How Much Clearance is Normally Needed Between Truck Bed and Trailer Pin Box

Question:

I have a 2017 F350 stock, bedrail is 60inch and the bed floor is 41inch above ground level. Im look at a 2015 keystone cougar 28sgs. When I measured form ground to the bottom of the king pin 41, to plate 44 and to the bottom of the over hang 59. As you can see bedrail 60inch bottom of overhang 59, trailer is lower then the truck. So I question my king pin height, Does the height of the king pin sound in the ball park? I cant get back in the RV park to see something if strange in the leveling of the 5th wheel. Maybe lift the 5th wheel? But it would be a lot. Suspension is a morryde 3000 and the springs an above the axle. The seller is going the throw in the 16k Reese hitch, and trailer has a sidewinder. Anyway to pair these up?

asked by: Bob

Expert Reply:

Based on the numbers you mentioned there isn't going to be a safe way to tow the trailer as it's going to be way too low. You'd have bed rail issues and a trailer with the nose way too high. I'd double check the measurement you mentioned. Make sure the trailer is totally level and on level ground. For reference you want to have at least 6 inches between the overhang of the trailer and the top of the truck's bed rails when the trailer is level.

Most hitches are around 16 inches tall from the ground to the top of the hitch so you'd need around that in difference between the truck bed height and the pin box height when measured from the ground.

A Reese 16k hitch will work great with a Sidewinder too. This is a proven combo that works well. Reese and Sidewinder are actually made by the same company. You'd want the wedge part # SWW-03 for the hitch to fit the Sidewinder but it may come with that already if the hitch was used with the trailer. Since you have a short bed truck the Sidewinder pin box is the way to go as it gives you the turning clearance you need without needing a slider.

expert reply by: Jameson C