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Trailblazer87's avatar
Trailblazer87
Explorer
Sep 17, 2018

Trailer balance and leveling

Quick question,

My father in law bought a travel trailer a couple of weeks ago while visiting, he lives 300 miles away and over the Sierra's near Reno, I'm near Fresno, CA.

My truck is set up for my 14,000 lbs. Toy hauler, his new to him trailer weighs 5,600 but my hitch is waaaay too high. I have a lower hitch but not enough, I have towed his trailer for about 15 miles and hardly knew it was behind me.

My main concern is having his trailer riding nose high while I take it to him next weekend. I plan on filling the water tank for the trip to help prevent sway, but I don't think it will be enough.

How crucial is for the trailer to be level?
  • CharlesinGA's avatar
    CharlesinGA
    Explorer
    Oct 17, 2018
    Grit dog wrote:
    Ain’t going to hurt the trailer unless it has torsion spring axles. Those need to be level or close or will carry load on 1 axle


    I had never thought about this until recently when I read another post about how torsion axles need to be level. Logic tells us that the two axles are totally independent and thus if nose high, the back axle is more compressed, and possibly overloading both the torsion suspension inside the tube, AND the tires on that axle.

    With leaf springs and an equalizer between the front and rear springs, you have to be way out of level to cause any real issues.

    Charles
  • LIKE2BUILD's avatar
    LIKE2BUILD
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2018
    Grit dog wrote:
    Ain’t going to hurt the trailer unless it has torsion spring axles. Those need to be level or close or will carry load on 1 axle

    This is the biggest concern. If your trailer axles are unbalanced it can lead to sway.

    At 5,600 lbs the trailer is within the limits of your truck and receiver to tow without a WD hitch. You could get a solid forged shank with the appropriate drop and tow the trailer in weight carrying mode.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Sep 27, 2018
    Ain’t going to hurt the trailer unless it has torsion spring axles. Those need to be level or close or will carry load on 1 axle
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Sep 17, 2018
    I agree with "I'd consider buying or borrowing one to make the trip." And bumper drop is only one reason for a WDH. I like driving the Sierras but I do it as safely as I can.
  • Trailblazer87's avatar
    Trailblazer87
    Explorer
    Sep 17, 2018
    Thanks everyone, I wasn't planning on using a weight distribution hitch, not enough tongue weight, it only drops my rear bumper 2". The trailer is a 26' tandem axte. I will see if I can find a drop hitch, I need one for my Jeep trailer anyway.
  • noteven's avatar
    noteven
    Explorer III
    Sep 17, 2018
    If it is a tandem it’s not bad if it is spring and equalizer suspension as long as you don’t bottom the equalizer completely. Some weight starts to transfer off the trailer front axle to the low end axle and to the tow vehicle hitch if you are nose high. Use as low a drawbar as you can get your hands on. Tow without weight distribution you don’t need it with your truck and a 6000lbs trailer.
  • jkwilson's avatar
    jkwilson
    Explorer III
    Sep 17, 2018
    A trailer can tow pretty squirrelly with the tongue high because of the tongue weight and uneven weight on the axles.

    Unless the drop is crazy, I'd consider buying or borrowing one to make the trip.

    Coming down a mountain would be a bad time to find out it was unstable.
  • Turtle_n_Peeps's avatar
    Turtle_n_Peeps
    Explorer
    Sep 17, 2018
    Almost next to nothing in my experience.

    I've towed trailers a mile high and in the weeds. I've even changed the hitch to see what it would do. I couldn't tell any difference.

    What IS VERY important is tongue weight. If you have a truck that can tow that much just make sure there is a lot of tongue weight and you're good to go.

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