Saddle Truck Box and clearance with a Fifth Wheel

[scottkeen]

Do saddle truck boxes cause clearance issues when making sharp turns with a fifth wheel trailer?

I have a Dodge Ram 3500 DRW with an 8-foot long bed. I plan to get a Montana fifth wheel trailer and would like to use the Andersen hitch.

I would like to also have a 27" (extra wide) saddle truck box mounted at the typical location at the front of the bed behind the cab. The truck box sits proud above the bed rails by 7-1/2".

Will I run into clearance problems of the fifth wheel nose hitting the truck box with sharp turns with such a setup?

If so, would the standard 21" wide saddle truck box make enough of a difference?

[DSteiner51]

scottkeen wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Why not not get a below rail tool box and problem solved! Then you can also add a tonneau cover. :B

The main reason for an above rail saddle box over a below rail storage chest for me is:

By putting in a below rail storage chest, I lose about 2 feet of bed length, ending up with about a 6-foot bed.

With an above rail saddle box, I can still shove 8-foot sheets of plywood or 8-foot 2x4 sticks under the saddle box.

But if an above rail saddle box will definitely interfere with the fifth wheel nose, then I'll have to re-think this whole box idea.

I have a trifold tonneau cover that when folded is approximately 3 inches high. I have 6 1/2 inches clearance between truck rail and fifth wheel. Twice when maneuvering I hit the front cap. Last time I broke it. There is no way 7 inch box will work.

I take the cover off and store it when towing. This even with a Pull Rite auto slide hitch. None slider would make it even worse.

[rhagfo]

scottkeen wrote:
BTW, as I was looking into tonneau covers (to cover tool chests or tote boxes), I came across the TruXedo brand.

I'm interested in their TruXedo TruXport tonneau cover. It installs on top of the bed rails and sits up 1.5" above the rail, hopefully that will be OK. The reason I don't like the tonneau that mounts to the inside edges of the bed rails is because you lose about 3" of bed space on either side and it sits 1.0" above the rail only saving half an inch.

But what I found really interesting is their TruXedo TonneauMate truck box. It mounts to the tonneau rail and the box sits BELOW the bed rails but doesn't reach down to the bed floor so I can shove 8-foot lumber under the box. IOW, it's a lot like a saddle truck box but below the bed rails. I'd say it's the best of both worlds, but it's no Weather Guard truck box and costs a pretty penny.

Anyway, it's an option.

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum width.

Well that is one solution, not sure if that tool box would hold all I carry.


I have a TruXsport roll up Tonneau cover and love it the 1" is not an issue.

[john_bet]

scottkeen wrote:

Lar's wrote:
I have a flip bak that folds toward the front so it sits probably as high as a box, and about 2' deep so I'd say, no problem.

How high above the bed rails does your bakflip sit when it's folded towards the front?

The truck box sits above the bed rails by 7-1/4"

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum width.

They make one that only sits maybe 2' above the rails. I h ave seen them, but do not remember the brand name.

[Cummins12V98]

scottkeen wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Above bed tool boxes are a BIG no no.

Thanks, that's why I asked. I assume it's a "big no no" because it converts my 8-foot long bed into basically a 6-foot short bed?

Cummins12V98 wrote:
This is what you want, also this is the hitch you want!

Andersen Ultimate Hitch is no good?

No the front of the RV can hit the above bed type of tool boxes.

Hang around and do some research on the Andersen and the B&W.

[scottkeen]

BTW, as I was looking into tonneau covers (to cover tool chests or tote boxes), I came across the TruXedo brand.

I'm interested in their TruXedo TruXport tonneau cover. It installs on top of the bed rails and sits up 1.5" above the rail, hopefully that will be OK. The reason I don't like the tonneau that mounts to the inside edges of the bed rails is because you lose about 3" of bed space on either side and it sits 1.0" above the rail only saving half an inch.

But what I found really interesting is their TruXedo TonneauMate truck box. It mounts to the tonneau rail and the box sits BELOW the bed rails but doesn't reach down to the bed floor so I can shove 8-foot lumber under the box. IOW, it's a lot like a saddle truck box but below the bed rails. I'd say it's the best of both worlds, but it's no Weather Guard truck box and costs a pretty penny.

Anyway, it's an option.

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum width.

[scottkeen]

Wow, all kinds of great advice of "been there, done that" Thanks guys, seriously!

[memtb]

Many years ago,we had (the emphasis here “had”) a box above the rails. The front of the 5er quickly found it. We go places that most do not go, but I contend “it’s not if...but when”, will it make contact!

