Truck Bed Rail Height and 5th Wheel Trailer Clearance Compatibility

Question:

I currently have a 2017 F350 Fx4 with an undercarriage bandW Companion gooseneck to 5th wheel hitch kit installed. I am learning that at 60inch height at the back of the truck, I may not be able to find an RV with suitable clearance. I am thinking of a flatbed. Can this be done with the undercarriage hitch kit and wiring?

asked by: Scott

Expert Reply:

The excellent B&W Companion hitch setup for your 2017 F-350, such as parts # BWRVK3500-5W and # BWGNRK1116-5W which fit the 4WD with 8-foot bed, cannot be moved to a flat bed but there are 5th wheel hitches made for that application. They can entail other issues though, like the bed corners hitting the trailer when you turn sharply.

Many late-model pickups, especially some Fords, have very tall bed rail height, which you know already. Trucks with extra large tires add to the problem of inadequate clearance between the bed rails and the trailer overhang and/or a hitched trailer that is out of level.

When we get this concern from our customers who are looking for a cost-effective solution we suggest installing on the trailer an axle over-under kit (one per axle). We offer two such kits, # K71-384-00 for 2-3/8-inch diameter axles and # K71-385-00 for 3-inch axles.

These provide trailer height gain of the sum of the axle diameter plus the height of the leaf spring stack. So for example, kit # K71-385-00 for 3-inch diameter axles installed on a trailer with a 3-inch tall leaf spring stack will gain a total of 6-inches.

The linked diagram shows the minimum recommended clearances for 5th wheels. These kits often provide enough additional trailer height that these taller pickups are not an issue.