Bandaid
Holcomb, New York USA
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Joined: 01/16/2001
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A friend of mine owns a 2008 Dodge 3500 dually. He is trying to tow a 37 foot fifthwheel. First problem is the truck sits so high in the back. Even putting the trailer on, the springs do not compress enough to have the bed rail parallel to the ground! Consequently, he has less than five inches of overhang to bed rail clearance! Certainly not enough, as the day I went with him to pick his trailer up, he crushed the under overhang light just trying to get out of the seasonal site where the camper had been delivered before he bought the truck.
He has tried lowering the pin box and raising the head of the hitch, to gain more clearance. Now the trailer bucks! Last night he called and said it looks like he will have to replace the pin box with a Moride air unit. Very expensive.
I'm wondering, having heard of other people with Dodge and overhang clearance problems, is there a way to lower the truck by raising the rear spring perches? Is there any company manufacturing a kit for this?
Flipping the axles on the trailer is out of the question, as it has the Dexter rubberized independent suspension axles.
Short of raising the truck springs, only thing I can come up with is taking the trailer to a frame shop and having them put a heavy wall tube spacer between the axle perch and the trailer frame.
Hope someone can help
bandaid
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-lenny-
Alberta
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Joined: 01/03/2009
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A friend of mine just got his trailer lifted, by a heavy mechanic shop that is also really good at axle alignments. Now everything sits level, pulls smooth and has clearance both front and back. I do not know of any companies offering lowering kits for towing.
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rvert10
Utah
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Joined: 01/05/2008
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I have the 08 dodge 6.7CTD 3500DRW and a 35' 5ver no problems. I'm no expert, but what size tires did he put on the tv
08 Dodge Mega Cab DRW,6spd auto, Exhaust break, 8'bed conversion (Best mistake I've made)
33' Teton Home Experience 3 slides, its not a trailer its a home
5500 watt generator
and a great Co-piolet
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marty649
Waycross GA (okeefenokee swamp)
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I'm not sure on the 08's but on the 05's they had a spacer that can be removed from the spring perch that will lower it by about 1", if that helps.
2005 Dodge 3500 Quad cab CTD Dually, Laramie, G56 sbc con-ofe, GPS-NAV, Sirius, intake and exhaust, Gauges, 100 gal aux fuel tank, Rokktech, Quad box, Pacbrake, 110,000mi
2000 Gulfstream Seahawk, Sat TV, Solar, 6.5kw gen, Washer/Dryer
2001 Roadking
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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4X4 or 4x2. Makes a big difference. The 4X4 does sit about 3 inches higher than the 4X2. One of the reasons I got a 4X2 this time around. But in all fairness he would have the exact same problem with any of the new trucks. I would suggest that he crawl under his trailer and have a look. Most trailers have more than one hole in the spring hangers and he could raise the trailer pretty easily.
Donn
Finally able to camp again after a two year hiatus.
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Whatchaupto
Payson, Utah
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Joined: 07/12/2006
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Just last weekend, I removed the three spacers between the spring pack and the axle tube. This lowered the bed height about 1 1/2". There is information about it at www.klenger.net. Don
'06 Dodge 2500 4x4, QC, 5.7L, 6 spd
'78 Rancho ElRay TT
'73 Honda CT90
'66 Hydroswift 16' runabout
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Firefighter56
Shirley, IN
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Joined: 09/01/2005
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I have the same problem with my setup. I know that the Dodges sit higher in the back, but most of the problems come from the depth of the bed from the top of the bedrails to the floor of the bed. The bed is deeper than other trucks and it eats up all of the hitch adjustment. I am having a spacer put on my camper to lift it so I won't have this problem anymore.
2006 Dodge 4X4 Megacab 2500 w/ a Cummins
2007 CF31QB Crossroads Cruiser
Doug, Amanda, Caleb, and Connor Pyle
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Dale M
Calgary
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Joined: 08/21/2006
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Hi. Have a 2008 Ram Dually 4x4 and and tow a 2007 Wildcat.The Wildcat has 16 inch tires on it.When hooked up I have 5 inchs at the back of the box and abit more then 6 at the front. I havent had a problem yet and it hasn't come close to hitting...Maybe taller tires on his trailer or shorter on the truck.
Dale M
2008 Dodge 3500 Dually CTD 4x4
Everest 344J 5th Wheel
Hijacker 16k Slider
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dfb
gardnerville
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Joined: 09/29/2005
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If he has a 4x4 he can remove the rear blocks on the truck and get the 4x2 version.. I have an 04.5 Dodge Dually 4x4 and the Trailer is a 5th wheel with the axles reversed... Works GREAT...
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Bandaid
Holcomb, New York USA
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Joined: 01/16/2001
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Thanks everyone,
The truck is a 2006 2x4 3500 dually. It was previously owned by the owner of a Dodge dealership, and was used to pull his fifth wheel. Either the truck never came with the shim blocks, or they were removed by the original owner. I'm not sure I can do anymore to help this man. IMHO, the least expensive way for him to gain more rail clearance would be to put a 3" tube between the Trailer axle pad and the trailer frame. He can not flip the axles, as it has the Dexter Torflex, like mine. He is concerned that might raise the center of gravity, making the trailer more top heavy. I doubt it, as I've seen others do this mod.
Only other thing I can see him doing is finding a custom towing bed for his truck. The way it is now, he will destroy the bottom side of his overhang and the top of his bed rails. Guess that's why I like my Durmax/GMC dually!
Bandaid
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