How to Level a 5th Wheel Trailer to a Tow Vehicle

Question:

on a previous article you said that the bottom of the King Pin plate and the top of the hitch skid plate should be as close to the same as possible. I have adjusted my adjusted my king ping plate closer to the trailer. I can not adjust the height of the skid plate. The two measurements are 54 inches for skid plate and 50 inches for the king pin plate. Is 4 inches close enough? I have 2002 Ford F350 and 2016 Puma weights 9163 lbs.

asked by: Fred

Expert Reply:

The 4" difference you have between the ground and bottom of the skid plate on the trailer's pin box (while level) and between the ground and top of the skid plate on the 5th wheel hitch is not ideal. As previously mentioned you are going to want the height of the skid plate on the trailer's pin box to be the same or very close to the height of the skid plate on the head of the 5th wheel hitch.

If the head of your 5th wheel hitch is at the lowest setting while measuring 54" and the pin box is at the highest setting while measuring 50" then the only other option you have would be to lift the trailer. Please keep in mind that you are also going to want a minimum of 6" between the the top of bed sides on the truck to the loft of the 5th wheel trailer.

In order to raise the trailer you can use an axle flip kit like the the Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit part # K71-384-00 for 2-3/8" axles or part # K71-385-00 for 3" axles as long as the leaf springs are under the axles and not above. This kit will lift the trailer the thickness of the axle plus the height of the leaf spring pack.

expert reply by: Conner L