Lynnmor wrote:
The Ford owners manual says the below, how does your front end height measurements compare to these instructions?
When hooking-up a trailer using a
weight-distributing hitch, always use the
following procedure:
1.
Park the loaded vehicle, without the
trailer, on a level surface.
2. Measure the height to the top of your
vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender. This is H1.
3.
Attach the loaded trailer to your vehicle
without the weight-distributing bars
connected.
4. Measure the height to the top of your
vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender a second time. This is H2.
5. Install and adjust the tension in the
weight-distributing bars so that the
height of your vehicle's front wheel
opening on the fender is approximately
a quarter the way down from H2,
toward H1.
6.
Check that the trailer is level or slightly
nose down toward your vehicle. If not,
adjust the ball height accordingly and
repeat Steps 2-6.
I used the directions provided by Blue Ox.
I took the fender opening measurements of the truck without the trailer, then the took measurements after setting up the hitch and tensioning the bars.
I did not take measurements with the trailer resting on the hitch.
With three full chain links showing under the shackles, the front wheel opening height was only 1/2 inch higher than without the trailer. The rear wheel opening height was 2 inches lower.
When hooked up with B.O., there was only 1/2 inch difference in wheel opening height between the front and rear, with the front sitting 1/2 inch higher than the rear.
The trailer coupling height was 1 inch lower when hooked up, than when it was unhooked and sitting leveled.
The B.O. tension bars had a pretty good "bow" in them, and I don't want do more cranking than I did... a lot of tension.
