5.0TA, clearance from bed rail to loft frame

[padlin]

Finally got around to raising the pin box to the top set of holes, 2". The hitch itself was always as far down as it would go. Now if I measure from the ground to the trailer frame, it's only off by a 1/2 inch, taking into account the frame "step" in the rear.

Ended up not being near as simple as I imagined, about half the bolt would not budge, ended up needing the torch to heat the nuts.

Anyway, I now have 5" of clearance between the side of the truck bed by the tailgate, and the lofts frame, was 7". If anyone is hooked up can I get your distance? I don't know what's acceptable or not.

On edit: FWIW, etrailer says a minimum of 5".

[jnfrombigt]

Originally Posted by padlin

Finally got around to raising the pin box to the top set of holes, 2". The hitch itself was always as far down as it would go. Now if I measure from the ground to the trailer frame, it's only off by a 1/2 inch, taking into account the frame "step" in the rear.

Ended up not being near as simple as I imagined, about half the bolt would not budge, ended up needing the torch to heat the nuts.

Anyway, I now have 5" of clearance between the side of the truck bed by the tailgate, and the lofts frame, was 7". If anyone is hooked up can I get your distance? I don't know what's acceptable or not.

On edit: FWIW, etrailer says a minimum of 5".

Moved mine up yesterday. My vertical bolt centers measure 2 1/2". I connected to the truck after the change and it looks ok. My driveway is down sloped. I'm going camping Monday and plan to stop at a service station enroute that has a level pad to check the thing out. My trailer was finished in June so I had no problem with the bolts.

[padlin]

You're right, it's 2 1/2 not 2. The hitch is adjustable in 1" increments so I can come up some if need be.

[davidmurphy02]

My setup is probably on the extreme to the high side, I have 9" clearance above the bed rails with the high lift axle. My driveway has a hump at the top leading to a significant down slope and I need all of that clearance for getting over that hump. I had calculated ahead of time that with the high lift axle it would work, but the first time over the hump was pretty nerve wracking until I confirmed that it would just barely clear without hitting.

The back end of my truck doesn't sag when hitched, only drops a little over an inch or so, and the trailer is sitting pretty much perfectly level. Still tows like a dream with the extra clearance, it tows so well that I can't imagine the higher clearance has any negative effect.

[Tom and Gay]

Originally Posted by padlin

Finally got around to raising the pin box to the top set of holes, 2". The hitch itself was always as far down as it would go. Now if I measure from the ground to the trailer frame, it's only off by a 1/2 inch, taking into account the frame "step" in the rear.

Ended up not being near as simple as I imagined, about half the bolt would not budge, ended up needing the torch to heat the nuts.

Anyway, I now have 5" of clearance between the side of the truck bed by the tailgate, and the lofts frame, was 7". If anyone is hooked up can I get your distance? I don't know what's acceptable or not.

On edit: FWIW, etrailer says a minimum of 5".

I raised our pin box two years ago and have appreciated the more level tow and have not had a clearance problem with our F150 and standard trailer height. I use an Andersen gooseneck hitch with the ball at its lowest setting. I just went out and measured 6.5" between the tailgate and loft frame. The clearance increases a little bit towards the truck end of the frame. I have been in situations that made the clearance much closer (2"??) so having 5" would make me nervous but is probably workable if you are careful.

[HarleyD]

Nice pics!
What ski area?

[davidmurphy02]

Originally Posted by HarleyD

Nice pics!
What ski area?

Snoqualmie Pass, on our trip home after pickup in April.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by davidmurphy02

My setup is probably on the extreme to the high side, I have 9" clearance above the bed rails with the high lift axle. My driveway has a hump at the top leading to a significant down slope and I need all of that clearance for getting over that hump. I had calculated ahead of time that with the high lift axle it would work, but the first time over the hump was pretty nerve wracking until I confirmed that it would just barely clear without hitting.

The back end of my truck doesn't sag when hitched, only drops a little over an inch or so, and the trailer is sitting pretty much perfectly level. Still tows like a dream with the extra clearance, it tows so well that I can't imagine the higher clearance has any negative effect.

