Level towing of a 5th wheel?

[KFX450RXC]

Originally Posted by Cujo7240

....My tandem axles are already on the top of my leaf-springs, so an axle flip is out.

Originally Posted by Cujo7240

My axles are below my springs already, so there's no gains to be had there.

My mistake. Best of luck.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Cujo7240
....My tandem axles are already on the top of my leaf-springs, so an axle flip is out.

Originally Posted by Cujo7240
My axles are below my springs already, so there's no gains to be had there.

Originally Posted by KFX450RXC
My mistake. Best of luck.

Was a bit confusing.

[tj40ounce]

I am battling a similar issue. I recently installed air bags and the truck rides level now but the rv is nose high. No toys in the back and I’m parked on a slope.

[Blender]

Here is a before and after with my 337 bar which is 39’7” long and a pin weight of 2240.

Yes it’s a “half ton” but it does very well and it has since 2015 when I bought both.. Attachment 1

[Cujo7240]

Originally Posted by Bama Rambler

I think everyone here (myself included) would like to see some pictures and some scale numbers of this rig.

I'm sorry to say that it will be many months before I'll be able to provide any pictures or scale numbers, since my RV is put away for the Winter here Western, NY. It is currently covered and has 6" of snow on it with another 10 to 12" of snow due in tomorrow.

[Cujo7240]

Originally Posted by Blender

Here is a before and after with my 337 bar which is 39’7” long and a pin weight of 2240.

Yes it’s a “half ton” but it does very well and it has since 2015 when I bought both.. Attachment 158181Attachment 158182Attachment 1Attachment 158184

Blender, you say these are "Before and After Pics" what did you do to correct your out of level towing situation? Thanks for sharing.

Jim

[arter368rlbhk]

E trailer does sell leaf spring spacer block kits that can raise the 5ver as well

[Blender]

The truck sits very level with the 5er already, but long story short I was worried before I bought the 5er that I had the air lift 5000 with bumpstops added and wireless controller.

So as I was locking the house up to leave I asked the wife to up the pressure on the wireless remote to the air lift bags. Well she did I asked her to increase to 30 and all I saw when I walked out was the truck sitting like that and I said what did you do? she then tells me you said put 80,, I’m like NOOOOOO.... I said 30 so I just deflated and laughed as I checked everything.. I also did add bilstein 5100s from RCD to accommodate the 6” lift and 35” tires.. so I don’t have the block in the front on top of the strut it’s just the adjustable shock and spring. Rear has the stock leaf springs and the airlift with the bilstein shocks as well.

I do have a Reese 16k slider hitch but never use it I keep it in the towing position. The dealer got me for that since they were not sure it would hit but a lot of the newer fifth wheels have rounded front caps.

[Cujo7240]

Originally Posted by arter368rlbhk

E trailer does sell leaf spring spacer block kits that can raise the 5ver as well

Can you provide a link to spacer block kits on e-Trailer? I could not find anything on these on their site. I did contact e-Trailer about this issue a while back and they suggested I install taller spring hangers to lift my RV.

[larrytbm]

The equalizer is not perfect, so the rear axle will carry more weight. But more critical will be the loss of suspension travel when not level, hit a bump or pothole and the supension "bottoms out" and the increased shock load affects every aspect of the trailer.

The best way to level the trailer is with a sub frame addition. Spring hangers are cut off, box steel welded to the bottom of the frame members along with cross braces between the frame rails. Then new hangers are welded to the box steel. This levels the trailer and strengthens the frame at the same time.

Can't answer why a one ton is squatting so much with an empty Wildcat, but you really will be happier with a level fiver.

[ard58]

Originally Posted by SlowrideHD

Your setup doesn't reflect everything I have seen. I have a 37 ft fifth wheel and it only squats my truck 1.25 inches when I hook up. (I have a 2016 F350). Once I hook up, I can check my front to rear level using my "Levelup" indicator and it reads 0.0 front to rear. I do have Firestone airbags under my truck but that's because I occasionally move my dozer on a gooseneck trailer and it's pretty heavy. Pulling my fifth wheel, I just have the minimum 10 psi in the air bags. I also probably have about 6 inches of clearance between the top of my bedside and the bottom surface of the fifth wheel. Unless your setup is actually squatting your truck more than a couple of inches (I don't see how) I think I'd just adjust my headlights a bit lower and carry on.

I wouldn't adjust headlights. I'm sure you do more night driving w/o the 5th wheel, so that would make for poor lighting issues.

[larrytbm]

Originally Posted by Cujo7240

Can you provide a link to spacer block kits on e-Trailer? I could not find anything on these on their site. I did contact e-Trailer about this issue a while back and they suggested I install taller spring hangers to lift my RV.

Longer spring hangers are a risk, lateral forces acting on the longer hanger frequently leads to hanger failure. Or if the hangers are strong enough, in extreme cases the main frame rails of the trailer will roll sideways.

[maskins]

I have 2017 wildcat 327RE being towed by a 2005 silverado 2500 duramax I am at the max capacity of the truck but it still pulls well. I added airbags and replaced the factory shocks with blistein. I'm planning on the camper out lasting the truck. I've had it for 10 years and hope to get a few more out of it. It also doens't sit as high as the new ones.

The numbers below are just for reference.
The published pin weight is 1712. The pin weight at scale is 1900. The fresh water tank had a 1/3 of a tank or less and the black and grey tanks were empty.

[Blender]

Originally Posted by maskins

I have 2017 wildcat 327RE being towed by a 2005 silverado 2500 duramax I am at the max capacity of the truck but it still pulls well. I added airbags and replaced the factory shocks with blistein. I'm planning on the camper out lasting the truck. I've had it for 10 years and hope to get a few more out of it. It also doens't sit as high as the new ones.

The numbers below are just for reference.
The published pin weight is 1712. The pin weight at scale is 1900. The fresh water tank had a 1/3 of a tank or less and the black and grey tanks were empty.

Bilsteins is the way to go with air bags!!!!

[Cujo7240]

Where do most people go to weigh their RV's and what do they charge for this service on average?

[maskins]

Originally Posted by Cujo7240

Where do most people go to weigh their RV's and what do they charge for this service on average?

https://weighmytruck.com/how-to-use

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Cujo7240

Where do most people go to weigh their RV's and what do they charge for this service on average?

Go here and make the site give you locations. Also, I think you'll find cost info. here.
https://catscale.com/cat-scale-locator/

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Cujo7240

Where do most people go to weigh their RV's and what do they charge for this service on average?

CAT scales are probably the most common.
Many folks (including myself) have found landscaping yards and stone/coal yards (most all have scales to sell by weight) to be very accommodating. Especially on a not so busy weekday.

[Blender]

Originally Posted by 5picker

CAT scales are probably the most common.

Many folks (including myself) have found landscaping yards and stone/coal yards (most all have scales to sell by weight) to be very accommodating. Especially on a not so busy weekday.

Catscales

[5picker]

Originally Posted by 5picker
CAT scales are probably the most common.

Many folks (including myself) have found landscaping yards and stone/coal yards (most all have scales to sell by weight) to be very accommodating. Especially on a not so busy weekday.

Originally Posted by Blender

Catscales

Were you agreeing with me or correcting me somehow?