[Second_Chance]

scottkeen wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Above bed tool boxes are a BIG no no.

Thanks, that's why I asked. I assume it's a "big no no" because it converts my 8-foot long bed into basically a 6-foot short bed?

Cummins12V98 wrote:
This is what you want, also this is the hitch you want!

Andersen Ultimate Hitch is no good?

We had a BakFlip tri-fold cover on our previous truck and it didn't come near 7.5" folded up. While we had no issues with the cover and the fifth wheel, I would also not recommend a box that's 7.5" above the bed rails - even with an 8' bed. For that reason, we have one of the boxes shown above that sits down completely in the bed.

We pulled our first 12K miles full-timing with an Andersen and it's a fine hitch. We use a Pull-Rite now because we couldn't get the adapter for the Andersen in time when we traded trucks. I was - and still am - an "Andersen fanboy," but the conventional hitch is easier for me to hitch up by myself. If you go with the Andersen, DO NOT put a Roto-Flex pin box on your trailer.

Rob

[Butch50]

scottkeen wrote:

DReisinger wrote:
I looked at a above the rails box, but with a box that high, could not see the hitch for hookup to the fiver.

Ah, more reasons the above rail saddle box is out.

The below rail storage chest is out for me too, because I don't want to lose 2 feet of bed length when I have to drill and bolt that storage box to the bed.

I'm liking the tote boxes and tonneau cover idea now.

Thanks all.

I don't have my tool box bolted to the floor as I refuse to drill holes in the bed. I fasten mine down to the in bed tie downs. I use a ring bolt that I drill and mount in the side of my tool box with fender washers and locking nuts on each eye ring bolt. I then run chains on both sides of the box to the tie downs and back to the ring on the box and padlock both sides of chains with matching locks. Then to keep the box from moving I run a turnbuckle from the ring back to the truck tie downs and tighten them down.

I have had a box in my truck since 2006 this way and have never had a problem with it.

[Butch50]

I don't think it is loosing the bed length but the height of the box. Most 5ers only have around 6 to 7" of clearance between the bed rails and the bottom of the trailer over hang. So you have taken over 2' of bed length away from the bed and when you do a turn the trailer is going to turn and try to occupy the same space as the tool box. Figure the hitch places the pin about 2" in front of the rear axle so as you trailer starts to turn at up to a 90* if backing up. Not good situation.

I have a Mega cab Ram which only has a 6'4" bed but I'm running a sidewinder that moves my pivot point on my 5er back 22". So this gives me about the same distance from the cab to the pivot point of the trailer as a long bed. My 5er has about 9" from bed rails to the over hang of the 5er. When I just turn the truck going forward I have about 12 to 14" between the 5er and my cab.

Now even if you had 8 to 9" of bed rail clearance and was doing a hard left or right turn and the trailer wheels on that side dropped into a hole that .5 to 1.5" clearance woukd get disappear very quickly. Also if the truck tires could fall into a hle that you didn't see and this would be the same results.

In all of this I'm saying not a good idea IMO.

[scottkeen]

DReisinger wrote:
I looked at a above the rails box, but with a box that high, could not see the hitch for hookup to the fiver.

Ah, more reasons the above rail saddle box is out.

The below rail storage chest is out for me too, because I don't want to lose 2 feet of bed length when I have to drill and bolt that storage box to the bed.

I'm liking the tote boxes and tonneau cover idea now.

Thanks all.

[DReisinger]

I looked at a above the rails box, but with a box that high, could not see the hitch for hookup to the fiver.

[scottkeen]

Maybe the best compromise would be a couple of large tote boxes strapped against the front of the bed that I can easily remove when I need to put something 8-feet long in the bed, and a tonneau cover to protect the tote boxes from prying eyes, that I can roll-up when I'm towing the fiver.

[rhagfo]

scottkeen wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Why not not get a below rail tool box and problem solved! Then you can also add a tonneau cover. :B

The main reason for an above rail saddle box over a below rail storage chest for me is:

By putting in a below rail storage chest, I lose about 2 feet of bed length, ending up with about a 6-foot bed.

With an above rail saddle box, I can still shove 8-foot sheets of plywood or 8-foot 2x4 sticks under the saddle box.

But if an above rail saddle box will definitely interfere with the fifth wheel nose, then I'll have to re-think this whole box idea.

I have hauled plenty of 8’ lumber and plywood in my truck just need to put the tailgate down.