Truck bed clearance and trailer level

[BLTravels]

That is a lot of information and every setup will be different but on the surface, it looks like you are going to be riding very high in the front. You are 10" higher in the rear than my 2500 and after loading up with "my gear" in both truck and trailer I am still nose high but not too bad. But I would like it a little lower. Level is pretty low on these HTs and I can't imagine you can load it enough to drop it far enough.

[JaycoJoe66]

I have a 2019 HT Eagle 29.5BOK on a 2017 2500HD Crew Cab. I have a 16K reese slider 5th wheel. My drop in bed height is a maximum of 1.5 inches. Factory quoted pin weight is 1780lbs I weighed it fully loaded for camping and run close to 2100lbs on pin.

[Genr8rs]

A follow up to my original post.

I have a 2014 2500 HD Crew 4x4 Z71 6.0. and a Eagle HT 27.5 RLTS.

My combined GVW of both truck and 5r was 16780lbs. Eagle alone GVW 9240lbs,Truck GVW 7540lbs,
Eagle GVW hitched 7400lbs with a hitch/pin GVW 1840lbs. With the Moride suspension the weight on the front axle was 3720lbs and the rear was 3680lbs, a dif of 40lbs.
With the camper sitting nose high enough to give me 4.5" clearance to the bed rail tops, I was very impressed with only 40lbs dif in axle weights.

[Radcolt]

I will probably have to remove the Roadmaster Active suspension which is easy to do to allow for more rear end sag. I also may have to look at a heavier fifth wheel. Maybe opt for a 317RLOK or a 319MLOK which have tongue weights over 2000 lbs dry weight and are just over 35’ in length.

[NewBlackDak]

Originally Posted by Radcolt

I am looking at the Jayco Eagle HT trailers. Dealer is getting a bunch in this week. I have 2018 Ram 3500 MegaCab short bed SRW 4x4 diesel with 20” tires. We just sold our Merhow 3 horse trailer with 15 foot living quarters. With two quarter horses, hay, tack, and gear, it had a confirmed tongue weight of 3300 lbs. I used to pull my previous fifth wheel with a 2013 F250 SRW 4x4 diesel with a pullrite slider with no clearance issues. I upgraded to the Ram due to the increased payload capacity (4100 lbs) and beefier suspension to pull this heavy horse trailer. I also added a Roadmaster Active Suspension to the Ram to help with body roll and a better ride when pulling the heavy horse trailer.

Looking at the specs on the HT fivers, the tongue weight is just over 1000 lbs. The Roadmaster Active suspension did raise my bed height an inch. I am currently sitting at 58” at the axles and 59” at the tailgate. It is easy to remove it if I need to gain an inch, but it makes for a smoother ride when not towing. I will need to by a Reese rail adapter to fit into the Rams puck system so I can use my Pullrite slider. This will raise the hitch about 2”. It sounds like I will need to opt for 16” tires and adjust the holes for max height on the new HT trailer.

I guess my question is how much bed sag should I expect on these HT Eagle trailers. I really would like a trailer under 35” and the price on the HT series is more in line with what I want to spend. They seem to be great value with a lot of similar features to the higher end Jayco fivers.

Thanks for any input.

I know the leafs and coils are different, but my 2500 deflects less than an inch with 1000lbs in the bed. I had a 275G water tote in the bed(they’re about 2200lbs loaded) and the truck still had some rake.

I don’t think your truck will even notice the pin weight of an Eagle HT.

[Radcolt]

Originally Posted by NewBlackDak

I know the leafs and coils are different, but my 2500 deflects less than an inch with 1000lbs in the bed. I had a 275G water tote in the bed(they’re about 2200lbs loaded) and the truck still had some rake.

I don’t think your truck will even notice the pin weight of an Eagle HT.

The pin weight is not the issue. It sounds like I will be way nose high in order to get clearance. A heavier pin weight will lower the rear end and allow the nose to ride closer to level. I have seen posts of people modifying the trailer, but I personally would rather not go that route.

[BLTravels]

Originally Posted by Genr8rs

A follow up to my original post.

I have a 2014 2500 HD Crew 4x4 Z71 6.0. and a Eagle HT 27.5 RLTS.

My combined GVW of both truck and 5r was 16780lbs. Eagle alone GVW 9240lbs,Truck GVW 7540lbs,
Eagle GVW hitched 7400lbs with a hitch/pin GVW 1840lbs. With the Moride suspension the weight on the front axle was 3720lbs and the rear was 3680lbs, a dif of 40lbs.
With the camper sitting nose high enough to give me 4.5" clearance to the bed rail tops, I was very impressed with only 40lbs dif in axle weights.

