Will 7-1/2 Offset Provide Enough Clearance on a 2015/16 Ford F-350 with an 8 Bed

Question:

Hello, we have a 2019 Keystone Cougar Half-Ton 30RLS fifth wheel camper and were looking to upgrade our truck to future-proof ourselves a bit but would still like to be able to tow our camper. Were a little concerned about the clearance from gooseneck ball to tailgate when turning because of the 8 foot box, were not concerned about truck cab clearance as it should be a non issue. Found the Convert-A-Ball w/offset and thought it might be perfect for our needs. Looking at a 15/16 Ford F350 DRW with gooseneck prep. Any idea if the offset of the Convert-A-Ball will give us enough clearance so the back of the truck wouldnt hit the underside or front storage compartment of the camper? The camper measures about 72 inch from kingpin to front of storage compartment door. Thanks for any insight you can give!

asked by: Brian T

Helpful Expert Reply:

Although an 8' bed is the best way to go when choosing a pickup for 5th wheel or gooseneck towing, it is always best to double check the math and make sure everything checks out, just like what you are doing.

We recommend having at least 16" - 24" of clearance between the storage of your 5th wheel trailer and your bumper (see attached photo). Reese actually supplies Ford with their OEM puck package and we carry it here on our site. When looking at the Reese Elite Series Under-Bed Gooseneck Trailer Hitch # RP30138-26, which fits a 2015 Ford F-350, the center of the gooseneck ball will sit 46-3/8" away from the rearwardsmost edge of your truck bed (not including the tailgate).

Since 72 minus 46-3/8" is 25-5/8" that means your bumper can't stick out more than 9-5/8" from the edge of your bed to ensure that you have enough turning clearance. If this is a little too close for comfort then using the Convert-A-Ball # CAB-C5GX1216 which has an 8" offset will give you more than enough room for rear clearance! You will want to make sure to measure that the 25-1/2" chains are long enough. Sometimes with the prep packages you will need to use longer saftey chains like part # FCHA0070324 so that you can make a 90 degree turn.

expert reply by: Jon G