Forum Discussion

flyfishing48's avatar
flyfishing48
Explorer
Aug 18, 2018

Shackles flipped ?

Pic
I had the trailer lifted by the auto level until all four wheels were off the ground. Somehow the shackles on one axle flipped such that the spring eye bolt is below and hitting the ez flex arm. Both front and rear shackles should be above the ez flex equalizer arms. If I jack all four wheels off the ground and put spacers under tires and lower back down I move the issue front to rear, but no amount of jerking and prying will get both spring shackles where they should be.
Will I have to pull the bolts out to get this back to normal?
I’ll try to add a picture of the issue. A bit latter.

  • “The question I have is, why would you allow the auto level to lift the trailer until all four wheels were off the ground? It is my understanding that you get the trailer somewhat level before activating the auto level feature.“

    I don’t normally do that. I was greasing the suspension and needed to retap a grease fitting hole that is on top of the equalizer. Hidden inside the the hanger, so I needed it to pivot to gain access.
  • Lift the axle with the proper shackle with a bottle jack. That will cause the equalizer to rotate and make it easier to snap the shackle back in place. Been there, done that!
  • The question I have is, why would you allow the auto level to lift the trailer until all four wheels were off the ground? It is my understanding that you get the trailer somewhat level before activating the auto level feature.
  • I was camping at Salt Springs Florida and this happened to a fellow camper. The fix is to run one axle up on a board like you did.

    I'm sorry I didn't see the post earlier and save you a lot of work.
  • All is right in the world.
    I was going to try the pry bar method, but first I wanted to put spacers under the tires on the good axle because previously when I had the weight off both axles and flipped the bad one the other axle went out. Well I put a 2x8 block in front of the good axle and when DW pulled the rig forward there was a loud crack. The bad axle flipped back into place just from that 1 1/2 “ rise on the good axle.
    I guess the first speed bump I went over might have straightened things out also.
  • Nope just used the leveling system to take some of the weight off and like I said a big pry bar. It is hard because it is probably twisted different then the other side you have to move a lot. I also had it hitched to the truck.
  • Thanks downthe road for fixing the picture,
    Camping hut. Did you somehow lift the weight off the axle that’s wrong? I was thinking of driving the good axle up on blocks to get the weight off the one that’s flipped.
  • Last time i did that it took a large pry bar and patience to fix it. It helps to almost have all the weight off of both sides.