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Truck heights vs trailer heights
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Last activity 2006-05-01 11:03 PM
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Painted Horse
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2006-04-30 12:25 PM (#199)
Subject: Truck heights vs trailer heights





Posts: 493

Location: Utah

Anybody else notice that new trucks keep getting taller and taller. Especially the new Fords.

I had a 2000, then a 2003 and now a 2006 F350.  Each time I got a new truck I have had to raise my Gooseneck coupler an inch to maintain clearance over the bed rails.  I now have my coupler so tall that I have a slight angle to the trailer going down the road.  My jack is not tall enough to lift the the coupler off the ball unless I put a block of wood under it's foot. I suspect the increase in the 2006 truck is due to the 275/70/18" tires/wheels these have a 33" diameter vs the older 265/75/16 tires at 31.5 inch diameter.

So just how much clearance should I have between the bed rails and underside of the gooseneck?

 

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Reg
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2006-04-30 1:48 PM (#200 - in reply to #199)
Subject: RE: Truck heights vs trailer heights





Posts: 2621

Originally written by Painted Horse on 2006-04-30 1:25 PM

Anybody else notice that new trucks keep getting taller and taller. Especially the new Fords.

I had a 2000, then a 2003 and now a 2006 F350. Each time I got a new truck I have had to raise my Gooseneck coupler an inch to maintain clearance over the bed rails. I now have my coupler so tall that I have a slight angle to the trailer going down the road. My jack is not tall enough to lift the the coupler off the ball unless I put a block of wood under it's foot. I suspect the increase in the 2006 truck is due to the 275/70/18" tires/wheels these have a 33" diameter vs the older 265/75/16 tires at 31.5 inch diameter.

So just how much clearance should I have between the bed rails and underside of the gooseneck?



C'mon...
Themz cruzin' trucks, they ain't fer haulin' anythin'
STYLE !
and maybe going to the dump, we ALL need a $50K vehicle to be seen in THERE.
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huntinfool
Reg. Jul 2005
Posted 2006-04-30 2:10 PM (#201 - in reply to #199)
Subject: RE: Truck heights vs trailer heights





Posts: 45

Location: west valley city , utah

  I have 8 inches clearence between my bed rails and the trailer , and I have come close to making contact when going over rough country . So far my bed rails are not dented , and I just need to remember to be careful off road .

  How are you liking the new truck . Did you get the 6.0 ?

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gemm
Reg. Feb 2005
Posted 2006-04-30 4:22 PM (#202 - in reply to #199)
Subject: RE: Truck heights vs trailer heights





Posts: 261

Location: CA
The rule of thumb I've always heard is a minimum of 7" between gooseneck and truck bed rails, though 10" is ideal.
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Painted Horse
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2006-04-30 5:13 PM (#203 - in reply to #199)
Subject: RE: Truck heights vs trailer heights





Posts: 493

Location: Utah

huntinfool,  The new truck is about the same as my 03. Both had the 6.0L.

I wasn't going to buy a new truck for another year or two. But Ford came out with Customer Loyalty rebate for 03/04 owners. Which effectively doubled the normal rebate.  When combined with a X-plan got me a new truck for $6000 under dealer invoice. There are rumurs of a big price increase on new trucks begining in January for the new emmission. So I decided I'd be money ahead over buying one next year.

I raised my gooseneck ( I should say lowered the coupling) one hole. This should add two inches to my height. Next time I hook up, Ill have to look at the bubble and see how far off level that moved it.

Hey huntinfool, you are pretty close by, I know what you mean about Forest service roads. Some of these trail heads I get into are a pretty good challenge.

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huntinfool
Reg. Jul 2005
Posted 2006-05-01 3:00 PM (#204 - in reply to #199)
Subject: RE: Truck heights vs trailer heights





Posts: 45

Location: west valley city , utah

 Painted Horse have you been getting the auto. or the stick , if you had the automatic in the 03 did you have any problems with it .

   I have had the bug to buy a new truck for a while . I really like my 2002 that is all set up , and only has 60,000 miles . My work truck is the new style with the coils up front   , and I am in that truck all the time . I have noticed the ride in the new one is very nice and soft compared to my leaf springs up front truck .

    Guess I might have to go do a little looking at the new trucks . 

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Painted Horse
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2006-05-01 11:03 PM (#205 - in reply to #199)
Subject: RE: Truck heights vs trailer heights





Posts: 493

Location: Utah

Mine have all been autos. I'm really impressed with the Torqueshift. I can come over the top of Parley, step on the brakes to downshift and slow the rig down to 55mph, set the cruise once it downshifts , and it will hold me all the way down Parleys.  The truck will speed up to about 65mph and that is about 3800 rpm.The tranny/engine will hold me at that speed with me touching my brakes again. My trailer is 12,000 lbs.

Same thing with Trappers Loop out of Weber Canyon.  I touch the brake and slow down to about 45 mph and set the cruise. and it will hold me around 50-55 down that 7-8% grade.

I was turning my rotors every 36,000 miles on my 2000 truck.  Never touched my brakes in 78,000 miles on my 2003 truck. I think the engine/tranny braking was why.

My new 2006 is getting about 1 mpg better mileage than my 2003 truck. Thats with 4300 miles on it.

I ride a lot up around Strawberry in June. We put on a CTR/Endurnace ride up there the last weekend of June, So we cut out deadfalls and clear the trails.  The wild flowers are just incredible that time of year.

 

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