Lifting 5th wheel for larger tires - Page 2

Larry-NC · 12-13-2018, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wde

You are correct, I misspoke.
My springs are over the axles so adding the 1.5 in blocks will raise the trailer 1.5 in plus the 16 in tires will add another 1.25 in to total trailer height.
The block kits I am looking at actually come with the longer u-bolts and they are 9/16 grade 8 bolts instead of the factory 1/2 grade 5 bolts.

Will you have to drill the saddles from 1/2" to 5/8"? Are the holes far enough from the edge to allow this?

Good luck!

Larry

dnicoll · 12-13-2018, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wde

Axles are over springs, so the only options are the blocks or the Lippert kit.

Not sure if I have this right? But if the axles are OVER the springs, couldn’t you flip the axles? Some of the new trucks are so high, that some fifth’s need to be raised. Flipping the axle to under the springs will provide additional clearance? Of course this will raise trailer ground clearance, which could make the first step a little high. I ‘believe’ there are kits available and (maybe this is the kit you are thinking of?).

boatcat AH6NR · 12-13-2018, 07:46 PM

You haven't said what the fiver is, model, size?
You say the axles are over the springs. To me that means the axles are between the springs and rig.
If so flip the axles and put springs on top. You will have to unbolt drums and flip them also.
????

SilhouettePenny · 12-13-2018, 08:03 PM

Correct Track will give you 2" of lift, 16" wheels will give you more options when choosing tire replacements and you also have the ability to adjust any alignment issues. I did this exact upgrade 4 years ago on a 10k lb 5th wheel. 40k miles on a set of Westlake rubber and they still looked good when we traded last month. Balance your wheels and maintain greasable suspension components and roll on.

RJHuser · 12-13-2018, 08:21 PM

You could change also the tire profile (sidewall aspect).

If you have, say, 235/85R-15 (30.7” dia.) and to go to 235/80R-16 (30.8” dia.) or 235/75R-16 (29.9” dia.) you would get back some of the overall tire diameter change going from 15 to 16 tires.

By the Sailun S637 are good tires, as good or better as Goodyear G614 at the half the price. It is a commercial trailer tire.

Rick

spock123 · 12-13-2018, 09:27 PM

Why not just get the Endurance tires they are about 2 inches taller than the Goodyear G614 and carry more weight. I have the G614 Goodyear’s and the Lippert Correct Track on my Cedar Creek. I have three years and many many miles and the tires look great. Also buy a set of TPMS that you trust, I have TST 507

onetonford · 12-13-2018, 09:57 PM

I know looking at his profile that he has a Wildcat but still don't know what model. Also most trailers with 15 inch tires usually have six bolt axles which are around 6000 pound and the 15 inch maxxis are rated to almost the max of the axles. so my question is what axles does he have are they 8 bolt and what are the ratings?

wde · 12-14-2018, 09:05 AM

I actually put Maxxis tires on my previous 5th wheel with excellent results.But on this camper I would still be right at the weight limit even with E rated Maxxis 15 inch tires.
Not a good place to be.
This particular 5th wheel should have come from the factory with 16 inch wheels and tires.

Thanks for the input.

Steve

wde · 12-14-2018, 09:07 AM

Kit comes with new plate made for this size and width spring.

wde · 12-14-2018, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spock123

Why not just get the Endurance tires they are about 2 inches taller than the Goodyear G614 and carry more weight. I have the G614 Goodyear’s and the Lippert Correct Track on my Cedar Creek. I have three years and many many miles and the tires look great. Also buy a set of TPMS that you trust, I have TST 507

The Goodyear Endurance is the tire I am going with.
I actually already have an excellent TPMS, the bad part is that my TPMS was showing correct inflation at the exact moment the OEM tire totally blew apart. The tire had already lost the tread before the inflation fell below low level trigger point. Not much the TPMS can do about pathetic tires !!

Thanks for the reply,

Steve

wde · 12-14-2018, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnicoll

Not sure if I have this right? But if the axles are OVER the springs, couldn’t you flip the axles? Some of the new trucks are so high, that some fifth’s need to be raised. Flipping the axle to under the springs will provide additional clearance? Of course this will raise trailer ground clearance, which could make the first step a little high. I ‘believe’ there are kits available and (maybe this is the kit you are thinking of?).

I let my typing hand get ahead of my brain !!
The springs are above the axle on my 5th wheel, so will need to install some sort of lift to get clearance.

wde · 12-14-2018, 09:21 AM

I misspoke, the springs are over the axle on my 5th wheel

nayther · 12-14-2018, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wde

I misspoke, the springs are over the axle on my 5th wheel

Then an axle flip will LOWER the rig.

spock123 · 12-14-2018, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wde

The Goodyear Endurance is the tire I am going with.
I actually already have an excellent TPMS, the bad part is that my TPMS was showing correct inflation at the exact moment the OEM tire totally blew apart. The tire had already lost the tread before the inflation fell below low level trigger point. Not much the TPMS can do about pathetic tires !!

Thanks for the reply,

Steve

How tall is your Wildcat

Airdale · 12-16-2018, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wde

I misspoke, the springs are over the axle on my 5th wheel

To save the expense of fooling around with chassis components why don't you just get some ST225/75R15 LRF tires rated at 3195# at 95 PSI. You'll have to also get new wheels but they're probably much less expensive than the labor and movement of the axles.

Greenball has them and the wheels. Steel cased to boot.
http://www.greenball.com/brands/tow-...onstruction-st

762vram2043 · 12-20-2018, 08:27 PM

We put both the Trailer Blocks and Lippert Correct Trac on our 5er in 2016 to get rig more level. No issues with either, have towed about 17000 miles this way so far.

sunnyinfla · 12-20-2018, 09:02 PM

Look for tires at simple tire.com...i put 15ply saloons on mine and it rides so much better and i fell much xafer..

**Tireman9** · 12-20-2018, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wde

The reason is that I just got through having $3200 worth of repairs done from damage caused by a tire blowout on a less than 1 year old camper.
The pathetic tires that Forest River put on this camper combined with the fact that they are rated just at the trailers weight capacity made me decide to go to larger rims so I could install better tires with more margin for weight capacity.

Was the tire failure a belt separation or a run low flex failure? Have you read THIS post? Do you run a TPMS?

What is your cold inflation? What are the actual loads on your tires?

**Tireman9** · 12-20-2018, 09:22 PM

Side issue. If the axle is above the springs why can't you jack up the axle with the jack only contacting the springs? Aren't there spring plates and U bolts attaching and locating the spring to the axle?

18CrewDually · 12-20-2018, 11:09 PM

Man I wish people would read the whole thread before commenting.

Anyways, post #36 I agree with doing that if you really need the space.
When I went to 16" wheels on my Wildcat I did not need any lift. But I did swap out for the wet bolt and 1/2" thick longer shackles so that added a little height.

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