Towing level

Greenjeans · 05-12-2015, 08:31 AM

We are towing our 2015 Eagle HT 27.5 RLTS with a 2015 GMC 2500HD 4X4. The hitch in the truck bed is as low as it will go and there is 6" of clearance between the bottom of the trailer and the top of the truck sides. The top of the hitch is 53 1/2" from ground. The bottom of the pin box is 48" from the ground when trailer is level, the truck squats 2" when trailer is hooked up leaving the trailer 3 1/2" out of level, nose up while towing. The leaf springs on the trailer are mounted in the top hole of the trailer frame brackets. The frame brackets have a hole 2 1/4" below the top hole. Is it worth the effort to "raise" the trailer by mounting the springs in the bottom hole which should get us to 1 1/4" from level?

UPCamper · 05-12-2015, 09:07 AM

Wow, that's a lot of dimensions. I don't know if I'd monkey with it personally. I guess it depends on how it rides and looks. Do you have a pic of it from the side? I tow a HT29.5BHDS with my F350 and its not perfectly level but it's fine. Rides well and doesn't look goofy. I thought about raising mine somehow but my outside kitchen is already really high as are my other exterior things like awning adjustments, steps and such. Don't know if I'd want everything high yet.

UPC

rryman · 05-12-2015, 10:37 AM

When we picked ours up, the service tech at the dealer said that some of the HT's will ride a little high if you are pulling with a F250 or 2500 or larger. He said that they were designed to pull with a 150/1500 which sits a little lower. Mine rode pretty well level, I think being 2wd it is slightly lower than a 4wd. When I installed the Sidewinder, the pin was 2" lower than the stock pin box. I lowered the hitch into the last notch to hopefully compensate for some of the difference.

huronwoods · 05-12-2015, 08:39 PM

Switch the springs into the lower holes on the brackets. This is exactly why Jayco provide multiple holes. We had to do this with our Pinnacle/GMC3500 combination, and now the Pinnacle is exactly level.

Towing will be more stable, weight distribution will be better, and if you ever spend overnight in the fifthwheel hooked up to the truck, you will be more comfortable.

rryman · 05-12-2015, 09:38 PM

……………..The leaf springs on the trailer are mounted in the top hole of the trailer frame brackets. The frame brackets have a hole 2 1/4" below the top hole………….
=====
That must have been a change from the 14's to the 15 models. Our spring brackets have only one hole, at the lower end of the bracket.

PETERS · 05-12-2015, 11:11 PM

Do it you will be happy. I did the same. Also bought a wet bolt kit. Easy to remove plastic bushings and use a c clamp to press in the brass ones.

I have a 2014 31.5 RLTS
2012 F 350

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imjustdave · 05-13-2015, 02:28 PM

I did. . And recommend it. Also 6" clearance isn't exactly a lot. I say go up. Worst case you go back down

F14man · 05-13-2015, 04:27 PM

Had similar problem. I had the leaf springs dropped to the lower hanger hole, still wanted more, so purchase 16" rims and 235/80 tries. Rides level now and smoother. Had the wheels balanced.

Jmooney · 05-13-2015, 04:32 PM

how about a couple of pictures from underneath of the completed change - I think I need to do this as well as I am nose high without any pin box adjustment left.

F14man · 05-13-2015, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmooney

how about a couple of pictures from underneath of the completed change - I think I need to do this as well as I am nose high without any pin box adjustment left.

here you go

Diesel Mike1 · 05-13-2015, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenjeans

The top of the hitch is 53 1/2" from ground. The bottom of the pin box is 48" from the ground when trailer is level

Does anyone know if the 2014 level pin box measurement is the same as this? We pick ours up next week and im trying to determine if it is going to ride level or not. I measured my fifth wheel hitch today and it is at 48" from the ground on the lowest setting.

rryman · 05-13-2015, 07:52 PM

Diesel Mike, I recently replaced our stock pin box with a Sidewinder. The sidewinder when installed was 2" lower than the stock pin box. I just measured the Sidewinder, and it is 48 1/2" from the bottom of the plate that rests on the 5th wheel to the ground. So, if you add two inches to that, it should be about 50 to 50 1/2" for your stock pin box.

Diesel Mike1 · 05-13-2015, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rryman

Diesel Mike, I recently replaced our stock pin box with a Sidewinder. The sidewinder when installed was 2" lower than the stock pin box. I just measured the Sidewinder, and it is 48 1/2" from the bottom of the plate that rests on the 5th wheel to the ground. So, if you add two inches to that, it should be about 50 to 50 1/2" for your stock pin box.

Thanks, if I raise it up to the next setting, it should be about right then.

williemartin · 06-02-2015, 06:46 PM

I have a question concerning those of you who have moved your leaf springs to the lower holes. Did you do it yourself or did you have the service people at the dealership do it for you. If you did it yourself how did you get the unit up off the ground to move the leaf springs. I have a 2012 31. 5 RLTS. I am pulling it with a 2004 Ford F 350 with a 6 inch lift kit installed. The unit is riding knows high and I would like to level it out.

Jmooney · 06-02-2015, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by williemartin

I have a question concerning those of you who have moved your leaf springs to the lower holes. Did you do it yourself or did you have the service people at the dealership do it for you. If you did it yourself how did you get the unit up off the ground to move the leaf springs. I have a 2012 31. 5 RLTS. I am pulling it with a 2004 Ford F 350 with a 6 inch lift kit installed. The unit is riding knows high and I would like to level it out.

I'm considering it too and would like to know hard this is to do with a floor jack, jack stands and a impact wrench

F14man · 06-02-2015, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by williemartin

I have a question concerning those of you who have moved your leaf springs to the lower holes. Did you do it yourself or did you have the service people at the dealership do it for you. If you did it yourself how did you get the unit up off the ground to move the leaf springs. I have a 2012 31. 5 RLTS. I am pulling it with a 2004 Ford F 350 with a 6 inch lift kit installed. The unit is riding knows high and I would like to level it out.

I had a local Jayco dealer recommended a trailer dealer (St Augustine, FL)to me because they didn't have time to it. I called them and they did it $350 installing new wet shackle bolts. I figured for that price it was worth it. Otherwise I would have been buying new tools, etc.

PETERS · 06-02-2015, 07:51 PM

Did mine myself. Bought a wet bolt kiT from Amazon just under 100.00. Bottle jack to lift by the frame. Jack stands under frame for safety. Floor jack to support axel and move it around (can be a wrestling match) . I do have air tools makes it a bit faster. Removed bolts lowered down pushed out plastic bushings installed brass ones with c clamp. Reinstall in lower holes. About 4 hours total. Way less if your not doing wet bolt kit. Easy just nuts and bolts.

Peter 2014 31.5RLTS 2012 F350 w air bags. Bilsteins.

Greenjeans · 06-03-2015, 05:46 AM

I also did it myself exactly like PETERS aboved with the help of a son in law. Left trailer attached to the truck. Used a battery impact driver, Mor/ryde wet bolt kit, took 2-3 hrs. Make sure to take tires off for weight reduction and room to work. We did one tire/axle at a time. Not bad

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