1989 Layton TT, Axle flip? What brand axles?
Hey y'all,
I know this topic has been covered a bunch and I did read some of threads out there on this topic.
My recently acquired 89' Layton seems to sit very low to the ground to me. Although I have not measured, I'm sure it has less than 1' of clearance from the frame to the pavement, and of course the black water tank and piping in the rear extends below the frame a few inches.
A prior owner must have had problems because there are steel roller wheels installed on the rear frame of this camper and on my trip back home, when backing into my driveway, my wife said the rollers did hit the asphalt on the driveway. I do not believe they took much weight thankfully, but I have read various posts in the past that the rear rollers are NOT good, because when they hit they can twist the trailer frame.
The prior owner gave me his hitch with the camper, but my Expy sits higher than his Suburbans did, so the trailer was a little "nose high" coming home, which I know contributes to lower in the rear and is excerbating the problem.
I priced a few "extended drop" shanks for my reese hitch and they are all $100+ and even if I go that route, there's no guarantee I won't still hit backing into my driveway.
So, I've been thinking about doing an axle flip (relocating the springs from below the axle to above the axle) which will increase my ground clearance I would guess about 4-5" or so and likely eliminate the clearance issues and allow me to keep my current hitch shank.
I'm looking for pros and cons to doing this. I do have a mechanical background and have replaced leaf springs on a variety of vehicles in the past so I believe I can handle this job myself. I also have an torch, which I have come to find is essental when working on older vehciles (rusted bolts/nuts, ETC).
I would do the job one side at a time and leave the opposite side of the trailer's tires on the ground and keep it hooked up to my truck for additional stability when I'm jacking it up.
Does anyone know what brand/type axles I have on my camper and if there is a "kit" for this job? Currently the spring perch is on the bottom of the axle so I think that would have to be changed, unless the kits give you a new one, but then I'd be concerned that I get it on the right spot on the axle or the trailer will not run straight.
Do they make "helper springs" for TT's that would give me another inch or two of clearance? From my perspective I either have to spend the money for an extended drop so I can get sitting level and then hope I don't still have clearance problems or just do the axle flip.
EDIT: also, how do I determing if I have a 2-3/8" or 3" axles?
Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Greg
I know this topic has been covered a bunch and I did read some of threads out there on this topic.
My recently acquired 89' Layton seems to sit very low to the ground to me. Although I have not measured, I'm sure it has less than 1' of clearance from the frame to the pavement, and of course the black water tank and piping in the rear extends below the frame a few inches.
A prior owner must have had problems because there are steel roller wheels installed on the rear frame of this camper and on my trip back home, when backing into my driveway, my wife said the rollers did hit the asphalt on the driveway. I do not believe they took much weight thankfully, but I have read various posts in the past that the rear rollers are NOT good, because when they hit they can twist the trailer frame.
The prior owner gave me his hitch with the camper, but my Expy sits higher than his Suburbans did, so the trailer was a little "nose high" coming home, which I know contributes to lower in the rear and is excerbating the problem.
I priced a few "extended drop" shanks for my reese hitch and they are all $100+ and even if I go that route, there's no guarantee I won't still hit backing into my driveway.
So, I've been thinking about doing an axle flip (relocating the springs from below the axle to above the axle) which will increase my ground clearance I would guess about 4-5" or so and likely eliminate the clearance issues and allow me to keep my current hitch shank.
I'm looking for pros and cons to doing this. I do have a mechanical background and have replaced leaf springs on a variety of vehicles in the past so I believe I can handle this job myself. I also have an torch, which I have come to find is essental when working on older vehciles (rusted bolts/nuts, ETC).
I would do the job one side at a time and leave the opposite side of the trailer's tires on the ground and keep it hooked up to my truck for additional stability when I'm jacking it up.
Does anyone know what brand/type axles I have on my camper and if there is a "kit" for this job? Currently the spring perch is on the bottom of the axle so I think that would have to be changed, unless the kits give you a new one, but then I'd be concerned that I get it on the right spot on the axle or the trailer will not run straight.
Do they make "helper springs" for TT's that would give me another inch or two of clearance? From my perspective I either have to spend the money for an extended drop so I can get sitting level and then hope I don't still have clearance problems or just do the axle flip.
EDIT: also, how do I determing if I have a 2-3/8" or 3" axles?
Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Greg
