Hi all, another question. I have a Keystone Passport Ultra Light, 24 1/2' box, 27' total length. It has tandem axles with the load equalization (I think that's what it's called?) axles.The dry weight is about 4800 lbs. I store the trailer in my driveway at home and my driveway is a bit steep. When the trailer is going up the driveway, there is a short period when the rear axle is supporting the whole trailer and the front axle/wheels are off the ground. The trailer has to roll approx 1 1/2 to 2 feet like this before the front axle is back on the ground. Is this going to do any damage? Is that too much stress to put on the rear axle while the trailer is rolling up the driveway?Your thoughts are welcome, thanks.

it would depend on what the axles are rated at. they might be lite weight and then yes it would bend the axles

speedy72vega wrote:I store the trailer in my driveway at home and my driveway is a bit steep. When the trailer is going up the driveway, there is a short period when the rear axle is supporting the whole trailer and the front axle/wheels are off the ground.A BIT steep?! :h Wow, I too have a driveway that slopes noticeably from the garage down to the street but not anywhere near what you're talking about. :E I certainly wouldn't want one of the axles to elevate off the ground at any time so my first thought would be to first remove the weight distribution spring bars before backing up on to the driveway. Having the axle equalizers offset while backing up isn't an issue but I do prefer to not have them sit that way for extended periods of time so I built a set of Wheel Pads that serve two purposes.With the trailer leveled front to back so we can use it the axle equalizers sit relatively level, just as they would on level terrain, allowing each to bear a normal amount of weight and 2) with the weight of the trailer bearing down on the pads and against the rubber chocks the trailer is locked in place and can't inadvertently shift forward.

How many times a years will the tires/wheels/spring pack/frame/etc have to go through this type of stress ?? I would contact Dexter axle with the same question. If it was my RV trailer I would look for another way around that type of severe duty service over the long run.

Surprised you aren't dragging the tail at some point. I don't like that scenario at all.

It's a little hard to describe, but my neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks. The driveway runs all the way to the street, but someone decided to make the driveway flatten out where there would've normally been a sidewalk, then the driveway slopes upwards again until the garage floor level. So I have the crown of the road dipping down where the drive meets the street, it slopes up for a few feet like a normal driveway, then flattens out for about 3 feet, then slopes back up. When it slopes back up it's a big hump, not a steady flat slope. When the rear axle hits the humped part it lifts the trailer enough that the front tires come off the ground for a short period.I will look into the axle ratings, does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can find that info? Again, thanks for the replies.

Question about TT suspension | Good Sam Community

old_guy
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
it would depend on what the axles are rated at. they might be lite weight and then yes it would bend the axles
SoundGuy
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
speedy72vega wrote:
I store the trailer in my driveway at home and my driveway is a bit steep. When the trailer is going up the driveway, there is a short period when the rear axle is supporting the whole trailer and the front axle/wheels are off the ground.

A BIT steep?! :h Wow, I too have a driveway that slopes noticeably from the garage down to the street but not anywhere near what you're talking about. :E I certainly wouldn't want one of the axles to elevate off the ground at any time so my first thought would be to first remove the weight distribution spring bars before backing up on to the driveway. Having the axle equalizers offset while backing up isn't an issue but I do prefer to not have them sit that way for extended periods of time so I built a set of Wheel Pads that serve two purposes.

With the trailer leveled front to back so we can use it the axle equalizers sit relatively level, just as they would on level terrain, allowing each to bear a normal amount of weight and 2) with the weight of the trailer bearing down on the pads and against the rubber chocks the trailer is locked in place and can't inadvertently shift forward.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Nov 19, 2015
How many times a years will the tires/wheels/spring pack/frame/etc have to go through this type of stress ??

I would contact Dexter axle with the same question.

If it was my RV trailer I would look for another way around that type of severe duty service over the long run.
93Cobra2771
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
Surprised you aren't dragging the tail at some point. I don't like that scenario at all.
speedy72vega
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
It's a little hard to describe, but my neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks. The driveway runs all the way to the street, but someone decided to make the driveway flatten out where there would've normally been a sidewalk, then the driveway slopes upwards again until the garage floor level. So I have the crown of the road dipping down where the drive meets the street, it slopes up for a few feet like a normal driveway, then flattens out for about 3 feet, then slopes back up. When it slopes back up it's a big hump, not a steady flat slope. When the rear axle hits the humped part it lifts the trailer enough that the front tires come off the ground for a short period.
I will look into the axle ratings, does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can find that info?
Again, thanks for the replies.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
speedy72vega wrote:
I will look into the axle ratings, does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can find that info?

Sticker on the axle(s) ... regardless, you're asking one axle to take the load designed for two - bad idea.

Question - when that front axle is about to lift could you not place a Lynx or two between each set of tires so those front tires can ride up on them as you back up? :@
speedy72vega
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
SoundGuy wrote:
speedy72vega wrote:
I will look into the axle ratings, does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can find that info?

Sticker on the axle(s) ... regardless, you're asking one axle to take the load designed for two - bad idea.

Question - when that front axle is about to lift could you not place a Lynx or two between each set of tires so those front tires can ride up on them as you back up? :@

Good idea, thanks. I'll look into something along this idea. Another thought was to try coming in at an angle and see how the suspension articulates, it might have enough flex to keep all 4 wheels down.
Downwindtracke1
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
What ever you do, don't bounce. Gentle Gentle. It's likely a 3500# rated axel.( It may be rated, but for a 3500# it's under sized) If it doesn't bend, you'll OK.
wrvond
Explorer II
Nov 19, 2015
I find it odd that an accepted method of flat tire repair is to pull the TT up on blocks under one axle so that the flat tire is suspended in air. No one seems to have a problem with that, yet, suspending wheels for less than two feet at very low speeds produces preditions of dire results.
I don't see it as that much of a big deal, quite frankly.
rbpru
Explorer II
Nov 19, 2015
I back my TT up the drive when I am loading or working on it. It is at an angle with all four wheels on the drive and the tongue down hill.

I do not trust using the chocks only, so I crank it up and set the front part of the frame on concrete blocks on both sides.

The cement blocks and chocks make the TT very stable. When I store it I put it on level ground on wooden 2x12s.