler
- Snowmobile Trailer
- Utility Trailer
- Double Eye Springs
- Round Axle - 3 Inch
- Dexter
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Reese 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Square Tube Slider - Dual Jaw - 16,000 lbs
- Fifth Wheel Hitch
- Sliding Fifth Wheel
- Above Bed Rails
- 4000 lbs Vertical Load
- 16000 lbs GTW
- Double Pivot
- Standard - Double Jaw
- 15 - 18 Inch Tall
- 10 Inch Fore/Aft Travel
- Reese
more information >
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