Need more clearance between truck bed rail and bottom of 5th wheel. About 4" at present and that is not enough. Thought, if I was careful, I could avoid any damage but tired, impatient and cars parked where they shouldn't be soon changed that. 2 dents in new truck in last month. No one to blame but myself. DW is chuffed as she was 1st to dent the last truck!! Its a truck so it is supposed to be worked.Talked to trl guy and he can do flip. Pretty sure of pros but what about cons? He tells me that manoeuvers will be harder on parts due to higher center of gravity. Should I be reinforcing some parts? How about adding shocks while it is in the shop? Any likelihood of stability problems?What experience have you had with this procedure? Changing truck is not an option and We really like present trl, small but layout works well for us.

Are you sure your axle is currently above the springs? Because by 2004, most fivers were already spring over axle.Whether it is or not, you still have to lift the trailer for safe clearance over the bed. It is just a matter of how that will be done.There aren't any negatives to doing that to be concerned with. Your center of gravity will be higher. You might need an extra step at your entrance door, either a new box step set, or else a step stool on the ground. Going higher will add stress to the spring hangers. If it is done right that won't be a problem. You will be pretty much recreating what all newer trailers have.The key will be finding a shop that you trust to know how to do it right.

I have done several trailers that way over the years. Dexter has a flip kit to do the job without welding on the axle if you choose. That first step will be a tuff until you get used to it, or put on another step

As for center of gravity. Go look at any of the new 5th wheels and you will find the floor and center of gravity way higher than yours before or after you do the axle change.I had an older Jayco Eagle 5th wheel that had the spring perches added to the top of the axle. Never had any handling problems.

You might be ahead looking for a shop that does Over-The-Road trailer suspension work and repairs. They have better welders and more experienced spring specialists than RV places ever thought of.

moll672 wrote:Need more clearance between truck bed rail and bottom of 5th wheel. About 4" at present and that is not enough. Thought, if I was careful, I could avoid any damage but tired, impatient and cars parked where they shouldn't be soon changed that. 2 dents in new truck in last month. No one to blame but myself. DW is chuffed as she was 1st to dent the last truck!! Its a truck so it is supposed to be worked.Talked to trl guy and he can do flip. Pretty sure of pros but what about cons? He tells me that manoeuvers will be harder on parts due to higher center of gravity. Should I be reinforcing some parts? How about adding shocks while it is in the shop? Any likelihood of stability problems?What experience have you had with this procedure? Changing truck is not an option and We really like present trl, small but layout works well for us.I just added a 1.5" lift to my trailer. Prime Time had a similar lift done to another model trailer for a warranty issue and they added a cross-member support to the frame to stiffen it up due to the change in center of gravity. Mor/Ryde X-factor Cross memberLike one of the other guys posting just suggested, I used a company that does suspension work on big vehicles (buses, dump trucks, diesels, as well as smaller trailers). They said they never add a cross member for 5th wheel lifts, they just lift them and all is well. I added the cross member when I did my lift just because the manufacturer did on their lift.(My trailer was already setup with the axle under the springs so I only had the lift as an option. The RV dealer wouldn't do a lift, so I had to go elsewhere.)

Axle flip for 22ft 5th wheel | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

moll672
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
Thanks for the replies. Trl guys I am using have a good reputation and lots of experience as their main work is on farm equipment and heavier duty stuff. Also he has done axle flips previously without any problems. Have to ask him about putting heavier springs on if that will raise things up a couple of inches. Have to do something though and before next trip!!
travisej
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
I had the axle flipped on my 24' fifth wheel and was fine. Once I had a leaf spring break so I put heavier duty ones on all four. This added about another 1" to 1 1/2" in height. Center of gravity is not a problem on 5th wheels like it is on TT due to the higher hitch point.
kohai
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
moll672 wrote:
Need more clearance between truck bed rail and bottom of 5th wheel. About 4" at present and that is not enough. Thought, if I was careful, I could avoid any damage but tired, impatient and cars parked where they shouldn't be soon changed that. 2 dents in new truck in last month. No one to blame but myself. DW is chuffed as she was 1st to dent the last truck!! Its a truck so it is supposed to be worked.
Talked to trl guy and he can do flip. Pretty sure of pros but what about cons? He tells me that manoeuvers will be harder on parts due to higher center of gravity. Should I be reinforcing some parts? How about adding shocks while it is in the shop? Any likelihood of stability problems?
What experience have you had with this procedure? Changing truck is not an option and We really like present trl, small but layout works well for us.

I just added a 1.5" lift to my trailer. Prime Time had a similar lift done to another model trailer for a warranty issue and they added a cross-member support to the frame to stiffen it up due to the change in center of gravity.

Mor/Ryde X-factor Cross member

Like one of the other guys posting just suggested, I used a company that does suspension work on big vehicles (buses, dump trucks, diesels, as well as smaller trailers). They said they never add a cross member for 5th wheel lifts, they just lift them and all is well. I added the cross member when I did my lift just because the manufacturer did on their lift.

(My trailer was already setup with the axle under the springs so I only had the lift as an option. The RV dealer wouldn't do a lift, so I had to go elsewhere.)
Allworth
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2014
You might be ahead looking for a shop that does Over-The-Road trailer suspension work and repairs. They have better welders and more experienced spring specialists than RV places ever thought of.
RCMAN46
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
As for center of gravity. Go look at any of the new 5th wheels and you will find the floor and center of gravity way higher than yours before or after you do the axle change.

I had an older Jayco Eagle 5th wheel that had the spring perches added to the top of the axle. Never had any handling problems.
tn_terry_t
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
I have done several trailers that way over the years. Dexter has a flip kit to do the job without welding on the axle if you choose. That first step will be a tuff until you get used to it, or put on another step
bpounds
Nomad
Jul 30, 2014
Are you sure your axle is currently above the springs? Because by 2004, most fivers were already spring over axle.

Whether it is or not, you still have to lift the trailer for safe clearance over the bed. It is just a matter of how that will be done.

There aren't any negatives to doing that to be concerned with. Your center of gravity will be higher. You might need an extra step at your entrance door, either a new box step set, or else a step stool on the ground. Going higher will add stress to the spring hangers. If it is done right that won't be a problem. You will be pretty much recreating what all newer trailers have.

The key will be finding a shop that you trust to know how to do it right.

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Axle flip for 22ft 5th wheel

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