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Old 12-14-2012, 04:21 PM   #1
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Fifth wheel leveling

Question: we have a 2013 jayco Eagle HT 23.5 fifth wheel.
Our truck is 4x4 and too high. The pin on the fifth wheel is at the max (no room for adjustment), we use the Superglide hitch and the fifth wheel axles are already flipped.
On the truck, we have timbrens.
The trailer is about 4 inches low in the back. I need a way to get it level. I'm told i could get brackets or something to bring the trailer up but my concern is with the center of gravity. The other thing I could do is get a spacer out from the timbrens letting the truck settle a bit more but this may affect the ride and probably won't give me anymore than two inches off the back of the trailer.
Suggestion?
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Old 12-14-2012, 04:57 PM   #2
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Can you drill an extra set of holes in the Pin Box, to move it up a bit? I did this on my previous trailer.

You say the axles are already flipped. They're mounted below the spring? If it came this way from the factory, I don't see where lifting it a bit will change the center of gravity much.
I lifted a trailer 4" without any noticeable change in towing ability.
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Old 12-14-2012, 06:02 PM   #3
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Fifth wheel leveling

Quote:
Originally Posted by chipper View Post
Can you drill an extra set of holes in the Pin Box, to move it up a bit? I did this on my previous trailer.

You say the axles are already flipped. They're mounted below the spring? If it came this way from the factory, I don't see where lifting it a bit will change the center of gravity much.
I lifted a trailer 4" without any noticeable change in towing ability.
The pin box is all the way up against the cap already, the rv dealer said they'd have to cut into the box to bring it up. Not an option.

Yes, the axles came flipped right from the factory, not sure why.
Is there a way to calculate the Center of gravity.
How much would I need (to get it) to lift it to regain the 4" drop on the rear? Also, How much is acceptable? Maybe get it lifted just enough...?
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Old 12-14-2012, 07:13 PM   #4
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Not absolutely positive, but I would calculate it this way. If the trailer were sitting unhitched with a 4 inch rise in the front and corresponding 4 inch drop in the back, it would take a 2 inch drop in the front to raise the rear 2 inches, and then it should be level. Therefore, a 2 inch lift at the axles in the center (pivot) should give you the desired height to be level when hitched. JMHO. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my logic.
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Old 12-14-2012, 07:16 PM   #5
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Fifth wheel leveling

Thanks
Trailer is 143" high now, that would bring it up to 145 " does that sound like a reasonable height? How about center of gravity?
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Old 12-15-2012, 12:10 PM   #6
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An easy way to figure how much to lift the axles would be to pull the 5er up on blocks until it becomes level.


Then if you lift it I wouldn't corner to fast.
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Old 12-15-2012, 12:13 PM   #7
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Fifth wheel leveling

I wish I wouldn't have to do this.
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Old 12-15-2012, 12:36 PM   #8
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We experienced the same problem- In our case, the rear of the 4x4 tv was much higher than the front- We used aftermarket shackles to level the rear of the tv- This plus flipping the axles solved our problem- I am more concerned with towing level than I am about raising the center of gravity- JMHO- DD
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Old 12-15-2012, 12:40 PM   #9
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Fifth wheel leveling

Not much space between tires and wheel well, 20"tires.
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Old 12-15-2012, 02:04 PM   #10
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Your set-up.


I'd add 3" spacers between the axles and springs.
3" won't noticeable difference in towing; and shouldn't through off the center of gravity to cause any issues.

The photo below is of fifth wheel trailer axles. Spacers were made and installed above the axles.

Attached Thumbnails
imagesCAOYCT01.jpg  
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Old 12-15-2012, 02:05 PM   #11
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Fifth wheel leveling

Yep, that's mine
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Old 12-15-2012, 02:49 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tinlizzie23 View Post
Not absolutely positive, but I would calculate it this way. If the trailer were sitting unhitched with a 4 inch rise in the front and corresponding 4 inch drop in the back, it would take a 2 inch drop in the front to raise the rear 2 inches, and then it should be level. Therefore, a 2 inch lift at the axles in the center (pivot) should give you the desired height to be level when hitched. JMHO. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my logic.
I don't believe this is correct.
The Fulcrum point would be the fifth wheel Pin, not the center of the two axles. Adding spacers at the axles will not lower the front of the trailer(front cap). It will however, raise the entire trailer. The point that will be raised the most, is the farthest point from the Fulcgum.

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Fulcrum point.jpg  
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Old 12-15-2012, 02:53 PM   #13
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I'm by no means a suspension expert.., but installing a spacer block between the leaf springs and axles I wonder what kind of added torque/forces come into play during TV turns, especially on the longer u-bolts? Without some side-to-side reinforcement considerations will the increased distance between (ctr to ctr) the axle to the leaf spring shackles be an issue during TV turns?

Just thinking out loud.

Bob
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Old 12-15-2012, 04:59 PM   #14
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Chipper - perhaps you misunderstood my point. I was not saying that adding 2" height to the axles would lower the front. Instead, I was saying that UN-hitched, you would need to lower the front 2" to get the trailer level. That would mean that, again UN-hitched, level condition would put the pin 2" lower than the hitch socket. Therefore, raising the entire trailer at the axles by 2" would allow you to hitch up in a level condition. JMHO
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Old 12-15-2012, 06:50 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tinlizzie23 View Post
Chipper - perhaps you misunderstood my point. I was not saying that adding 2" height to the axles would lower the front. Instead, I was saying that UN-hitched, you would need to lower the front 2" to get the trailer level. That would mean that, again UN-hitched, level condition would put the pin 2" lower than the hitch socket. Therefore, raising the entire trailer at the axles by 2" would allow you to hitch up in a level condition. JMHO
The problem he is having, is with the 5er hitched to the tv, not un-hitched.
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Old 12-15-2012, 06:52 PM   #16
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Fifth wheel leveling

Quote:
Originally Posted by chipper View Post
The problem he is having, is with the 5er hitched to the tv, not un-hitched.
Just trying to find the best/safest/simplest option
Thanks
Brigitte
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Old 12-15-2012, 09:46 PM   #17
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OK, chipper - one more try. Take your diagram. If he is 4 inches too high in front while hitched, and 4 inches too low in the rear, then raising the trailer in the center by 2 inches should raise the rear by 4 inches, assuming he is still hitched at same height. As in your diagram, pivot (fulcrum) will now be at the hitch. That should make him level.
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Old 12-15-2012, 09:49 PM   #18
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Fifth wheel leveling

Sounds good to me...
That won't bing the front down?
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Old 12-16-2012, 06:53 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tinlizzie23 View Post
OK, chipper - one more try. Take your diagram. If he is 4 inches too high in front while hitched, and 4 inches too low in the rear, then raising the trailer in the center by 2 inches should raise the rear by 4 inches, assuming he is still hitched at same height. As in your diagram, pivot (fulcrum) will now be at the hitch. That should make him level.
See Quote below. The front is not 4" too high.

Quote:
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The trailer is about 4 inches low in the back. I need a way to get it level.
Although, I'll have to agree with you.
A 2" spacing(rise) at the axles should bring it pretty close to level.
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Old 12-16-2012, 09:51 AM   #20
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Fifth wheel leveling

thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.
I will bring the trailer in a trucking shop where they deal with that kind of stuff and get it raised. I was mostly concerned with the height I had to go to and the centre of gravity but sounds like I should not have to worry about raising 5th wheel a couple of inches.
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