Will A 2016 Ford F-250 With A Tommy Gate Lift Have Enough Clearance To Tow A 5th Wheel Trailer

Updated 01/16/2023 | Published 01/13/2023

Products Featured in This Question

Reese Universal Base Rails and Installation Kit for 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches - 10 Bolt

(349)

$226.65

Curt Custom 5th Wheel Installation Kit for Ford - Carbide Finish

(185)

$264.43

Question:

I have a 2016 f250 superduty with single cab and 8 ft bed.it is allso equiped with a tommy lift. My question is will it work with it and the extra length that the tommy lift adds to it ...i think read some where that you do measurement from the rear.. Witch i would think put center of it behind the rear axel .or will the extra length of tommy gate make no difference Thank you

asked by: Greg I

Expert Reply:

The extra length the Tommy Gate lift on your 2016 Ford F-250 is going to be a factor, but is really dependent on the amount of space you have from the king pin to the body of your 5th wheel. The king pin is the portion of your pin box that actually locks into the hitch.

The hitch should sit right above your axle (some hitches can sit a few inches back but it's best to have it over the axle to distribute the weight properly.) so you can measure from the axle back to the outermost edge of your truck/lift. Then with a second set of hands have someone hold the end of the tape measure to the center of the king pin and put the body of the tape measure at the measurement you got from the truck and see if it comes into contact with the body of the trailer.

We prefer to have 6" of clearance from the top of the bedrails to the nose of the 5th wheel, 4-5" between the top to the tailgate to the body of the trailer (if the body slants), and 24" between the rear bumper and body of the trailer to have enough turning clearance.

As for the rails you chose, the Reese Universal Base Rails and Installation Kit # RP30035, this a are a fit but since they're universal they'll require a lot of drilling into the frame and can be a huge hassle to install. If you'd like something easier then I recommend going with the Curt Custom 5th Wheel Installation Kit # C16424-204, which has custom brackets that work with the factory holes in your F-250's frame.

expert reply by: Kevin C