Look to see if Chevy has a body builders guide like Ford does. In the Ford guide there are specifications for empty and loaded heights. Also your Chevy dealer may be able to help as the may know customers that they can ask for you. A lot depends on the loaded squat of the trucks rear suspension.. Last ask around on some of the good Chevy Truck Forums.

In a way I am in the same boat as until I actually get my new 2022 F350 CC long bed truck, install my new B&W OEM 25K Companion hitch and hook up I really wont have my clearance answer. I want 7" of bed rail clearance minimum.

I also discovered in the worst case I can change the Ford 20" wheels to 18" wheels and by selecting a lower profile tire I can drop the whole truck a full 2". It is possible to reprogram the truck for the smaller tires as 18" wheels are offered on other models.

OR Use lift blocks (I wont go more that 2") on the trailer. I have already change the trailer tires from 15" to 16" (1.5" rise)

Last option out there is to change the trucks rear suspension lift block to a shorter one depending on what Ford used. That option is documented here somewhere or over at the other........that we shall not name here.

I am hoping all will be well based on Rob's Cate&Rob extensive information on his new ruck measurements and how much his truck squats (Thanks again Rob).

Hope this helps in your reasurch
Keith

Wrongwayrver Here you go.

https://www.gmupfitter.com/body-builder-manuals/

https://www.gmupfitter.com/body-builder-manuals/

https://www.gmupfitter.com/wp-conten...4_09_20201.pdf

Jim

I have a 2021 Silverado 3500HD with the 18" wheels. I believe the overall height of the wheel/tire combo is the same or very similar with both the 18" and 20" wheels.
I have a Curt 16k hitch that is assembled in its tallest configuration and I needed to move the pinbox on my 337RLS down one setting in order to get the 6 1/2" clearance I needed.

2018 GM K2500 Denali SWB with full tank of fuel and tool box of stuff: 57" center of driver side rear wheel, 58" center of tailgate.

Hi familytruckster4
My neighbour just got his new Silverado with 18” wheels mine is a high country with 20” wheels. Side by side almost the exact same maybe an inch difference but just the ground they were on when I measured. Iam yet to buy the hitch was looking at the BW and Curt brands. The Curt you have what does the tallest setting measure from box bed to top of head unit with Gm puck adapter?? You using a slider?? I have a morrryde on my 303 may put the stock pin box back on. I think Curt goes as high as 21.5 inches the BW none slider goes 18.75. The BW does not need the adapter just wonder if 18.75 is going to high enough so I don’t run out of adjustment options. I have 16” wheels and 235/r80 tire.

Thanks Randy

Wrongwayrver If you have the MorRyde rubber pin box, why would you get rid of it? I replace the Lippert pin box on my 303 with the Rubber one, used the same holes and the bottom of the king pin mating plate is within 1/2" of the original Lippert box. I know this b/c I was worried about having to lower or raise the rubber box to maintain my clearances, so I measured the Lippert before I removed it, then the MorRyde when I installed it.

No slider is necessary on the 21,22 and 23 GM trucks with the puck system. The pucks were moved slightly rearward after the original dimensions on the 19 and 20 models. This was intentionally done by GM to avoid the need for a slider. Mine has all the clearance you could ever want when turning without the added cost and complexity of a slider.

I have seen some companies attempt to sell sliders to people who have the new trucks with the puck system. I suspect they are trying to clean out inventory since the system has largely made the sliders obsolete.

Yeah I wasn’t going to remove it unless I have to. Sounds like I don’t need to. Mine is set 2 holes up from bottom holes so fingers crossed. I think Iam going to go with the Curt A20 might be overkill but I like lots or margin of error.

Randy

Thats good to know, my neighbour just got his new 2022 we were darn near 90 degrees but not really on a level surface. I think there is a possibility of contact in an extreme situation but I will do what ever I need to do with out getting into the tight of a situation.

Randy

With newer GM trucks, can you open the forward storage compartment of the 5th wheel trailer while hitched to the truck? On my 2022 F350, this is no longer possible. The bed is longer behind the hitch than my previous F150 where opening this compartment was possible. The tailgate of the truck will open only if the truck is aligned with the trailer. I like my manual slider hitch for creating an additional 10” of space between back of truck and front of trailer.

Rob

Yes, tailgate will go all the way down as well as the front compartment opening. If the combo is turned at an angle it will not open but its never been an issue for us.
I met a guy with an F250 in GA that had a slider he was struggling to make work, even with his in the rear most position he still didnt have as much room as I did.

familytruckster4

My Reese hitch tow position is directly over the rear axle. 70.5" from the edge of the open tailgate. (measured and also confirmed with Ford body builder specs). This dimension on my previous truck was 65.5" (5" less). This gave me 5" more room between truck and trailer on the old truck and I could open the front compartment of the trailer. With the 2022 F350, I am down to about 3" from open tailgate to front of trailer (see picture). With the manual slider hitch, I can reduce the 70.5" dimension to 60.5" for maneuvering and gives me 10" more room between truck and trailer.

I have tried (unsuccessfully) to find the centre of axle to open tailgate dimension in the GM body builder info. Could you measure centre of goose ball hole to back edge of open tailgate on your truck? (For comparison the the 70.5" measurement on my truck)

Thanks
Rob

On the LWB Page 18 shows the center of axle to rear of tailgate lip at 53.7" (or that's what it appears) https://www.gmupfitter.com/wp-conten...4_09_20201.pdf
On the SWB Page 17 shows this to be 50.7"
Page 33 shows flat to top of rail at approx 21".

The 2018 data is a bit better https://www.gmupfitter.com/wp-conten..._CC_013118.pdf

I have not located the one showing the ball location for the gooseneck or pucks, but I have seen one. The ball is BEHIND the rear axle 1-2".

Jlawles2
Hi Joseph . . . Good find on the GM upfitter info!

If I do some calculating from the numbers on page 14 of the 2018 info (to get a dimension for centre of rear axle to edge of open tailgate) . . .
Referencing from the front bumper (254.92 - 150.07 - 42.29) = 62.5" from rear axle to open tailgate. This is 8" less than a similar crewcab Ford!
If the ball location is aft of the axle, this would increase this difference even further.

This is a significant difference in clearance to the 5th wheel between a Ford and GM tow vehicle. Can someone with a recent GM 2500 or 3500 confirm this 62.5" number?
If confirmed, this would say that a Ford needs a slider hitch where a GM may not.

Rob