Chassis/frame

Gottogo · 09-24-2016, 05:38 PM

We have on order a 38RSB3 with a fiberglass roof, 8KW diesel generator and W/D units plus all the standard items, with a 2016 F350 diesel dually to tow with, my concern is with added weight should the frame get the 2 inch riser to keep everything level, the truck has the Reese elite 26.5 hitch.

RustyJC · 09-24-2016, 07:02 PM

Weight has little to do with the need for the 2" suspension riser, although the 5th wheel might ride slightly lower as it gets heavier. It's primarily the hitch height of the truck that will determine the need for the riser. Our MS (see signature) has the 2" riser and towed level with our 2 wheel drive 2011 Ram 3500 dually. The 2016 Ram is a 4x4 which sits substantially taller than the 2011 did, and with the hitch as low as I can adjust it and the pinbox as high as I can adjust it, the MS is still nose high.

It's just going to depend on how high your truck sits and how much you can adjust while still maintaining 6" minimum (8" preferred) between the bed rails and the 5th wheel overhang.

Rusty

Porkchop · 09-24-2016, 07:24 PM

I just can't amagine that the 2" riser weights even 40 lbs. It's just 2 short 2x2" pieces of steel. I have a 2016 f350 dually-4x4, and yes, you need the 2" to ride level. It's a cheap factory adder but gets expensive if you add it later. That's why I don't have it. I purchased our rig off a dealers lot. Would not spend the $2000+ to add it now. My axels weigh out OK, so I'm not worried.

Bill

TahoeShark · 09-26-2016, 12:26 AM

Since you are ordering your trailer get the risers, you will need them to ride level on the newer trucks.

Gottogo · 09-26-2016, 12:52 AM

Meeting with drv dealer tomorrow to go over the final order for the coach, will be adding risers to the order. Thanks for the heads up.

rynosback · 09-26-2016, 05:28 AM

Get the risers for sure. Worth the extra $2-300 when having it built. Worse case is that you have to adjust the hitch higher up and it give you greater bed clearance. To me it is a MUST with newer trucks.

dapperdan · 09-26-2016, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rynosback

Get the risers for sure. Worth the extra $2-300 when having it built. Worse case is that you have to adjust the hitch higher up and it give you greater bed clearance. To me it is a MUST with newer trucks.

I second the motion..... I only wish I would've known about this forum and the need for risers when we ordered our Suites. We ended up having the risers added at MORryde this last July for much more $$$$ than had we ordered from DRV initially.
Good luck with your new unit!

Dan

Cummins12V98 · 09-26-2016, 05:52 PM

Risers for sure! If adding later is is around $1,800.

If you don't have them add air bags to your truck, you will need them.

rynosback · 09-27-2016, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

Risers for sure! If adding later is is around $1,800.

If you don't have them add air bags to your truck, you will need them.

Why add bags? My Ram rides great with all that pin weight.

RustyJC · 09-27-2016, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rynosback

Why add bags? My Ram rides great with all that pin weight.

No air bags needed on my 2016 Ram (see signature). It's dead level when towing. Can't comment on the Ford, though.

Rusty

Cummins12V98 · 09-27-2016, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rynosback

Why add bags? My Ram rides great with all that pin weight.

I agree RAM does not NEED bags. He has a FORD and every 350/450 I have seen towing a dRV has bags or is running AZZ low.

Pic of my 11 HO dually without bags with 4,500# pin.

Porkchop · 09-27-2016, 07:36 PM

My 2008 and 2016 Ford F-350's have neither had air bags, and they don't sag.. Be careful about generalizing. I have personally only seen 1 F350 with air bags.

Bill

Cummins12V98 · 09-27-2016, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porkchop

My 2008 and 2016 Ford F-350's have neither had air bags, and they don't sag.. Be careful about generalizing. I have personally only seen 1 F350 with air bags.

Bill

To more clear, every F350/450 that I saw at DRV had bags. I saw at least 6.

Travelin' Texans · 09-27-2016, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

I agree RAM does not NEED bags. He has a FORD and every 350/450 I have seen towing a dRV has bags or is running AZZ low.

Pic of my 11 HO dually without bags with 4,500# pin.

I totally agree, even DW pointed out the sagging & wondered if we looked like that.
Also you can ALWAYS tell when meeting a Ford truck at night as the headlights are always high in your face.

GeorgiaHybrid · 09-28-2016, 03:19 PM

Not all Fords are that way, the few times I have hooked up my F350 4x4 to our Elite (5K pin weight) it has remained level without using airbags. Having said that, our new truck does have an airbag suspension from the factory and rides nice and level

Porkchop · 09-28-2016, 09:11 PM

That's what I was saying. When you just make blanket statements it tends to put your creditability in the toilet. I just saw a guy driving a dodge with his hat on backwards. I guess they all do that, right?
The #'s seem to be about right however. 6 Fords to every 1 Dodge or 2 Chevy's. Wonder why? It's not the biggest seller for all these years for nothing.

Bill

Ace30.2 · 09-29-2016, 12:43 AM

Before we bought our motorhome we had a 5th wheel pulled by my f350 single rear wheel. I put airbags in it not to adjust height but it made it ride smoother especially with around 30psi. It's amazing on a Thor forum you still get ford truck this, and dodge truck that. I can say I wish we would have bought a mh sooner much easier to camp with kids. Just my opinion though.

Ag&Au · 09-29-2016, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace30.2

Before we bought our motorhome we had a 5th wheel pulled by my f350 single rear wheel. I put airbags in it not to adjust height but it made it ride smoother especially with around 30psi. It's amazing on a Thor forum you still get ford truck this, and dodge truck that. I can say I wish we would have bought a mh sooner much easier to camp with kids. Just my opinion though.

I agree 100%. We recently replaced a 31 foot Airsteam with a 24 ft Motorhome. We lost a lot of walk around room that we didn't need anyway, but gained a bunch of advantages. Number 1 is no hitching unhitching. Number two is not having to transfer pets (cats) back and forth every time we stop. The only reason I don't wish I'd done it sooner is "our motorhome would not be new now.

. We still have a large truck (Dodge 2500 Diesel). We haven't decided yet whether or not to downsize it to something smaller and lighter.

Ken

Cummins12V98 · 09-29-2016, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porkchop

That's what I was saying. When you just make blanket statements it tends to put your creditability in the toilet. I just saw a guy driving a dodge with his hat on backwards. I guess they all do that, right?
The #'s seem to be about right however. 6 Fords to every 1 Dodge or 2 Chevy's. Wonder why? It's not the biggest seller for all these years for nothing.

Bill

Well I guess i'll bite. McDonalds?

If you want to talk trucks that are used by RV haulers and hotshotters RAM has a HUGE advantage. Full timers the numbers are very different with RAM and GM being ahead of Ford. When I first joined Suites Owners web site in 2011 there were very few GM's or RAM's and mostly F450's those numbers have reversed.

Every comment can be taken differently. Is your credibility compromised now?

Travelin' Texans · 09-29-2016, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace30.2

Before we bought our motorhome we had a 5th wheel pulled by my f350 single rear wheel. I put airbags in it not to adjust height but it made it ride smoother especially with around 30psi. It's amazing on a Thor forum you still get ford truck this, and dodge truck that. I can say I wish we would have bought a mh sooner much easier to camp with kids. Just my opinion though.

Thor owns a bushel basket heaping full of every type/brand of rv on the market not just motorhomes.

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