Forum Discussion

rtate's avatar
rtate
Explorer
May 19, 2014

Nose high

Just bought a new truck and now my fifth wheel rides slightly nose high. Axels are moumted under the springs and the pin box is as low as I want to adjust it due to clearances with the truck. It seems to handle just fine but I am concerned about shifting too much weight on to the back axel. Does the trailer suspension tend to equalize the weight so that each axel carries approximately the same weight?
  • Either the truck /hitch needs to go down or the trailer needs to go up. If your axles are already under the springs there are a few things you could do. Some trailers have additional holes for the spring ends and the equalizer to move down an inch or two. Next after that would be to have longer shackles or u brackets. This can be done with a kit that is sold to actually correct axle misalignment. At the same time while providing axle fore and aft adjustment it lengthens the u shaped brackets that the springs and equalizer attach to providing more lift. About 2 inches. I wouldnt just lengthen the actual shackle. The next and more radical way is to cut the u shape brackets off the frame and build a sq tube sub frame that acts as a spacer that lowers those brackets and raises the trailer. When any of these things are done and the contact point of the tire gets farther way from the frame, you put more side leverage on all the parts so the sub frame needs to extend from side to side to provide strength. There is also a company that sells bars that more easily attach from side to side on the frame to provide rigidity. If I did the alignment/ u bracket extension I would also either use the manufactured cross braces or fab my own. When any rig is turned sharply there is a lot of twisting stress placed on all the components. Yes I have a 3500 Dodge and an older fifth. :)
  • Well I'm no mechanical engineer, but I think like one. And I don't think the equalizer between the springs is going do much load equalizing between the two axles.
    If it was good at that, you would never have more weight on one axle than you do on the other. And that is not always the case.

    So my opinion is ...if the trailer is only a little un-level ( I/2 inch or so, ignore it. But if it is a couple inches difference, I would try to fix it. A couple inches MUST cause un-equal wear & stress.
  • We just bought a 2014 Montana 3900FB and pull it on a 2014 Ram 3500 dually they set it up at Camping World at Lowell Arkansas and it sets perfect. You might call them and ask them what they did. It pulls great and sets level.