Hi: davidmurphy02... Sure am glad we're "Flatlanders". After R&R of our hitch from the Fronty to the Ram 1500 the RVTech splayed out his hand, put his thumb nail on the bed rail and little fingernail on the under side of the trailer and said "You're fine". Wish I had his confidence!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Chotch]

Originally Posted by escape artist

Hi: davidmurphy02... Sure am glad we're "Flatlanders". After R&R of our hitch from the Fronty to the Ram 1500 the RVTech splayed out his hand, put his thumb nail on the bed rail and little fingernail on the under side of the trailer and said "You're fine". Wish I had his confidence!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

🧐 Think that’s called experience .......
🤔 For my hand that would be 8”

[padlin]

I didn't have that kind of room before I raised the pin box.

[davidmurphy02]

I'm really happy with the high lift axle. We haven't noticed any difficulty going in and out of the trailer with the step a bit higher, and the extra height is nice when I need to access the front storage compartments.

[jnfrombigt]

Just measured and after pin box adjustment 7 1/2". I have the Andersen gooseneck attached hitch and the ball is at the lowest setting. The gooseneck ball is offset 4" toward the tailgate. I'm currently on a progressively increasing upslope so I can't determine yet how level the trailer will ride but it appears to be an improvement over what I had before the adjustment.

[jnfrombigt]

After adjustment photos

[padlin]

Thanks Jim

[jnfrombigt]

Originally Posted by padlin

Thanks Jim

Bob You're welcome

[arniesea]

We are about 2,000 miles into a 6,500 mile road trip. The week before we left I finally raised the pin box on our 5.0 TA to the upper holes. The truck now rides almost level. I have the ANDERSON hitch with the 3 different adjustments. On the middle setting the nose is about 1/2” high. On the lowest setting it is about a 1/2” low. I expect that either one is fine and certainly better that the almost 2” nose high that trailer rode before.

But I thought I would check with the collective wisdom of this group and see if there is an advantage (other than bed rail clearance) of one setting over the other. On the lowest setting, I have almost 6” of clearance on my bed rails. My tow is a 2017 Tundra short bed. (5.5 feet)

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by arniesea

We are about 2,000 miles into a 6,500 mile road trip. The week before we left I finally raised the pin box on our 5.0 TA to the upper holes. The truck now rides almost level. I have the ANDERSON hitch with the 3 different adjustments. On the middle setting the nose is about 1/2” high. On the lowest setting it is about a 1/2” low. I expect that either one is fine and certainly better that the almost 2” nose high that trailer rode before.

But I thought I would check with the collective wisdom of this group and see if there is an advantage (other than bed rail clearance) of one setting over the other. On the lowest setting, I have almost 6” of clearance on my bed rails. My tow is a 2017 Tundra short bed. (5.5 feet)

Hi: arniesea... IMHO I'd go with 1/2" low. A new set of tug tires when needed might just make the difference!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[JLModer2]

So-- I raised up my pin box. I still need to check clearance on the bed rails, but suspect it will be fine. If nothing else I can raise the Andersen ball when needed.

That said, Raising that pin box was not a fun job.

[padlin]

When I raised mine a month ago the trailer dropped 2", from 7" to 5" above the bed rails. I was a little uncomfortable with that so I raised the hitch head 1" till I see how it goes.

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by JLModer2

So-- I raised up my pin box. I still need to check clearance on the bed rails, but suspect it will be fine. If nothing else I can raise the Andersen ball when needed.

That said, Raising that pin box was not a fun job.

No, it wasn’t. I wished I had taken pictures when I did mine. I ended up making a brace out of a 2x6 for the rear part of the box, and tying the pin to a heavy duty a-frame ladder. Then I used the landing gear and a heavy rubber mallet to bang the pin box into position so the bolt holes lined up. I really wished I had one of those tapered pin rods that iron workers use to line up the holes.

Afterwords some black simi-gloss Rustolium paint made it all look new.

Now 5,000 miles into my 6,000 mile trip and I couldn’t be happier. The rig tows much better with the frame level to the ground. (Well within a 1/2 inch!)