New HD truck bed rails too tall for 5th wheel
Options: tow with the trailer nose high, or spend the money to lower the truck (easy on a Ford, tough on a RAM and with resulting possible drive train/warranty issues), or raise the trailer (with resu...
Forum Discussion
My standard suggestions of a process to raise a fifth wheel trailer to level (assuming leaf springs—not torsion axles.)
I discourage the use of Correct Track due to my experience. I added bolt on Correct Track to raise the trailer 2”. In a panic stop a spring hanger ripped off ending up at a 45 degree angle. I attribute that to the extra leverage added by the Correct Track and weak welds from the factory.
1. Check that the springs are on the top of the axle tubes. If not have an axle shop install new tubes with spring perches on the top. They’re not that expensive.
2. On a flat paved area back the trailer up on to stacks of boards (same stack under each tire) until the trailer is parallel with the pavement surface. Check the truck bed clearance and trailer height clearance to see if adjustments are necessary. Measure the boards to see how much lift is needed.
3. Add a MORRyde SRE4000 rubberized equalizer. It will add 1.25” to the height at the axles, and you’ll be amazed how much it will smooth out the trailer ride. You need at least 3” of clearance above the tires before installation as the SRE4000 allows more axle movement. MORRyde also recommends their X-brace be used with the SRE4000.
4. See if taller tires could be used. Using 235/85-16 in place of 235/80-16 will raise about .5” but you need .5” more clearance above the tire. If moving from 15” then new wheels and more clearance is needed. I did this on a prior 27’ fifth wheel trailer ending up with about 1” clearance between the tires.
5. And the strongest solution: have a sub-frame welded on with new spring hangers. MORRyde welds on rectangular tubes to the bottom of the I-beams and no one complains about their work. However, a cross brace welded between the tubes would add strength.
I discourage the use of Correct Track due to my experience. I added bolt on Correct Track to raise the trailer 2”. In a panic stop a spring hanger ripped off ending up at a 45 degree angle. I attribute that to the extra leverage added by the Correct Track and weak welds from the factory.
1. Check that the springs are on the top of the axle tubes. If not have an axle shop install new tubes with spring perches on the top. They’re not that expensive.
2. On a flat paved area back the trailer up on to stacks of boards (same stack under each tire) until the trailer is parallel with the pavement surface. Check the truck bed clearance and trailer height clearance to see if adjustments are necessary. Measure the boards to see how much lift is needed.
3. Add a MORRyde SRE4000 rubberized equalizer. It will add 1.25” to the height at the axles, and you’ll be amazed how much it will smooth out the trailer ride. You need at least 3” of clearance above the tires before installation as the SRE4000 allows more axle movement. MORRyde also recommends their X-brace be used with the SRE4000.
4. See if taller tires could be used. Using 235/85-16 in place of 235/80-16 will raise about .5” but you need .5” more clearance above the tire. If moving from 15” then new wheels and more clearance is needed. I did this on a prior 27’ fifth wheel trailer ending up with about 1” clearance between the tires.
5. And the strongest solution: have a sub-frame welded on with new spring hangers. MORRyde welds on rectangular tubes to the bottom of the I-beams and no one complains about their work. However, a cross brace welded between the tubes would add strength.
