I have a 2006 Yukon Denali XL (the long-wheelbase one) and a Jayco X23E, hitched up using a Blue Ox Swaypro.I need to raise the tongue uncomfortably high using the tongue jack to attach or detach the spring bars. The long wheelbase is working against me, as more height is needed for a given change in spring bar angle.To make matters more fun, the air suspension starts letting air out as I do this, as it things the back end is too high, which moves more weight from the truck's rear axle to the trailer tongue jack.I can pop the hood and pull the fuse to stop that, although it's a bit of a pain. But whether I do that or not, I still need a LOT of tongue jack height to hitch or unhitch.Has anyone found a clever solution to this?I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow.

I have to jack my combo up a lot too. At home when I leave, I pull the front of the truck just off the curb so the back end is sitting high.

chrispitude wrote:I have a 2006 Yukon Denali XL (the long-wheelbase one) and a Jayco X23E, hitched up using a Blue Ox Swaypro.I need to raise the tongue uncomfortably high using the tongue jack to attach or detach the spring bars.Has anyone found a clever solution to this?I'm not sure if this would work with a Blue Ox Sway Pro but the Lippert Straptek system eliminates the need with most chain WD systems to lift the tongue at all ... just engage the straps and crank up the straps until the spring bars are set the way you want them. I tried a set myself but the design, with my particular setup, wouldn't allow me to get the spring bars sitting parallel with the trailer frame because when cranked up as high as it will go the strap hook still hung much lower than my Reese WD chain hook, as can be seen in demo pic.Rebuilding the head would likely have solved this problem but I thought it more trouble than it was worth and didn't pursue this project any further.

Yes, I jack my Excursion and trailer up very high to attach the bars. Not sure on the GM but on Fords there is a switch to tune it on and off for this purpose.

chrispitude wrote:I need to raise the tongue uncomfortably high using the tongue jack to attach or detach the spring bars.I have to do the same with my Reese Strait-Line hitch w/Dual Cam Sway Control.

Yep there are some of us that have this issue with the ox.I just dread those swivel latches and straining my 3500lb capacity tongue jack.Wish i would have stayed with Equilizer.Soundguy,The Strapteks look promising and they look to be compatible with B.O. as their chains hang 3-4" between latch and bars.I wish it was an OEM design.What was it like unhooking the ratchet mechanism?

Need to jack up the rear REALLY high to attach spring bars

SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
BarneyS wrote:
If you do not get as much tension on the bars as you need just tilt the hitch head rearward some more before you begin. That probably would have solved Soundguys problem and allowed him to use the Straptek system.

Wish that were so but it's not the case. I needed to drop the hitch ball 1.5", which meant disassembling the head and starting all over again. It's not a head angle issue, it's currently set exactly as it needs to be for proper weight transfer to the truck's front steer axle.
demiles
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
I don’t understand. You guys must be really using a lot tension on the bars to have to jack up a vehicle high. I only need a little height to swing my Equalizer bars over the brackets by hand.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Jul 13, 2018
If you do not get as much tension on the bars as you need just tilt the hitch head rearward some more before you begin. That probably would have solved Soundguys problem and allowed him to use the Straptek system.

By the way, in most cases the trunnion style bars are not supposed to be parallel with the trailers A frame. They are designed to point downwards a bit when properly tensioned.
The round bars should be parallel due to the way they are designed.
Barney
Campteacher
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
My new Husky Center Line needs me to raise the jack way up as well. I like the hitch so far, it's a little clunky with the funny tool that is used to bang and slam the bars onto the brackets. There is a lot of tension on the bars of these hitches, so I'm not surprised it's an effort to get them put together.
73guna
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
Yep there are some of us that have this issue with the ox.
I just dread those swivel latches and straining my 3500lb capacity tongue jack.
Wish i would have stayed with Equilizer.

Soundguy,
The Strapteks look promising and they look to be compatible with B.O. as their chains hang 3-4" between latch and bars.
I wish it was an OEM design.
What was it like unhooking the ratchet mechanism?
Bobbo
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2018
chrispitude wrote:
I need to raise the tongue uncomfortably high using the tongue jack to attach or detach the spring bars.

I have to do the same with my Reese Strait-Line hitch w/Dual Cam Sway Control.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2018
Yes, I jack my Excursion and trailer up very high to attach the bars. Not sure on the GM but on Fords there is a switch to tune it on and off for this purpose.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
chrispitude wrote:
I have a 2006 Yukon Denali XL (the long-wheelbase one) and a Jayco X23E, hitched up using a Blue Ox Swaypro.

I need to raise the tongue uncomfortably high using the tongue jack to attach or detach the spring bars.

Has anyone found a clever solution to this?

I'm not sure if this would work with a Blue Ox Sway Pro but the Lippert Straptek system eliminates the need with most chain WD systems to lift the tongue at all ... just engage the straps and crank up the straps until the spring bars are set the way you want them. I tried a set myself but the design, with my particular setup, wouldn't allow me to get the spring bars sitting parallel with the trailer frame because when cranked up as high as it will go the strap hook still hung much lower than my Reese WD chain hook, as can be seen in demo pic.

Rebuilding the head would likely have solved this problem but I thought it more trouble than it was worth and didn't pursue this project any further.
ScottG
Nomad
Jul 13, 2018
I have to jack my combo up a lot too. At home when I leave, I pull the front of the truck just off the curb so the back end is sitting high.

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Need to jack up the rear REALLY high to attach spring bars

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