Adj. Air Shocks?

[lakebum]

Just took delivery of 37' travel trailer and installed an Equal-i-zer e4 hitch. My truck still squats a little and I want to level it out.

I was thinking some adjustable air shocks, is that the right path to take and which ones are the best?

I also have a leveling kit that was installed on the front to level it out back when I purchased truck

2015 GMC Sierra with 2017 Torque T32

[carringb]

Just based on your pic, it looks like the trailer is sitting pretty level, so maybe try adding another washer or two, which will increase bar tension.

[rexlion]

Equal-i-zer? Good hitch. Install may have been inaccurate though. You should download the instructions, park on a level paved surface, unhook and step through the directions with a measuring tape to verify. I am not sure you want your ball set all the way to the top. IIRC dropping it a hole could help.

[lakebum]

CarnationSailor wrote:

PackerBacker wrote:


...

My measurement correction is at the front fender of the truck through the center of the wheel to the ground. It should be the same after hitching as before hitching once the WD bars are installed.

X2

And when you have brought the front fender back to the unloaded height, your trailer may or may not be level in which case you need to adjust the hitch itself (move to a different hole in the hitch shank).

Thanks for all the input. I do not see any adjustment for the hitch, it was installed by the RV dealer and the only tweaking he did was to keep inserting washers to make the ball actually lean toward the trailer when he claimed would throw more weight to the camper and raise the truck bumper. The E4 bars do not have a chain, they set up on top of a bracket.

I really think I did not get the proper equipment, they have my ball at the highest level they can get on my truck, with the truck sitting level and the camper sitting level, truck ball is still about 2" below trailer tongue before being connected.

[TomG2]

X3

[beemerphile1]

Shock mounts on the truck are not meant to carry weight. Raising the truck by inflating the shock bladders puts a lot of weight on the mounts.

[TomG2]

Back to the OP's original question. Air shocks are not the best replacement for true overload springs/air bags. For starters, the mounting bolts were never designed to support weight. They are shock absorber mounts, not spring perches.

[CarnationSailor]

PackerBacker wrote:


...

My measurement correction is at the front fender of the truck through the center of the wheel to the ground. It should be the same after hitching as before hitching once the WD bars are installed.

X2

And when you have brought the front fender back to the unloaded height, your trailer may or may not be level in which case you need to adjust the hitch itself (move to a different hole in the hitch shank).

[Community Alumni]

rbpru wrote:
Maybe I am wrong, but I though the purpose of a properly adjusted WD hitch was to make the truck and trailer level.

I adjust the links so the TT is level or just a bit nose down.

True, the purpose is to transfer weight to the front of the truck, but I have found that air bags provide a more stable up/down ride on 'wavy' road surfaces.

My measurement correction is at the front fender of the truck through the center of the wheel to the ground. It should be the same after hitching as before hitching once the WD bars are installed.

[KD4UPL]

You may need air bags but I wouldn't mess with air shocks.

[rbpru]

Maybe I am wrong, but I though the purpose of a properly adjusted WD hitch was to make the truck and trailer level.

I adjust the links so the TT is level or just a bit nose down.

[Community Alumni]

This spring I installed Air Lift 1000 airbags on my Ram, made all the difference in the world. My Ram has coil springs so it was an easy solution for mine.

I pump 30-lbs into the bags before hitching then bleed them down to about 23-25 lbs after hitching to get the trailer back down to level.

I use a 12K Equalizer (brand) hitch. I have never had a sway problem but after 3 years with the truck, it was starting to squat a little, i.e. slight porpoise on rolling bumps.

[ktmrfs]

I'd install a set of torklift stable loads first. Used them on my 04.5 and have them on my 2015. I'm towing a 30 ft TT with 1500lbs on the tongue and a full pickup bed. with the WD adjusted to bring the front back to stock ride level, the back drops about 2 inches with the stable loads. they can be easily set to work or be stock ride. basically a rotating plate that takes up the gap between the spring pack and the overload springs so your on the overloads all the time when they are engaged. rear doesn't need to drop at all to start using the overload springs.

yours looks like the WD isn't adjusted as I would. your front ride height looks higher than unloaded. crank up the bars or heavier bars till your back to unloaded front ride height.

[carringb]

No. Stay away from those. They don't have enough damping for a heavy truck like yours. You'll be bobbing and porpoising all day.

Use air-bags or Sumo springs. Is that a 2500? I'm surprised is dropping so much. Have you tried adjusting the hitch more?