2006 Toyota Tundra & 1997 Scamp 5th wheel

[Nita F.]

Is anyone towing their older Scamp 5th wheel with a newer Tundra? We purchased a 2006 Toyota Tundra double cab and have a 1997 Scamp 5th wheel deluxe with a 3" riser and 14" tires. The tailgate height is 55" and won't work for the current camper set up. Toyota doesn't recommend lowering the truck due to problems with alignment and tire wear and may affect the warranty. I'm going to check further into this option.

So we're thinking we will have to raise the camper about 5" more to get approximately 7" bed rail clearance. Is this sufficient clearance? The old 1991 Dodge pickup we used to tow had a 9" bed rail clearance which worked great. We've also considered changing the axle to 4000 lbs. and 15" tires which would give us a little more clearance. Do you have any other suggestions, besides buying a shorter truck?

Thanks.
Nita

[Isaac M]

I dont' know about the height (although I am interested in the minimum clearance between the bed rail and the trailer), but I'd be cautious going to a 4000lb axle. If the trailer doesn't have enough weight, the stiffer axle will transmit a great deal more of the shock from bumps into the trailer which will tear your trailer up a lot more, especially putting more stress into the fiberglass at the rivet joints. I'd be more prone to increase the spacer and keep the 3500 lb axle. You may give the factory a call to see if there is a "maximum" height that they lift the trailers before they become too top heavy.

-Isaac

[Roger H]

Is anyone towing their older Scamp 5th wheel with a newer Tundra? We purchased a 2006 Toyota Tundra double cab and have a 1997 Scamp 5th wheel deluxe with a 3" riser and 14" tires. The tailgate height is 55" and won't work for the current camper set up. Toyota doesn't recommend lowering the truck due to problems with alignment and tire wear and may affect the warranty. I'm going to check further into this option.

So we're thinking we will have to raise the camper about 5" more to get approximately 7" bed rail clearance. Is this sufficient clearance? The old 1991 Dodge pickup we used to tow had a 9" bed rail clearance which worked great. We've also considered changing the axle to 4000 lbs. and 15" tires which would give us a little more clearance. Do you have any other suggestions, besides buying a shorter truck?

Thanks.
Nita

Nita, I think you hit the issues... raising the Scamp is about your only option. Just recognize that you're also raising the center of gravity significantly, and drive accordingly.

Roger

On edit... after reading Isaac's post... great minds think alike! I don't, however, think that a 4,000 lb axle would be too heavy for the Scamp 19. IMHO, the 3500 lb axle under them isn't quite heavy enough. I think the 4k axle would be just fine, and with the kind of lift you're discussing, the 15" tires would be perfect. You may not even have to modify the wheel wells to get them to fit (depending on the width of the tire, of course).

[Brian B-P]

The 4000 lb capacity axle may indeed be suitable (I don't know), but what I'm wondering is how it would change the ride height. Assuming that we're still talking about a Dexter Torflex (or similar Al-Ko rubber torsion axle), there is little height difference by capacity range - the ride height is determined by the tire diameter and the "starting angle" of the suspension arms. If larger tires are used, a higher-capacity axle might be wise just for the larger diameter (12" instead of 10") brake drums which might come with it.

If raising a trailer this much and replacing the axle, I would consider also widening the track (spacing the tires further apart in width) for stability.