Greetings, I've just signed up and this is my first post.
We have a 2007 Pilgrim 252RKS-5 fifth wheel and love it. Our first fifth wheel, which we purchased new in the spring of 2008. We had it towed to a seasonal campsite by the dealer, as we don't own a pickup truck. Have determined by the weight label inside a kitchen cabinet that the GVW is 8900 lbs and the UVW is 7100. To me, this means a 3/4 ton pickup and we are looking at 2007 or newer Chev/GMC Silverado/Sierra 2500HD with probably a 6.0 liter gas engine and at least 3.73 differential. 4WD. According to specs, 4WD does not add any height to the truck.
So here is the problem: with the camper level, I measure 58 inches from the ground to the bottom of the overhang, and 48 inches from the ground to the center of the pin. Recent pickups measure between 57-59 inches from the ground to the top of the bed rails. I don't know the typical distance from the ground to the hitch plate which captures the pin. But it seems to me that to get at least 6 inches of clearance from the top of the bed rails to the bottom of the overhang, the camper will be slanted upward, transferring too much weight to the rear axle. I see that the camper springs are mounted on top of the axles and it is riding on 16 inch tires. Nothing more I can do there. I can't really lower the truck, as the front suspension is a bit more complicated than just springs.
I can't believe I am the only one with this problem. I have measured other fifth wheels at RV dealers, and the overhangs vary from 57 inches to 65 inches above ground.
Can anyone help me, or am I out of luck? Thanks, Carl
We have a 2007 Pilgrim 252RKS-5 fifth wheel and love it. Our first fifth wheel, which we purchased new in the spring of 2008. We had it towed to a seasonal campsite by the dealer, as we don't own a pickup truck. Have determined by the weight label inside a kitchen cabinet that the GVW is 8900 lbs and the UVW is 7100. To me, this means a 3/4 ton pickup and we are looking at 2007 or newer Chev/GMC Silverado/Sierra 2500HD with probably a 6.0 liter gas engine and at least 3.73 differential. 4WD. According to specs, 4WD does not add any height to the truck.
So here is the problem: with the camper level, I measure 58 inches from the ground to the bottom of the overhang, and 48 inches from the ground to the center of the pin. Recent pickups measure between 57-59 inches from the ground to the top of the bed rails. I don't know the typical distance from the ground to the hitch plate which captures the pin. But it seems to me that to get at least 6 inches of clearance from the top of the bed rails to the bottom of the overhang, the camper will be slanted upward, transferring too much weight to the rear axle. I see that the camper springs are mounted on top of the axles and it is riding on 16 inch tires. Nothing more I can do there. I can't really lower the truck, as the front suspension is a bit more complicated than just springs.
I can't believe I am the only one with this problem. I have measured other fifth wheels at RV dealers, and the overhangs vary from 57 inches to 65 inches above ground.
Can anyone help me, or am I out of luck? Thanks, Carl
