Towing

gchas · December 13, 2003

I'm a wannabe. I have a Dodge Cummins, but wanabe a Duramax 2500HD owner after I sell my Dodge. However, I note that the bed height of the 2500 HD (crew cab, short box) is 5 inches higher than the bed of my Dodge 2500 which I currently use to pull an Avion in a perfectly level fasion. I could adjust the pin box on my RV to offset this difference, but that would put the RV too close to the bed rails of the PU. I plan to use a 16K Pullrite auto-slider hitch which is the same dimensions as the current Reese hitch I have in my Dodge. There appears to be no lowering adjustement on the Pullright. Has anyone out there faced a similar problem. If so, how did you solve it? Would appreciate any advise you can offer. Thanks in advance.

BlackSilver · December 13, 2003

Yes, the 2500HD bed is sorta high. I pull a 5th wheel using a Reese slider. It has 4 levels of vertical adjustment, and my pin-box is also adjustable. My Cougar rides perfectly level, and I still have more than plenty clearance between the bed-rails and the trailer. I've taken it into some pretty uneven terrain, steep driveways, etc., and never come close to a problem with clearance.

gchas · December 14, 2003

Thanks for your reply, Blacksilver. Can you tell me how high the bottom of your pin box is from the ground when setting level. I am really concerned becauise I once had to "turn the axles" on a Wilderness because my bed was too high ( I had a 4X4 then) and my current RV will not accomodate an "axle turn." I've been there and done that, so don't want to go there again.

I assume you do not have the automatic slider. Have you had any problems in traffic or in normal operations? Can one safely operate with the manual slider? Or do you have the long bed which does not require the slider? Please advise. Thanks.

BlackSilver · December 14, 2003

Thanks for your reply, Blacksilver. Can you tell me how high the bottom of your pin box is from the ground when setting level. I am really concerned becauise I once had to "turn the axles" on a Wilderness because my bed was too high ( I had a 4X4 then) and my current RV will not accomodate an "axle turn." I've been there and done that, so don't want to go there again.

I assume you do not have the automatic slider. Have you had any problems in traffic or in normal operations? Can one safely operate with the manual slider? Or do you have the long bed which does not require the slider? Please advise. Thanks.

I'll have to go out and measure the pin height tomorrow (it's damned cold here in Minnesota!)

No, my slider is manual. It's a Reese unit which I've had in two trucks, both short-beds. Quite honestly, in the three years since I've been pulling the 5th wheel, there have only been two or three times when I really needed the slider in very tight backing/maneuvering situations. In normal driving and most backing/parking maneuvers you have no need. It's only when you get into those very tight almost-90-degree-contortions that it's needed.

I suppose this all might vary depending on the geometry of your pin box, and its placement on the trailer. My pin box is fairly far forward, and the pin itself is almost directly below the forward surface of the trailer body.

It's very easy and safe to operate. You just move a lever to unlock it, then get in the truck - manually lock the trailer brakes with your brake controller - slowly pull the truck forward, sliding the hitch backwards into the extended position and use the lever to lock it there. Then do your maneuvering. It's a lot easier to do than it is to tell about it!

BlackSilver · December 14, 2003

Thanks for your reply, Blacksilver. Can you tell me how high the bottom of your pin box is from the ground when setting level. I am really concerned becauise I once had to "turn the axles" on a Wilderness because my bed was too high ( I had a 4X4 then) and my current RV will not accomodate an "axle turn." I've been there and done that, so don't want to go there again.

I assume you do not have the automatic slider. Have you had any problems in traffic or in normal operations? Can one safely operate with the manual slider? Or do you have the long bed which does not require the slider? Please advise. Thanks.

I'll have to go out and measure the pin height tomorrow (it's damned cold here in Minnesota!)

No, my slider is manual. It's a Reese unit which I've had in two trucks, both short-beds. Quite honestly, in the three years since I've been pulling the 5th wheel, there have only been two or three times when I really needed the slider in very tight backing/maneuvering situations. In normal driving and most backing/parking maneuvers you have no need. It's only when you get into those very tight almost-90-degree-contortions that it's needed.

I suppose this all might vary depending on the geometry of your pin box, and its placement on the trailer. My pin box is fairly far forward, and the pin itself is almost directly below the forward surface of the trailer body.

It's very easy and safe to operate. You just move a lever to unlock it, then get in the truck - manually lock the trailer brakes with your brake controller - slowly pull the truck forward, sliding the hitch backwards into the extended position and use the lever to lock it there. Then do your maneuvering. It's a lot easier to do than it is to tell about it!

gchas · December 14, 2003

Thanks again, Blaacksilver, for all your input. It helps, especially knowing that the manual slider is satisfactory and only needs extending on rare occasions. When you decide to brave the cold, I'd still like to know the distance from the ground to the bottom of your pin box when 5th wheel is setting level.

BlackSilver · December 14, 2003

When you decide to brave the cold, I'd still like to know the distance from the ground to the bottom of your pin box when 5th wheel is setting level.

The bottom surface of the pin box is 49" above the ground. In reply to your other message, my owners manual doesn't list the loading height, but I just measured it empty, and it's at 37".