Front up 1/2". Tons on bars. Bags help?
Hi I've been adjusting and readjusting a Reese dual cam to work with a ram 1500 and a 30' bullet. This is as close as I can get: On the 6th link - as far as I can go: Front of truck moves up ...
Forum Discussion
So this is how I ended up: (pic of it with 2 links under tension in the next post)
I put in 1000lb Air Lift Air Bags. Easy enough to install, cheap at $140. Video showing the idea to strap the bags after you compress them so they slip into the spring was genius.
With Nothing attached I get: Trailer at 21", Back of truck at 18 1/16 and Front at 26 1/2
With trailer on but No air pressure and No bars I get: Trailer at 17 3/4, Back at 13 7/8 and Front at 28 1/8
I pumped up the bags to their max of 30 lbs and got (no bars yet): Trailer 18, Back 14 1/8 and Front 28 1/4
Hooked up the bars so I had two full links under tension: Trialer 20 1/2, Back 15 3/4 and Front 27 1/8. Took it for a short drive. Front seemed to float around, not lots of traction when turning.
Hooked up the bars so I had only 1 full link under tension: Trailer 21 1/2, Back 16 5/8, Front 26 7/8. Drove it 1/2 an hour down the road on a fairly crappy secondary highway. Did well, could easily do 120 Km/hr with no sway or rock. Hitched moaned and groaned what seemed to be the usual amount. Too bad there wasn't a bit of a wind to try it even a better test.
The measurements with the 1 full link under tension and 30 lbs in the bags are very similar to what I got yesterday without the bags. The measurements in {} are what I measured today - I parked in a different spot. Trailer 20 1/4 {20 1/2}, Back 15 1/4 {15 5/8} and Front 27 1/4 but yesterday I wasn't able to snipe up the bars to this and needed the jack - with adding the bags I was able to snipe up the bars - not easily though.
My opinion on air bags with a ram 1500 with the coil springs is a strong yes. It makes sense to me to beef up the rear springs to what a 1/2 ton used to be like. Ram has them set to maximize ride not to tow with. The amount that they helped get more weight onto the front of the truck and lessen the force on the tension bars was slight but enough to make me happy I spent the morning and $140. I would also think that they would certainly help to keep any roll out of the back of the truck. Didn't affect the smoothness of the ride with the trailer hooked up either. I'm a definite believer.
I still don't like having the bars so tight up against the trailer frame but I have run out of ideas how to get the same tension on the bars with more links to play with. I have the ball tilted back as far as it can go. Would getting a shank that lets the ball drop even further help? I would appreciate it much if someone has any ideas.
Thanks much to everyone for all your assistance.
Off to Seattle I go!
I put in 1000lb Air Lift Air Bags. Easy enough to install, cheap at $140. Video showing the idea to strap the bags after you compress them so they slip into the spring was genius.
With Nothing attached I get: Trailer at 21", Back of truck at 18 1/16 and Front at 26 1/2
With trailer on but No air pressure and No bars I get: Trailer at 17 3/4, Back at 13 7/8 and Front at 28 1/8
I pumped up the bags to their max of 30 lbs and got (no bars yet): Trailer 18, Back 14 1/8 and Front 28 1/4
Hooked up the bars so I had two full links under tension: Trialer 20 1/2, Back 15 3/4 and Front 27 1/8. Took it for a short drive. Front seemed to float around, not lots of traction when turning.
Hooked up the bars so I had only 1 full link under tension: Trailer 21 1/2, Back 16 5/8, Front 26 7/8. Drove it 1/2 an hour down the road on a fairly crappy secondary highway. Did well, could easily do 120 Km/hr with no sway or rock. Hitched moaned and groaned what seemed to be the usual amount. Too bad there wasn't a bit of a wind to try it even a better test.
The measurements with the 1 full link under tension and 30 lbs in the bags are very similar to what I got yesterday without the bags. The measurements in {} are what I measured today - I parked in a different spot. Trailer 20 1/4 {20 1/2}, Back 15 1/4 {15 5/8} and Front 27 1/4 but yesterday I wasn't able to snipe up the bars to this and needed the jack - with adding the bags I was able to snipe up the bars - not easily though.
My opinion on air bags with a ram 1500 with the coil springs is a strong yes. It makes sense to me to beef up the rear springs to what a 1/2 ton used to be like. Ram has them set to maximize ride not to tow with. The amount that they helped get more weight onto the front of the truck and lessen the force on the tension bars was slight but enough to make me happy I spent the morning and $140. I would also think that they would certainly help to keep any roll out of the back of the truck. Didn't affect the smoothness of the ride with the trailer hooked up either. I'm a definite believer.
I still don't like having the bars so tight up against the trailer frame but I have run out of ideas how to get the same tension on the bars with more links to play with. I have the ball tilted back as far as it can go. Would getting a shank that lets the ball drop even further help? I would appreciate it much if someone has any ideas.
Thanks much to everyone for all your assistance.
Off to Seattle I go!
