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09-03-2016, 10:47 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 92
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Leveling your Fifth Wheel
Hello Everyone,
I recently bought a Rockwood 8982WS
I have a 2015 Ram 2500 short bed. The back of the truck is pretty high from factory. When the dealer installed my Reese hitch 20K, they installed the one with slider for towing/maneuvering with a short bed truck. But they didn't realize that I don't need that since my Rockwood comes with Reese Revolution pin box (this is probably a subject for another discussion).
Now, after leveling the Fifth Wheel the best way possible trying to keep 6 inches off the side of the bed, the "nose" of the unit is a little high. You can also see a little bit more pressure in the rear tires. Should I leave it like this or try to lower the "nose" compromising the distance from the side?
Any experts?
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09-03-2016, 11:14 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,563
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How high is the nose? My sidewinder setup causes me the same problem. I am 1 inch high in the front with the recommended 6" clearance at the tailgate. No problems. I always found if you are within 1 inch of being level then you are good to go. More than an inch? Might have to look at taller tires (if you have room) or a suspension lift.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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09-03-2016, 11:31 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 3,963
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You may be able to drop the hitch a little and maintain 6" - 7" of rail clearance.
__________________
2022 Montana 3855 BR
2019 F350 6.7 4X4 LB Dually
Edgewater 205 EX 150 Yamaha
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09-03-2016, 01:35 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 496
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When I replaced the trailer tires, I went with an 85 series instead of the 80 and that gave me more height in the rear. I always replace the garbage ST tires with commercial grade LTs so that was my fix. Some guys with swap the leaf springs on top of the axel instead of the bottom, or do a lift.
__________________
Doc
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2014 V-Cross Platinum 365VTSB (Bought Labor Day 2014)
TV: 2016 GMC 3500 Denali - Motor Ops Tuned
Days Camped 2016: 28
Days Camped 2017: 25 so far
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09-03-2016, 04:28 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 92
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Leveling Fifth Wheel
Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
How high is the nose? My sidewinder setup causes me the same problem. I am 1 inch high in the front with the recommended 6" clearance at the tailgate. No problems. I always found if you are within 1 inch of being level then you are good to go. More than an inch? Might have to look at taller tires (if you have room) or a suspension lift.
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Yes, it's like 1 inch high in the front.I have no problems pulling it. It just looks not right. You can see the rear tires "taking" more weight and if you want to stop for the night on a rest area or Walmart/Campground ( ), your house is high in front. Just saying!
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09-03-2016, 04:45 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 496
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hman0109
Yes, it's like 1 inch high in the front.I have no problems pulling it. It just looks not right. You can see the rear tires "taking" more weight and if you want to stop for the night on a rest area or Walmart/Campground ( ), your house is high in front. Just saying!
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Bring some nice cut 2x8 or 2x10s and back the coach up on to those if you are just stopping overnight and don't plan to disconnect the RV. That does the Rick for me.
__________________
Doc
____________________________________
2014 V-Cross Platinum 365VTSB (Bought Labor Day 2014)
TV: 2016 GMC 3500 Denali - Motor Ops Tuned
Days Camped 2016: 28
Days Camped 2017: 25 so far
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09-03-2016, 04:54 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 92
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Got it. But don't forget that I'm also talking about the extra weight in your rear tires and axle.
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09-03-2016, 05:01 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 3,963
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hman0109
Got it. But don't forget that I'm also talking about the extra weight in your rear tires and axle.
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Tires and axel. I tow level. On level ground a 4' level is right on. If stopping in a rest area or CB and side to side is off it takes 2 minutes to pull the pin, pull forward 2' and hit the auto level button.
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09-03-2016, 05:29 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 92
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Side to side is not the problem Capt
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09-03-2016, 06:02 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,563
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hman0109
Got it. But don't forget that I'm also talking about the extra weight in your rear tires and axle.
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I can't imagine that if the front is only one inch higher than the back that the load on your rear axle is affected that much. The equalizer for your tandem axles should take care of that. And to fix a one inch difference you only have to raise the back 1/2 an inch, or lower the front the same, which is hard to do as most adjustment holes on hitches are spaced one inch apart. Now if you had a 4 to 5 inch difference I can see where you would have a problem. But I guess the only way for you to be positive about axle load is to go to a scale.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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09-03-2016, 06:07 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 92
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Scott,
I don't know if I'm worry too much. Just want to hear from people with more experience. The idea is to travel perfectly level, right?
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09-03-2016, 06:33 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 3,963
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hman0109
Scott,
I don't know if I'm worry too much. Just want to hear from people with more experience. The idea is to travel perfectly level, right?
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Yes but perfect only comes with luck. 1" will make no difference when towing as road differences will offset that
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09-03-2016, 06:36 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,563
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hman0109
Scott,
I don't know if I'm worry too much. Just want to hear from people with more experience. The idea is to travel perfectly level, right?
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Well... I'm far from an expert on anything😀. We are on our 5th RV and 3 were level and the last 2 were both an inch high in front. I've always been told if you are within an inch of level, you are good to go. Hopefully others will chime in on this.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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09-04-2016, 12:32 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 593
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You may be able to raise trailer pin ox by changing to different holes
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09-04-2016, 04:12 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 92
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Good point. Thanks
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09-04-2016, 04:13 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 92
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Thanks Scott. Yes, it's only an inch.
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09-04-2016, 04:17 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
I can't imagine that if the front is only one inch higher than the back that the load on your rear axle is affected that much. The equalizer for your tandem axles should take care of that. And to fix a one inch difference you only have to raise the back 1/2 an inch, or lower the front the same, which is hard to do as most adjustment holes on hitches are spaced one inch apart. Now if you had a 4 to 5 inch difference I can see where you would have a problem. But I guess the only way for you to be positive about axle load is to go to a scale.
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Measure temperature after towing. If rear wheels are taking more load they will be hotter.
__________________
B and B
2022 Venture RV SportTrek STT 302 VRB Travel Trailer
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Louisville 5th Wheel
2015 Heartland Bighorn 5th Wheel
2013 FR Rockwood 8289WS 5th Wheel
2012 FR Rockwood 2703 SS Travel Trailer
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