Do I Need To Re-Level A 5th Wheel Trailer If My Truck Squats Once Coupled

Question

Question:

When leveling a 5th wheel and hitch so the trailer will pull level. Do you have to add the 1 1/2 - 2inch of squat that my F250 gets when 5th wheel is on hitch? Thank you,

asked by: Kenneth B

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Expert Reply:

Correct, when you couple your trailer to the tow vehicle the tow vehicle will most likely sag which will then brings down the nose of your trailer. Therefore, you may need to move the hitch head up to the next setting in order to then re-level the trailer. That said, the bed sides on newer trucks like your 2016 Ford F-250 are very tall so we find that most customers will have the hitch on the highest setting which then leaves the trailer nose high.

In order to bring the rear of the trailer level with the nose you may need to install a lift kit like the Tandem Axle Lift Kit part # RR23QX or the Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit part # K71-385-00 (if applicable). For a 5th wheel hitch, the Reese Select Plus 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch part # RP30081 that you referenced will provide up to 18" of total height. If you have the factory prep package you will also need to use the Reese Elite Series Underbed Rail Adapter part # RP30156.

expert reply by: Conner L

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Answer 1

If you're hoping to not affect the ride quality of your 2020 Ram 2500 while it is unloaded, then I recommend going with the Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Air Helper Springs with Internal Jounce Bumpers, part #AL88289. The 7500 XL, part…

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Answer 2

Locating the exact towing specs for a truck can be one of the more frustrating endeavors on the way to towing a trailer because of all the different variables involved and the seemingly countless sources of information. I tried to look up the towing…

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Answer 3

Thank you for the photo of your 2016 Ram 3500's bed rail which sits 59-inches above ground. You are correct that the recommended minimum clearance between a bed rail and the underside of the trailer's overhang is 5 to 6-inches, as shown in…

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Answer 4

A basic rule to go by is that the tongue weight of a 5th wheel trailer is about 20 percent of the gross trailer weight. Based on the 5th wheel trailer dry weight of 13,400 pounds the dry hitch weight is correct at 2,535 pounds. Just under the 20…

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Answer 5

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 6

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 7

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 8

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 9

Hi Joe, Yep, you heard correct, you can go from a 2 inch shank to a 2-1/2 inch shank with your Reese weight distribution hitch without issue. One of the following 2-1/2 inch shanks should have the right rise/drop for your application. Here are the…

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Answer 10

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 11

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept a…

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Answer 12

It sounds like the purpose of getting the air helper spring would be to counteract the 1 inch compression you're getting in your rear suspension caused by the pin weight of your 5th wheel. If that's the case, I believe that the AirLift 5000…

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