Determining if 2017 Ford F-350 with 6 Inch Lift and 37 Inch Tires can Tow 5th Wheel Trailer

Published 12/22/2017

Question:

I have a 2017 F-350 single wheel with a 6inch lift and 37inch tires I also have a 2016 keystone sprinter fifth wheel that I have not yet hooked up to wondering if my truck is to tall of what is going to be the best hitch to put in the bed I have the prep fifth wheel package on this truck

asked by: Joel

Helpful Expert Reply:

There is not a specific height that a truck needs to be in order to tow a fifth wheel trailer level. This will simply depend on the height of the trailer you are planning to tow. With that being said, the 6 inch lift on your 2017 Ford F-350 along with its 37 inch tires might be cutting it pretty close and you might have trouble keeping everything level on your towing setup.

What I recommend doing is taking two simple measurements. First, take a measurement from the ground to the bottom of the truck bed floor, with the truck parked on level ground. Then take a measurement from the ground to the bottom of the pin box on your trailer. The difference between these two measurements is the height you will need on the fifth wheel trailer hitch you choose in order to tow the trailer level. Note that you will want at least 4 to 6 inches of clearance between the tops of the bed side rails and the bottom of the trailer overhang.

Also keep in mind that most fifth wheel hitches feature adjustable heights. Many pin boxes on trailer can also be adjusted to accommodate for different size trucks.

For example, the Curt Q25 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # C16039, which is confirmed to fit the factory pucks on your Ford F-350 if you have an 8 foot bed, can be adjusted from 13 to 17 inches tall.

Lastly, please note that if you have a body lift on your truck (and not a suspension lift), then you will not be able to install frame rails and tow a fifth wheel trailer. This is simply because the bed will be too far from the truck frame to safely secure everything into place.

expert reply by: Chris R