Troubleshooting Nose-High Towing With A Grand Design Solitude 5th Wheel Trailer

Published 11/09/2023

Products Featured in This Question

Gen-Y Hitch Shock Absorbing 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Pin Box - Lippert Rhino - 24K GTW - 4.5K TW

(288)

$1799.95

Andersen Ultimate Connection 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch System with Adapter - 20,000 lbs

(117)

$859.32

Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit

(804)

$94.74

Question:

I have a 22 Chevy 3500 SRW, towing a 15k GVWR Solitude 5th wheel, currently using an Andersen Ultimate hitch. My problem is that when towing, the nose of the RV sits high which lowers our clearance in the rear low point being the rear jacks. I want to switch to a Gen-Y Gooseneck pin box, but Im not sure how that will affect my clearance issue. Any thoughts or measurements I should take?

asked by: Chris

Expert Reply:

The Andersen Ultimate # AM3200 does have three separate height settings (15-3/4", 16-7/8", 18") so I would first make sure you don't have the hitch ball at the highest setting. The Gen-Y Hitch Shock Absorbing 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Pin Box # GY33GR is going to sit a bit lower than a standard pin box king pin to make up for not using a 5th wheel hitch, but would be less of a height difference than your Andersen hitch. These gooseneck pin boxes are bolt pattern and tongue weight range specific so we'd first need to know you current pin box's bolt pattern and get an accurate tongue weight measurement to choose the correct fit.

Another way to solve your nose high issue would be to "flip" your suspension if the leaf springs sit under the axles. A kit like # K71-385-00 could be used to flip the leaf springs above the axle so that the rear of your trailer lifts up by the diameter of the axle and height of the leaf spring stack to level out the front.

expert reply by: Kevin C