hitting bottom

[MarshaNichols]

I have a 2013 Born Free 24'. I love it except when I go up my driveway...I hit the bottom in the back. I have rollers and, with Born Free's ok, I had CW move them towards the back about 2-3"...still didn't work. The angle of my driveway from the road is about 25%. I am on a country road so I am very limited on going up/down at an angle. I was thinking about putting some 2x12's and plywood across between the road and my driveway...but what a pain to do that everytime! A friend suggested air bags. What are you opinions?? Thanks!

[Terrydactile]

Adding larger rollers will make it drag worse. You say you have rollers on already....if you take those rollers off it will increase the ground clearance in the rear. Will it still drag with the rollers removed?

[6dot6]

MarshaNichols wrote:

j-d wrote:
Friends, Marsha has a 24-ft Class C (maybe "B+") mini-motorhome on a cutaway Ford chassis.

If the driveway's the only problem and correcting the driveway is an available option, that's what I'd consider.

THANK YOU! I wish people would read what I wrote...would prevent a lot of confusion for them and me! Correcting the driveway is one of my options but it would be horribly expensive. I guess I am going to try: First, adding wood where the driveway and road meet. Second, larger rollers. Third, air bags. Fourth, correct the driveway. I guess this is a common problem for BF's...just not me!

Thanks for the help!

Well excuse my "ignorance" on the subject. I appologize i did not have my rv wizard at my side to see what type of rv you have. You are in the tech question forum not specific to any one type of rv. There were a few of us confused by your rv so before you make an assumption that we are just throwing random ideas out, you need to understand we all have different rv, camper setups. 24' born free doesnt tell me anything.

[MarshaNichols]

j-d wrote:
Friends, Marsha has a 24-ft Class C (maybe "B+") mini-motorhome on a cutaway Ford chassis.

If the driveway's the only problem and correcting the driveway is an available option, that's what I'd consider.

THANK YOU! I wish people would read what I wrote...would prevent a lot of confusion for them and me! Correcting the driveway is one of my options but it would be horribly expensive. I guess I am going to try: First, adding wood where the driveway and road meet. Second, larger rollers. Third, air bags. Fourth, correct the driveway. I guess this is a common problem for BF's...just not me!

Thanks for the help!

[MarshaNichols]

6dot6 wrote:

MarshaNichols wrote:

6dot6 wrote:
Airbags would raise your truck and lower the rear of trailer. Maybe a different hitch to go in and out of driveway would be good?

Isn't hitting the hitch...yet! Thought about putting a large roller under the hitch.

No you misread what i said. Im really not sure what camper you have but if its a trailer airbags will not help the rear of the trailer. Maybe i misread your question also but you need to bring the nose of the trailer down to raise the rear. Again im not entirely sure what setup you have.

I have a 2013 24' Born Free (rear bath) on a 350 Ford V-10. I see what you're saying IF I had a trailer. I had said in my initial question that I had a 24' Born Free...but I didn't say 350 Ford...I guess that's what you needed?? They used to put air bags on these but now have Super Springs. I am wondering about either larger rollers and/or adding air bags.

[Chris_Bryant]

If the driveway is the only place you have problems, fix it. If you bottom out other places, air bags with a dash control would be my recommendation. Born Free tends to have a long overhang on their rigs.

[j-d]

Friends, Marsha has a 24-ft Class C (maybe "B+") mini-motorhome on a cutaway Ford chassis.

If the driveway's the only problem and correcting the driveway is an available option, that's what I'd consider.

[JESTER7406]

I dis the firestone airbags in my 31' coach. I was expecting a modest 3" ( hoping for 5"). What i actually got was about 1 1/2". Not a lot for the $500 and labor i spent. But they have kept me from dragging a fee places. The best clearance i got was flipping the trailer hitch over. That got me almost 6" at the bumper. What i have noticed now is the skids stick down about 3" lower than they need to. Since one died at a gas station they will both be getting re fabbed soon.
Imo the rollers actually decrease ground clearance and prob wont support the weight of your rig anyway.
Best bang for your buck is taller springs or re-arched springs and a new alignment.

[6dot6]

MarshaNichols wrote:

6dot6 wrote:
Airbags would raise your truck and lower the rear of trailer. Maybe a different hitch to go in and out of driveway would be good?

Isn't hitting the hitch...yet! Thought about putting a large roller under the hitch.

No you misread what i said. Im really not sure what camper you have but if its a trailer airbags will not help the rear of the trailer. Maybe i misread your question also but you need to bring the nose of the trailer down to raise the rear. Again im not entirely sure what setup you have.

[MarshaNichols]

ernie1 wrote:
Wouldn't a cheap,easy and permanent fix be to recontour the end of the driveway where it meets the road with some concrete poured over a maybe 8" cast iron drainage pipe? You're out in the country so it seems like you could take liberties with how much recontouring that you want and need. I see this done all over this country. Why mess with the rv?

I am in the country but the road belongs to 38 other homes and we pay a yearly water and road fee. I would rather fix the driveway and I am looking into it.

[ernie1]

Wouldn't a cheap,easy and permanent fix be to recontour the end of the driveway where it meets the road with some concrete poured over a maybe 8" cast iron drainage pipe? You're out in the country so it seems like you could take liberties with how much recontouring that you want and need. I see this done all over this country. Why mess with the rv?

[MarshaNichols]

6dot6 wrote:
Airbags would raise your truck and lower the rear of trailer. Maybe a different hitch to go in and out of driveway would be good?

Isn't hitting the hitch...yet! Thought about putting a large roller under the hitch.

[RJsfishin]

I know it don't sound good, but what does it hurt ? It never hurt mine.

[6dot6]

I guess this isnt a tt or 5er?

[Handbasket]

My vote is to try the airbags... either Firestone or AirLift, 5,000 lb ones. Probably best & certainly cheapest to get the bags installed with just manual fills first, pump them up to near max (100 psi) near home, and see if they make enough difference going into the drive. If they do, spend the extra bux for an on-board compressor and manual dash controls, so you can inflate them from the driver's seat. Mine provide well over an inch of lift at the axle, on a shorter lighter unit. Consider removing the rollers to increase the clearance if the bags come close to giving the needed clearance.

Be absolutely sure that if you do install the compressor and controls, you get the controls that allow _separate_ filling to avoid increasing sway. Mine have 2 gauges; you run the compressor to increase the pressure in both bags together, then can let out air from one side. That'll also give you somewhat limited ability to level the RV in camp (won't interfere with using leveling blocks as well). Be aware that there is a minimum pressure (10 psi?) that you have to keep in the bags when driving to avoid chaffing damage.

Jim, "Being politically correct means always having to say you're sorry, even when you know you're not."