Towing Level

Damdannyboy · 08-01-2017, 09:40 PM

Hi, We're looking into the Eagle and Eagle HT lines of 5th wheels, rumored has it that some have trouble getting HT model to tow level with 3/4 and 1 tons ?

jonesykay · 08-01-2017, 09:46 PM

We did due diligence in researching - going from a 2000 Kiwi to an HT 27.5 LRST. Very happy with the F250. Actually took it to our 5R dealer to check it out w/us before we sealed the deal. Now just waiting on Jayco to deliver.

cariboocreek · 08-01-2017, 10:18 PM

I am 4 inches nose high. Tows like a champ.

Ruth · 08-02-2017, 01:23 AM

Have an Eagle HT 27.5 RKDS and tow level with an 07 2500HD. I believe a problem with the newer trucks are the 18 and 20 inch tires Ford, Dodge, and GM are using. Trucks are higher now than in years past.

repacs0103 · 08-02-2017, 01:36 AM

Wheel diameter doesn't make too much difference because the overall diameter of the tire stays very similar from 16 to 17, 18, 20 or 22". The manufacturers do that intentionally, otherwise transmission and axle ratios would be completely out of sync between wheel packages.

As cariboocreek said above, don't sweat it. I'm 3-4" nose high behind my 350 as well. It tows great and I have no reason to be concerned. 4" over the length of a 30-40' 5th wheel is hardly even noticeable.

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SouthCo · 08-02-2017, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by repacs0103

Wheel diameter doesn't make too much difference because the overall diameter of the tire stays very similar from 16 to 17, 18, 20 or 22". The manufacturers do that intentionally, otherwise transmission and axle ratios would be completely out of sync between wheel packages.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

X2. I've seen a few post lately saying the taller wheel is the reason the trucks sit higher and it's not the case. They put tires with shorter sidewalls on the taller wheels so the overall diameter is the same.

Force · 08-02-2017, 08:20 AM

See my sig for truck & trailer. I'm about 3 or 4" at the nose, have towed maybe around 3K miles so far w/o issue.

citgodan · 08-02-2017, 10:12 AM

I have a 2015 F250 4x4 with SC (no mods) and no issues. I am almost level -maybe 1.5" high in front but can't tell. No issues.

vikefan7 · 08-02-2017, 11:31 AM

2017 Ram 2500 - 6" nose high and miserable, 4" clearance at tailgate. It tows great but i've scraped a bike rack at the back and the tow hitch getting into graded entries. And i've also dented the underside of the fw due to elevation changes of about 4". Not sure if I don't know what i'm doing, which is a possibility, or if these would all be solved if i was running level.

bdreinv · 08-02-2017, 11:55 AM

Have 06 Ram 1 ton dully 16 Eagle 321RSTS never touches the overload springs. Added air bag in 2006 for our toy hauler, don't use them anymore!

vcbice · 08-03-2017, 10:42 AM

If you are talking about 4x4's and towing level (any brand truck) then you are correct. Some will not. Ours is about 4" high in front. Next time I need tires I will go up to 16" wheels and tires.

FWIW, it isn't that big a deal.

davisenvy · 08-03-2017, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikefan7

2017 Ram 2500 - 6" nose high and miserable, 4" clearance at tailgate. It tows great but i've scraped a bike rack at the back and the tow hitch getting into graded entries. And i've also dented the underside of the fw due to elevation changes of about 4". Not sure if I don't know what i'm doing, which is a possibility, or if these would all be solved if i was running level.

I have a 2016 Ram 2500 pulling a 2016 29.5 BHDS and had the same problem as you. I took my camper to a machine shop and had them fabricate 4 inch blocks to go over the axles w/ upgraded u bolts along with drop the leaf springs to the bottom hole ($600). I got around 6 inches lift and it's almost perfect. Tows great and got rid of most of the chucking. I am still on 15 in wheels. Not sure if I"ll upgrade or not. This got me a little more than 7 inches bed rail clearance.

Higher ground to bed floor clearance and deeper bed (taller bedrails) makes it a real pain to get these trailers figured out.

Bobx2 · 08-03-2017, 11:41 AM

The light pin weight on these light weight 5th wheels is a disadvantage with these new taller pickups. A heavier pin compresses the suspension, and gives you a chance to over come the high beds. Don't know why they think they have to make them sit higher and higher. All about macho looks I guess. Anyhow, a little nose high doesn't hurt a thing.

JaycoAl · 08-05-2017, 01:36 PM

I'm fairly certain the HT line is the half ton towable from Jayco. It doesn't have enough pin weight (for a 3/4 or 1 ton truck) to compress the springs enough to level it out. Towing nose high puts more weight on the rear axle and tires of the 5er. The result is not always positive.

Ruth · 08-05-2017, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaycoAl

I'm fairly certain the HT line is the half ton towable from Jayco. It doesn't have enough pin weight (for a 3/4 or 1 ton truck) to compress the springs enough to level it out. Towing nose high puts more weight on the rear axle and tires of the 5er. The result is not always positive.

Well, I have an HT I tow level with a 2007 Silverado 2500 HD. It does compress the springs on my truck ever so slightly, but compressed none the less...I would not tow an HT with a 1/2 ton, no matter that Jayco says it heir HTs are 1/2 ton towable.

vcbice · 08-05-2017, 02:32 PM

The HT line is advertised as half ton towable. Maybe the smallest one or the TT versions could be towed with a half ton. Not the larger ones.

Mine has a pin weight over 1600lb WITHOUT any options from the factory. Mine when loaded has a pin weight around 1900lb and could go higher. GVWR is 11,000lb so a 2200lb pin weight would not be out of bounds. There aren't many half ton trucks that could handle that much weight in the box.

I had to put overload springs on mine to keep it from hitting the bump stops on a regular basis. That was about 6" of spring compression on a 3/4T truck.

So please do not make any assumptions about what a truck will do with these trailers. The HT line goes from 29ft at 9950lb to a 37ft at 12000lb.

sailor · 08-05-2017, 03:32 PM

Towing a multi axle trailer that is not level transfers weight from one axle to the other. This could result in overloaded axles and tires.
It is my opinion that all ht 5th wheels are not towable by all half ton trucks. It seems that many crew and club cab trucks would be overloaded by the larger ht 5th wheels.

vcbice · 08-05-2017, 06:03 PM

And some of them would be overloaded by the smaller ones.

REWahoo · 08-05-2017, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damdannyboy

Hi, We're looking into the Eagle and Eagle HT lines of 5th wheels, rumored has it that some have trouble getting HT model to tow level with 3/4 and 1 tons ?

Here is a photo of my Eagle HT (16" wheels) with my Chevy 2500HD 4x4 (18" wheels). You can see that it is a couple of inches nose high - not enough to require any modification. The TPMS shows the rear tires maintain the same temp/pressure as the front tires, indicating no real difference in loading on the two axles.

starcraft69 · 08-05-2017, 06:36 PM

2015 HT 28.5 I tow 3" nose high towing with 2007 2500 HD silverado 6.0 We have over 15,000 miles on it and she tows like a dream. I did replace factory tires with carlisle HD tires. To deal with any weight transfer to rear tires I rotate them front to back every 5000 miles. I as others have said I would never tow this rig with 1/2 ton truck no way.

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