5th wheel with 6" lift and 35" tires?

[shawn34]

Was wondering if anyone tows a 5th wheel camper with a 6" lift. I have a 2003 short bed, crew cab, 4x4, with a 6" lift and 35" tires. The hitch will adjust up and down, but I havent tried it. Am thinking of buying the hitch, but dont know if I can still tow since the lift.

Thanks,
Shawn

[AdaveL]

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[PowerStrokeHD]

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Have to flip the axles on the trailer?

[Skoalbro]

I had 35's on my truck with the 6" lift and pulled. I was running the BFG AT's, but thought it better to run with the 10 ply E-rated load tire and dropped down to 305/70r/16's. I pull a 36' Titanium 5'r. I did some research and went with the Pullrite SuperGlide 18k hitch...pricey, but so far very good. Dropping tire size really made a huge difference when pulling. Altho my current set are 33's, you have to consider all that meat around your rims and your gear ratio, and pulling the weight. If I could ditch my lift and go back to stock blocks for free, I'd do it in a heart beat. Sure, you can pull with the 6" lift and the 35's, but it really boils down to excessive wear and tear, not only on the truck, but the trailer as well. Just to clear things up a bit too on the tires...Altho the 35's I had we're D rated tires, the load rating was sufficient enough to pull with them all the time, BUT, that big tire isnt as durable and doesnt have the sidewall strength at the 10 ply's I got now. Peace of mind i guess for me. If you decide that you want to look into a different tire, I'd take a look at the Destination AT's...I couldnt be more happy with them. Just giving what experience I have on your question.

oh yea, I believe you want nothing less that 5" clearence from the underside of your trailer to your bed siderails. I was less that that when I had my 35's on, but am fine now.

[96STROKE]

I see tons around here with that set up. It can be done.
May have to modify the trailer to match truck height, like flip axles and if that is not enough, then have a box sub frame built between the axles and the frame of trailer to lift a little more.

It also matters how big and heavy the trailer you want to pull is? You don't mention that.

For me, our 35' 11k trailer, I will stick to 33" 10 ply tires and 4" lift.

[AdaveL]

My trailer is flipped I have abot 6" of clearance bedrail/trailer. There are 37" tires that are E rated I have run the Parnelli Jones Dirt Grip and now the Goodyears and they both are E rated the goodyears seem lighter weight wise (which is good) they are pretty quiet and seem to be wearinng well with 20K on 'em I believe Interco SSR's are E's also.
There is more wear and tear, I agree I did have to put trac bars to help with all the axle wrap, and my lift is all spring no blocks. Change my gearing, airbags, 1 1/2 inch stabilizer, but it tows great even in the wind so don't let anyone tell you it's a hazard you just have to do it right.
It comes down to where are you going to take your trailer, I go places that a pusher can't go. So it works better for me.

Dave

[craigcoats]

Anytime you raise the center of gravity on something as large as a 5th Wheel trailer and drive it 70 mph, you are increasing the chance that a strong cross wind, defensive manuever, blown tire, or any of a million other things can and will ruin your day. If you are gonna keep the lift, drop your tire height from 35" to 33" and get the E rating (10ply) like suggested above and get the sidewall strength you really need.
Just because people do it doesn't make it a good idea. Gravity and physics are a couple of laws you can't break.

[AdaveL]

I don't agree, we are not talking about towing with Bigfoot here and the trailer is only about six inches higher. Some manufacturers make trailers & trucks in varying heights stock does that mean they are dangerous. Some trucks are also higher or lower depending on manufacturer or model. F250's are lower than F650's and big rigs are higher than F650's so do the lower ones tow better, No. Be reasonable with your lift, use common sense, run a bigger rim for less sidewall, & take your load seriously and you'll be fine.

Dave

[DezRacer]

I don't agree with this. Well, I do agree with the using common sense and setting up properly, BUT, you put all that wieght from your load of toys (only guys with toyhaulers tow with lifted trucks) up higher and you have a greater chance of disaster striking. Not saying it will, but the odds are greater.

[craigcoats]

If you could keep the load at the designed height and are attaching at a lower point, then you have not changed the design of the trailer. The engineers have designed the trailer for a certain load and height. Flipping axles and adding distance between the load and the axle will raise the loads center of gravity just like lifting your truck raised the center of gravity...It isnt my fault, blame physics. Maybe when you do have an emergency you will only trash your rig and hopefully get out uninjured. Maybe you drop that rig on a car full of kids.

[AdaveL]

Wow 5 posts and you've already labeled me a kid killer you must be a ray of sunshine to hang out with. I take my rig very seriously my point was that stock setups can flip and you just need to adjust for conditions. When it's really windy I slow down & put on my hazards while guys that are stock and by your estimation safe are ripping by me at 65 they are the dangerous ones not me. So like I said use common sense take your rig seriously and remember it's not just your life that's at risk. I see alot of idiots towing on the road so I understand the attack. Thanks for your kind words.

On edit I must state that you must not work with engineers' or trailer manufacturers to often since you hold them in such high regard. Some trailers are the same height frame to ground yet higher or lower overall as are some trucks, are the engineers hiding lead to add ballast somewhere to make up for this fact, are they stupid, no. Different designs, standards, ideas, yes. Old Fords were called highboys because they were higher stock than other trucks stock by quite a bit in fact, are these more dangerous to tow with also. Things must be different in Oklahoma.
Dave