How to Lift 5th Wheel Trailer Height for Better Bed Rail Clearance

Question:

I currently have a anderson ultimate hitch set up, and my columbus by palomino with a trail air hitchpin box. just doesnt seem to work. my truck is a 2017 gmc 3500 drw and i cant turn sharper than about 75 degrees or the trail air will hit the inside bed rails on my truck. what do you guys recommend to fix this issue, besides cutting the hitchpin box.

asked by: Dennon W

Expert Reply:

If your 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 dually is a long bed that is using the Andersen Ultimate Connection Adapter # AM3200 you cannot use a pivoting pin box such as a Reese Sidewinder that moves the actual truck-trailer pivot point 22-inches to the rear. In this case your option is to raise the height of the trailer so that the pin box better clears the bed rails.

This can be done with an axle over-under kit that swaps the positions of the leaf spring stack and axles.

Kit # K71-384-00 fits 2-3/8-inch axles and kit # K71-385-00 fit 3-inch axles. Each give a height gain equal to the sum of the spring stack height plus the axle diameter. The included spring seats need to be tack-welded in place on the other side of the axles.

Your other option is to replace the Andersen with a standard fixed 5th wheel hitch and replace the fixed pin box with a pivoting Sidewinder type. Please tell me your truck's bed length and configuration and the pin box number on the current pin box and I will check into other possibilities.

expert reply by: Adam R