Scamp 5th wheel truck bed and rail height

[Rhys H]

Hopefully someone out there can answer a few Questions; about bed height and rail height for a scamp fifth wheel Hitch. I was told my truck bed might be too high to tow a Sc 5th wheel even after installing the 3 " rise is that true??? My rail height is 56 1/2 inches and the bed height is 36 1/2 inches, I have a Dodge ram 1500 4X4 with 4.7 L engine, 2006. If it is true is there a fix???? Thanks Rhys h

[Peter K]

Hopefully someone out there can answer a few Questions; about bed height and rail height for a scamp fifth wheel Hitch. I was told my truck bed might be too high to tow a Sc 5th wheel even after installing the 3 " rise is that true??? My rail height is 56 1/2 inches and the bed height is 36 1/2 inches, I have a Dodge ram 1500 4X4 with 4.7 L engine, 2006. If it is true is there a fix???? Thanks Rhys h

Hello, I hope this works, My Wife and I purchased a 1996 Scamp delux, 5th wheel in Nov. In Dec, we traded in an s10 blazer for a 2007 GMC 1500 Crew cab. I have read in this forum, 6 inches clearance is needed for the 5th wheel to bed height. I had 2 - 3" spacers welded in, and this worked for us, but then the 13" wheels seemed too small, and we needed new tires anyway. So I put 15" tires and wheels on it. looks better. I also needed to raise my hitch height in the bed, but it is modified from the start when we got it, so I don't know if you would have to modify a new hitch. It may raise the ball up enough. But the one 3" spacer, and 15" tires may work for you as, now I have a good 7 - 8" clearance.

[Rhys H]

Hello, I hope this works, My Wife and I purchased a 1996 Scamp delux, 5th wheel in Nov. In Dec, we traded in an s10 blazer for a 2007 GMC 1500 Crew cab. I have read in this forum, 6 inches clearance is needed for the 5th wheel to bed height. I had 2 - 3" spacers welded in, and this worked for us, but then the 13" wheels seemed too small, and we needed new tires anyway. So I put 15" tires and wheels on it. looks better. I also needed to raise my hitch height in the bed, but it is modified from the start when we got it, so I don't know if you would have to modify a new hitch. It may raise the ball up enough. But the one 3" spacer, and 15" tires may work for you as, now I have a good 7 - 8" clearance.

Thanks for the info, so as I understand it you had ( 2) three inch spacers welded, and your hitch height in the truck bed was raised by a previous owner ??? That sounds like a good idea anyways---15 inch tires. Thanks again Rhys h

[Peter K]

Thanks for the info, so as I understand it you had ( 2) three inch spacers welded, and your hitch height in the truck bed was raised by a previous owner ??? That sounds like a good idea anyways---15 inch tires. Thanks again Rhys h

yes I baught 3" square stock, steel tube, with 3/8" sidewall thickness, cut 4- 10" long pieces,(2 for each side) from it, and welded them in between the axle mounts, and the trailer frame. That raised us up 6 inches. then, my hitch in the truck, was cut apart, and new risers welded in place, to allow my ball height to be raised 5" to get the trailer to tow about level. I think this was fine for clearance, but then to make it look better, I went to tractor supply and bought 3 new tires and rims, 15", and bolted them on(one was the spare). now it is a tad bit higher, and looks better, with the bigger tires filling in some gap that was showing in the wheel well area, due to the lift. We just took it 170 miles to Letchworth State Park, for 4 days, and then back. It towed fine, and we had no problems. The step up into it now is a bit high, we will fix that next.

[Alan Weinel]

Rhys - you buying new or used??? If new, your Scamp consultant should work with you.

Hopefully someone out there can answer a few Questions; about bed height and rail height for a scamp fifth wheel Hitch. I was told my truck bed might be too high to tow a Sc 5th wheel even after installing the 3 " rise is that true??? My rail height is 56 1/2 inches and the bed height is 36 1/2 inches, I have a Dodge ram 1500 4X4 with 4.7 L engine, 2006. If it is true is there a fix???? Thanks Rhys h