Genr8rs, I am curious as to where and how you weighed your axles separately.

[Joan617]

Originally Posted by BLTravels

Genr8rs, I am curious as to where and how you weighed your axles separately.

Until Genr8rs answers, I can share with you that the Escapees Rv Parks have what they call "Smartweigh" service. They weigh on axle at a time with a separate scale for left and right. They use portable scales that look like big bathroom scales on steroids. Then the "WeighMaster' will go over the results with a detailed analysis and then provide recommendations, if needed.


Angus

[NewBlackDak]

Originally Posted by Radcolt

The pin weight is not the issue. It sounds like I will be way nose high in order to get clearance. A heavier pin weight will lower the rear end and allow the nose to ride closer to level. I have seen posts of people modifying the trailer, but I personally would rather not go that route.

Trust me I know. I put mine on the lowest hanger bolts, and installed a CRE3000. I’m at the max trailer height now, and still riding about 5” high at the nose. That gets me 5.5” of clearance. I posted a picture in another thread, when the trailer is level I drop the tailgate and back under it and only have about 6” from bottom of hitch to bed.

The truck and trailer manufacturers need to get together.

[Radcolt]

Originally Posted by NewBlackDak

Trust me I know. I put mine on the lowest hanger bolts, and installed a CRE3000. I’m at the max trailer height now, and still riding about 5” high at the nose. That gets me 5.5” of clearance. I posted a picture in another thread, when the trailer is level I drop the tailgate and back under it and only have about 6” from bottom of hitch to bed.

The truck and trailer manufacturers need to get together.

If you don’t mind me asking, what is the height of your truck from ground to bed at the rear axle and tailgate.

[NewBlackDak]

Originally Posted by Radcolt

If you don’t mind me asking, what is the height of your truck from ground to bed at the rear axle and tailgate.

58.5 at the axle 60.5 at the tailgate.

[BLTravels]

Originally Posted by Joan617

Until Genr8rs answers, I can share with you that the Escapees Rv Parks have what they call "Smartweigh" service. They weigh on axle at a time with a separate scale for left and right. They use portable scales that look like big bathroom scales on steroids. Then the "WeighMaster' will go over the results with a detailed analysis and then provide recommendations, if needed.


Angus

Thanks Angus. I am familiar with them and the RV Safety Institute offering that service. But they are never anywhere near where I am or worth driving all the way to them. I don't want to hijack this thread and might start a new one to ask how others are weighing without having that service. I only have CAT scales available.

[Radcolt]

My bed rails actually sets lower than yours. I just remeasured and I am at 58.25 at the axle and 59 at the gate. The dealer just measured a leveled 2021 Eagle 30.5 ckts which is 47” to from the ground to the pin level. This model has the 16” wheels and moryde suspension on it also.

[cgalutera1]

I have an Eagle HT with a 2015 2500 Ram. These trucks are tall from the factory. I had to move the rv axles below the leafsprings and added blocks to raise. I have 5-6 inch clearance.

[Jlomedic]

Cgalutera1- how does the trailer pull with the blocks?

[Dan61]

Originally Posted by BLTravels

Thanks Angus. I am familiar with them and the RV Safety Institute offering that service. But they are never anywhere near where I am or worth driving all the way to them. I don't want to hijack this thread and might start a new one to ask how others are weighing without having that service. I only have CAT scales available.

You can weight axles on a cat scale. There are three platforms .. steers, drives and trailer for big rigs. All are separated by angle iron , you’ll see them when you pull on the scale. Split your axles on separate platforms by centering the iron between them. There’s a call box at the front of the scale, might want to bring a step ladder it semi cab level. Your ticket will read steers, drives and trailer. More than
Likely drives and trailer will be your weights. Hope this helps

[billcf7]

I use the inspection weigh station scales when they are closed, most leave the scales on. Also you can pull off to the side and weigh one wheel at a time and then back up and do the other side

[BLTravels]

Originally Posted by cgalutera1

I have an Eagle HT with a 2015 2500 Ram. These trucks are tall from the factory. I had to move the rv axles below the leafsprings and added blocks to raise. I have 5-6 inch clearance.

I would like to get more information on the "blocks" you installed and how does it handle?
Have others done this successfully?
Thanks

[cgalutera1]

My trailer with blocks pull just fine. All it did was raise the RV so that I have the 5-6 inch clearance on top of my 2015 ram 2500 longbed diesel. The riser blocks was installed by Curtis trailers in Beaverton Oregon. the install was around $700. The blocks were very cheap.