I just bought a new Viking 17BH. When I tow my new travel trailer on my driveway, the bottom of rear leveling jack drags on ground (see picture). The skid bar is actually shorter than the jack, that's why jack is touching not the skid bar.If I remove weight distribution bars, the rear will not touch the ground, but the hitch hits the ground (see picture).Right now I am using the 5th chain on the weight distribution. I could try using less (4,3,2,or 1 chain) to find the right balance. But I am thinking to install some kind of skid wheel. My questions: where to install the skid wheels? rear bumper, skid bar, or somewhere else? I saw a picture about skid wheels over the skid bar (see picture). Is it possible that I go to Homedepot and buy one of their caster wheels. But I have no idea how I can mount the wheels to my trailer.Need help / suggestion for an easy / cheap fix. Thanks!

I need to add skid wheels. Thanks for your pictures.

I added those same wheels to our old 25ft Sunline for our steep driveway. They worked flawlessly. I've seen posts saying they can't/won't work, but that wasn't my experience.

My son has the same exact TT. His drags entering his driveway. I told him to flip the axles. He hasn't done it yet. But that would be my suggestion.

can you back it into the driveway? my neighbor has a low trailer, i have seen him put down 2x8 boards he drives up on which makes it so his trailer doesnt drag. With that tow vehicle, which looks like a Rav4, it would be detrimental to flip the axles as it would increase drag and possible sway from side winds. Those trailer models are low to the ground for a reason. Easier to tow and manage with light tow vehicles.

That trailer hitch looks overloaded to me. What is the payload rating of your tow vehicle? What is the gvwr of that Viking? Looks like there is a lot of twist in that trailer receiver. I'd check your weights. Ps, putting wheels on the rear of the frame is a bad idea. It's very easy to bend the frame that way. The frame is not designed to carry all the load that far back. Good luck

Viking 17BH bottom drags | Good Sam Community

beemerphile1
Explorer
May 15, 2017
On level ground, does the trailer sit level? If not adjust the hitch head so it tows level. If it is level now, adjust the hitch head one bolt hole to lower the nose. When the nose goes down, the tail goes up.
goducks10
Explorer
May 14, 2017
colliehauler wrote:
goducks10 wrote:
My son has the same exact TT. His drags entering his driveway. I told him to flip the axles. He hasn't done it yet. But that would be my suggestion.
This would be my suggestion as well to put the axle below the springs. Had to do this on a tail dragger that I owned. Dealer did not charge very much to do this and gave me a extra 4" of clearance.

The other issue on the 17BH is the rear sewer drain. It too is low hanging. That's what I told my son to be concerned with.
colliehauler
Explorer III
May 14, 2017
goducks10 wrote:
My son has the same exact TT. His drags entering his driveway. I told him to flip the axles. He hasn't done it yet. But that would be my suggestion.
This would be my suggestion as well to put the axle below the springs. Had to do this on a tail dragger that I owned. Dealer did not charge very much to do this and gave me a extra 4" of clearance.
mooky_stinks
Explorer
May 14, 2017
Camper G wrote:
That trailer hitch looks overloaded to me. What is the payload rating of your tow vehicle? What is the gvwr of that Viking?

Looks like there is a lot of twist in that trailer receiver. I'd check your weights.

Ps, putting wheels on the rear of the frame is a bad idea. It's very easy to bend the frame that way. The frame is not designed to carry all the load that far back. Good luck

The wheels don't mount on the frame. They mount on the sacrificial skid bars. The skid bars will bend long before the frame will.
qq
Explorer
May 14, 2017
The 3rd picture is when I remove the weight distribution completely. The load on my RAV4 v6 is fine with weight distribution. The ramp idea is not easy since it is difficult to drove precisely so the tires stay on the ramp while backing and turning ate the same time.

I can get on / off driveway fine except the stabelizing jack touchs the ground. I wish the v-shape skid bar is 1 inch taller so that it touches the ground first instead of the jack.
Camper_G
Explorer
May 14, 2017
That trailer hitch looks overloaded to me. What is the payload rating of your tow vehicle? What is the gvwr of that Viking?

Looks like there is a lot of twist in that trailer receiver. I'd check your weights.

Ps, putting wheels on the rear of the frame is a bad idea. It's very easy to bend the frame that way. The frame is not designed to carry all the load that far back. Good luck
Dirtpig
Explorer
May 14, 2017
can you back it into the driveway? my neighbor has a low trailer, i have seen him put down 2x8 boards he drives up on which makes it so his trailer doesnt drag. With that tow vehicle, which looks like a Rav4, it would be detrimental to flip the axles as it would increase drag and possible sway from side winds. Those trailer models are low to the ground for a reason. Easier to tow and manage with light tow vehicles.
goducks10
Explorer
May 14, 2017
My son has the same exact TT. His drags entering his driveway. I told him to flip the axles. He hasn't done it yet. But that would be my suggestion.
mooky_stinks
Explorer
May 14, 2017
I added those same wheels to our old 25ft Sunline for our steep driveway. They worked flawlessly. I've seen posts saying they can't/won't work, but that wasn't my experience.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 14, 2017
I need to add skid wheels. Thanks for your pictures.

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