riding nose high

[Road_Phantom]

I'm looking into getting a Grand design Reflection: 150 Series 260RD. My truck is a 2018 Ram 2500 4x4 with the diesel. Presently I own a Keystone Sprinter. It rides nose high, which puts a lot of strain on the back axle which will probably wear out the bearings prematurely. I'd like to reach out to someone with a similar setup and whether or not the truck-trailer rides level?

[Me_Again]

Likes to tow wrote:
Why can't the blocks under the springs on the truck be removed to lower the back of the truck?? I've heard it puts a strain on the drive line by changing the angle but this same thing happens when you put a really heavy load on your truck. The factory puts several of these spacers under every truck and I can't see why some of it can't be removed

2018 RAM 2500 has coil springs or the air ride system.

[Likes_to_tow]

Why can't the blocks under the springs on the truck be removed to lower the back of the truck?? I've heard it puts a strain on the drive line by changing the angle but this same thing happens when you put a really heavy load on your truck. The factory puts several of these spacers under every truck and I can't see why some of it can't be removed

[ScottG]

FWIW, not being able to get to a toilet (or anything else) is a personal choce. To us it would be no bother to push a button for 15 seconds in order to get to a facility. So that would not even enter into the equation for a trailer we ohterwise like.

[Me_Again]

Road Phantom wrote:
I'm looking into getting a Grand design Reflection: 150 Series 260RD. My truck is a 2018 Ram 2500 4x4 with the diesel. Presently I own a Keystone Sprinter. It rides nose high, which puts a lot of strain on the back axle which will probably wear out the bearings prematurely. I'd like to reach out to someone with a similar setup and whether or not the truck-trailer rides level?

Height issues can be address in a number of ways. Lippert Correct Track raises the trailer 2". Sub-frames or axle relocations also raise the trailer. However my question would be, why do you want a trailer where you can not get to the bathroom or bedroom with the slide in? They have models with the stairs are on the door side that do not get blocked by the main slide.

Chris

[JIMNLIN]

The equalizer bars allow a multi axle trailers tires to step over different terrain but that doesn't mean all tires on that side carry the same weight while articulating. The trailer would have to be very nose high to place more weight on the rear axle though like we see at the start of deer season a 4wd pickup with tall off road tires moving a buddies 5er to the deer woods.
Or from NE OK to western CO during elk season as my neighbor found out. He calls me from Raton NM and says the rear axle tires are worn almost smooth...whats happening. He had put 38" mudders on his '08 3500 srw Dodge 4wd to pull his inlaws 26' 5er with 14" D load tires off road getting into the hunt camp.

I've found my tri axle trailers when out of level can place more load on the axle closest to the low end than a tandem axle trailer.

[JRscooby]

I would think that if you had enough travel in the equalizer the 2 axles would carry the same load. If you are unloading the front, might want to increase that travel, or make sure you are near center of travel at the slope you ride.
I know that a semi-trailer that rides nose down is less stable.

[JIMNLIN]

It rides nose high, which puts a lot of strain on the back axle which will probably wear out the bearings prematurely. I'd like to reach out to someone with a similar setup and whether or not the truck-trailer rides level?

I've never had any bearing issues but did have tire issues when pulling my contracted day run out of level equipment trailers.

[bigorange]

I had an issue with tire clearance on my 5er and it also rode nose high...Forest River’s solution to address the clearance was to install a Lippert Correct Track which added about 2” lift. Resolved the clearance issue and rides a lot more level now. And I can adjust the tow in alignment a lot better too.

[94-D2]

This seems like a duplicate post to “Ram too High” post.

As I said in the other post, you should have an alternate ride height option n your Ram. My 3500 has the option. I figure it is standard with air ride.

[irishtom29]

It's damned silly how high modern pickups sit. They should make low riding tow specials for people pulling 5Ws, which themselves are getting very high as it is without riding even higher in front to clear a truck bed.

[Curly2001]

I have issues riding nose high about 4.5". I have a 2019 4x4 2500HD Chevy standard bed truck. I purchased a Curt A16 slider hitch which in my belief, makes the nose on the trailer ride high. The slider adds about 3 inches to the 5th wheel hitch height. I am thinking of ordering the replacement base legs for a non-slider which will allow me to lower the head height on the hitch. I will remove the slider portion of the hitch. I have over 8" of truck bed rail clearance so I think I should be ok. I will contact a local RV repair shop before I order the new base legs to get their opinion. This will be the most cost effective way to handle this, the new base legs are just under $100. The other option is to try and flip the axles on the trailer. I really don't need a slider with this trailer.
Curly

[laknox]

Road Phantom wrote:
I'm looking into getting a Grand design Reflection: 150 Series 260RD. My truck is a 2018 Ram 2500 4x4 with the diesel. Presently I own a Keystone Sprinter. It rides nose high, which puts a lot of strain on the back axle which will probably wear out the bearings prematurely. I'd like to reach out to someone with a similar setup and whether or not the truck-trailer rides level?

How much nose-high? I towed my old Komfort for 13 years 4-5" nose-high, and when I had the bearings replaced, they showed no significant wear. Just sayin'...

Lyle

[Campinghoss]

I raised my pin box as high as it could be raised and lowered my hitch likewise. I measured from the top rail to bottom of fiver and have almost 6 inches clearance. I am still slightly nose high but not enough to cause any problems.
If you have an trail air on the pin you may need to not inflate the bladder as much as it shows. I don't and have a smooth ride.

[Second_Chance]

Leveling a fifth wheel on a truck is problematic with most newer fifth wheels and nearly all late-model 4WD trucks. The Reflections come with the axles already underneath the springs, so "flipping" the axles is not an option - but you could put blocks under the axles. You want to aim for at least 6" of bed rail-to-overhang clearance and no more than an inch or two out of level front-to-back on the trailer. As Mark mentioned, it's not so much your bearings you need to worry about, but the tires, the springs, and the spring hangers (a weak spot). And yes - 4WD trucks tend to sit higher than RWD trucks.

Rob