5th wheel hitch

[Rodney]

Just purchased a new cardinal 3625 and having problem with present hitch, RBW 16k max hight 15", installed in my F350. Back corner of pin box hits the top of my bed when making 90 turn. Would a new hitch with a max hight of 18" help. If so can any one recommend a what make would be best? What make does the majority of cardinal owners use?

[Mike Clay]

It kind of depends on how level your trailer is while on your truck, you dont want to go up 3 inches if its already nose high. MY hitch is sitting at 15 inches to the plate head but i have close to 7 inches of clearance over the bed rails. Is your truck new? Is it a Ford with 4 inch blocks in it if so have them changed to 2 inch. Give us more info and we can help you more

[snoking]

Many like myself have taken the sawall to the back corners of the pinbox mount hanging out of the trailer and angled it similar to the pinbox. Chris

[Mike Clay]

As normal i read it to fast yes cut the back of the pin box here is a pic of my truck on almost a 90 degree turn you can see if it was not cut it would have hit. FR has now corrected that problem by doing the same thing.

[Rodney]

Thank you for your info. I have a 2001 F350 and have 6 inches clearance from top of rail to bottom of trailer. I also a slight nose down so a lift of 2 or 3 inches won't throw the level off by much. As far the truck blocks I don't really know what you're referring to. Any info is helpful.
Thanks again

[Chief409]

The blocks are between the axle and the bottom of the springs. F250's had 2", F350 single wheel trucks had 4". In '06 to '08 Ford made spring changes and I'm not sure if F350's used a 4" block after that. I use a Reese/DrawTite Signature 18K set up at the factory recommended setting for Ford SD trucks. I first had the hitch in a 2005 F250 FX4 and had it moved to the 2009 FX4 F350 dually. The 'Bird has always towed level without any clearance problem on both trucks.

Jeff

[Travelers]

This is how I cut the frame on my 3150. I bolted the electrical box back onto the upper bar.

[dpalmer]

We had ours in to the dealer for some other work and asked if they could cut the pin box to keep it from hitting the bed rail. They called FR and was told that the diagonal wings on the back could be cut but not the horizontal on the bottom. The diagonal was cut similar to what John did and it works fine now.

[Travelers]

I'll take a pic of the completed work and post it Saturday.

[Mike Clay]

Wow John yours should never hit

[Travelers]

Wow John yours should never hit

Better safe than OPPS!!

[Big Bird]

That problem sounds familiar. I contacted FR and they offered me a standard pin box that will not hit the side rails. The only problem they said I would have with a 90 degree turn is the trailer would take out the rear window if I did not use a slider on the hitch. Cutting is the only answer and it voids your warranty. I drive slower when I have to 90.

[Mike Clay]

Mine was done by a welding shop and it does not void your warranty. Showed FR what I did and they had no problem with it

[Rodney]

Thank you to everyone. Your input were very helpful. I have an appointment with a rv repair shop to lower my pin box to the max so it will level my nose down and I will also have them cut off the wings on the box so I don't have anymore problems. once again THANK YOU.

[Travelers]

Pic of my finished project.