Jayco 165 lift - Torflex#10 axle

[Mikemvg]

Wanted to get a bit more clearance under my Jayco 165. Decided to use the Dexter lift kit, even though it has 2 sets of spacer for 2 axles and I only needed one set. I liked the fact that it was made by the axle mfg and like the design better than some of the non OEM tube spacers I have seen. (I am putting the second set of spacers for sale in the classifieds)

The only problem with the install is that Jayco runs the grey water drain under the axle so I had to jog that down and back up. End result is that the grey water drain is no higher than it originally was, but everything else is up 2 1/2". This also gives me enough clearance to go to 14" wheels and tires when it is time to replace the current tires. I am happy with the results. The hardest part was breaking loose the bolts and re-torquing them after installing the spacers.

[Doug]

Good job.
Thinking if I should do this to mine, hmmm
The 14" wheels would be nice too :-)
Thanks for sharing,
Doug

[muelldawg]

Yes, thanks!

[Mister Twister]

Looks nice I don't think that little jog in the pipe will be a problem.

[exjay1]

Nice job. What was the cost of the kit if you dont mind me asking? (You can PM if you like)

[29BHS ECO]

Great job, I wish the 19H had the same axel mounting setup that you had, would have made my job a lot easier. The 19h axel is mted to the outside of the frame instead of under. Larry

[Dwilcox353]

Looks good but you will have a problem with that jog. Is it grey water only? if so main issue is it will freeze and break as it is what we plumbers call "trapped" Water will not drain out of the trapped portion of the pipe. If it is black water it is worse in that you have solids (family friendly term for well you know) that will settle out as it sits there and will slowly plug the pipe.
On a drain pipe, once it starts going down (grading) it can never go up again (back grading) That kinda thing in buildings makes guys like me lots of money.

[exjay1]

I think thats the front grey tank. How about a drain screw thingie at the bottom of the jog? Im not seeing many options here.

[G Bush]

Get it as empty as you can and dump a few gallons of antifreeze in for the winter?

[jdavis92]

NICE! Yeah how much was that and where did you get it? Edit: Part number?

How long did it take you to install them?

I am thinking about 14" wheels as well.

[Mikemvg]

Thanks for the replies. I gave this a lot of thought before I modified the drain line. I am not worried about the jog in the plumbing. It is only grey water. Water seeks its own level so I don't have a problem with draining. In the winter I always flush the water system with antifreeze and run it down the drains, so the jog will end up with antifreeze in it for the winter.

It took me a couple of hours to do. Hardest part was breaking loose the bolts and then re-torquing them.

The lift kit was from Dexter, part # K71 707 02. They only sell the spacer in sets of 4, to do a tandem axle. Since I only needed one set, I am selling the other set in the classifieds. The set of 4 was just under $150 with the shipping.

[Dwilcox353]

Anti-freeze down the drain will do the trick, just make sure you use enough to displace most of the grey water. If it is 1-1/2" pipe as most are then it wont hold more than a couple cups of water so double that and it should push enough out. Make it the last thing you do after the potable water is winterized and other traps are done then dump it all at once down the last trap into the grey water tank and you should be good.

[jdavis92]

Just installed the spacers Mike sold me and it was a piece of cake.

The only problem was one of the compression nuts was pressed to tight and we couldn't get it on the bolt, even using a torque gun (which by the way made the job super easy). So we used one of the old nuts and torqued it down real well.

These make the trailer sit at a height that I am much more comfortable with. The grey/black drains are not in as much danger of bottoming-out. The WDH now functions a little better as the difference in height between my truck and the trailer is now MUCH less than it used to be. Still thinking 14" wheels would be nice when the time comes. That would add another inch of height.

I jogged the grey water pipe, like Mike, however I added a cleanout Tee right in the middle, just in case I feel like draining that low spot. Odd thing though, the pipe coming out the of the grey tank was aimed slightly upwards. So the top of the jogged pipe section is butted up against the bottom of the axle. We ended up putting a piece of rubber between the two pieces and things seem to fit OK. The very worst that happens is that section gets mangled up and I have to do more plumbing work.

Pictures later. Thanks Mike!

[Doug]

Good job Jeff.
I almost bought those too, but just had too much on my plate at the moment.
May be a mod I do later.

Looking forward to pics.

Doug

[G Bush]

I'm putting together a 6 inch lift over the next month or so.

I wanted the drain above the axle and it takes a lot of lift to do that. Some of my camping spots are miles down dirt roads.

Before anyone predicts my death in a fiery crash let me post some pics when I get going. There are a number of trailers out there with a "Baja" version that have a lift of this scale.

My tow rig is tall enough that with the wdh all the way down the trailer is not quite level. This will fix that too.

[G Bush]

Done.

Added structure weighs about 60 pounds. Cost about $110 in materials, half of that was nuts and bolts.

Now I have about 11" below the dump connection.

[jdavis92]

^^^ WHOA! Nice! I have not measured the height below the drain on mine.

However we did get out for the first time since installing the 2.5" lift and I can tell you that the ride was much better than when I went to NorCal in June.

Here are before and after lift photos of the rig and a couple shots of the lift spacers and the drain pipe jog with the cleanout Tee.

[G Bush]

I had to cut my gray water line but I put it back together with couplings and no jog. It runs over the axle and below the added cross member.

I still need a solution for extending the stab jacks and and tongue jack.

The axle was side mounted and the bolts on both sides were rubbing on the back of the swing arms. It's like the axle needed to be 1/2 inch wider. Bad call by the factory I guess.

Just need a full speed shakedown run and then check all the bolts tight again.

The lift is 2x6 tubing with a gusseted 2x2 tube connecting the sides. Behind each bolt is a larger hole to access them. The ends are boxed to keep the tubing from turning into a parallelogram.

[exjay1]

^ Dang, nice job!

[Curtis]

I have a 2013 x17z that I want to add a lift kit. What are the steps to place the risers on the axle ?