Towing with a 2500 HD Silverado and a 5.0TA ?

[Suregrip391]

Hey group!

Currently I’m towing my TA with a 2010 Silverado 1500 Z71 and 5.3/6 speed. Being an older truck, it is lower in height to a current 2024 2500HD Silverado. My bed rails on the older 2010 are right at 53” and I use an Andersen rail mount hitch already set at its lowest point on the ball to make the rig level with the truck. Works well!

I’m thinking about getting a newer truck, a 2500 HD Silverado which is much taller in the bed rails. I’m physically measuring the bed rail height at around 59”. Yes I understand Escape wants bedrails under 58” but I do not feel this would be an issue for me and my toeing needs.

Does anyone here tow with a 2500 and a 5.0TA? How would you get the rig level with no hitch adjustment left on the ball? I briefly read somewhere about people moving pin boxes, is that the reason for moving a pin box? I will have to research that and see.

Just because the bedrails are higher, I’m assuming the floor of the bed is higher as well compared to my older truck. That is what I forgot to measure when at the dealership.

Lastly, and to make matters somewhat worse….if I purchased a 2500 with the gooseneck/5th wheel package, those all use a puck system in the bed. I see Demco makes an adapter for the puck mount to a rail mount system so I can use my steel Andersen hitch. Seems like a nice piece but again….this raises my hitch up even higher because it’s taller once installed in the puck system!

A lot to digest here…….looking for some real world experiences or knowledge on these topics so I can make an informed decision on a new truck!



Thanks all! Happy Camping!

[Centex]

You don't mention if your 5.0 has the optional 'lift kit'? If not, that can be installed to gain 2-5/8" of total trailer height (increasing both vertical bed rail clearances and hitch (ball) height). Here's one source for the lift kit to fit our Torflex #10 tandem axle trailers (the same kit used by ETI).

Yes, the primary reason one would raise the pinbox from the extended (standard configuration) to the retracted (optional configuration) position is to gain 2.5" of hitch (ball) height. See the ETI Escape 5.0 Towing Compatibility Guidelines document, this will not yield any gain insofar as vertical bed clearances.

All just general FYI, I have no experience with the Silverado's to share but I'm hopeful that you can accommodate the 2500.

Enjoy your new truck!

[Suregrip391]

Thanks for the info! I do have the lift on the 5.0

[stevetbo]

I am towing with a GMC 3500. You can see what I did to tow level with photos of my lift in the thread "3500 HD 4x4 too tall for Escape 5.0?"
Hope this helps.

[Suregrip391]

I am also considering a Ram 2500 Bighorn. How are you all towing a 2500 series truck with your TA’s and lift kit!!

A dealer told me the Ram bed floor where the hitch mounts is 42” off the ground. The Andersen hitch is another 16-16.5” tall. That is 58-58.5” tall. I found this drawing on this site and I just can’t see (even with the pin box raised) that one can tow an Escape 5.0 TA level unless I am still missing something? See pic attached….