Solution for 5th Wheel Trailer Hitting Side Rails of 2015 Ram 3500

Question:

Have a 2015 ram 3500 4door 4wheel drive dually with factory goose neck. Trailer is a 2001 Layton 5th wheel, 196 that has a goose neck bolted onto 5th wheel. We have gotten into the top rail of the truck twice, one time had to have bed repaired, this time just scratched the plastic on top. Bed is 38 from ground, trailer bottom is 58 from ground. As u can see in the two pictures I only have 4.5 of clearance from the top of truck to bottom of trailer. I need help to correct this, not a single person in Odessa, Midland area of west Texas can seem to help me. I am wondering if the Curt slider hitch will help. Or do u have another suggestion. My wife is the one who normally pulls this rig, using it for mission work at Gallup NM. Thank you for your time and help.

asked by: Terry K

Helpful Expert Reply:

Looking at the pictures you attached (thank you!) I think your best option to prevent your trailer from hitting the top rails of your Ram 3500 is to raise the trailer a bit. A Curt 5th Wheel Hitch with a sliding base isn't going to help with clearance between the trailer overhang and top rails and there isn't much else you can do with your pin box and hitch setup.

It looks like its possible that you have already done this, but I recommend looking at a Dexter Over-Under Conversion Kit. This kit allows you to move the trailer leaf springs to the top of the axle, which will raise the trailer by the height of the axle and leaf spring stack. If you have a 2-3/8 inch round axle, you will use # K71-384-00 and for a 3 inch round axle use # K71-385-00.

If the leaf springs are already above the axle, the best way to lift the trailer will be to replace your hangers with longer ones. I have attached a link that will take you to our available selection of hangers that you can look through.

If you actually have torsion axles on the trailer without traditional leaf springs, let me know and I will be happy to make some additional recommendations.

expert reply by: Chris R