? For the Trailer Gurus

[Bigboyskioti]

I have a double axle 7000 pound trailer it's 16' with a 2' dovetail for a total of 18'. My truck is an '01 Dodge 2500 that sits pretty high. Now here's the problem. The trailer sits to low, even with a drop hitch the dovetail sits about 3" above the ground. I'm thimking of lifting it. The axles sit on top of the springs and I'm wanting to flip them to the bottom. I know this can be done I just want some in put from you guys. Thanks Mitch

 

[LoneCowboy]

How much of a drop hitch?
I had a 95 Ram 2500 (same basic truck as yours) and I had to use a 6" drop to get my trailer level.
Adjust the hitch (and you'll have to go seriously heavy duty on the hitch, because you lose carrying capacity with big drops like that)
Don't flip the springs until absolutely last resort.

 

[RollTideRam]

I had a trailer that had 4" drop axles. Does your trailer? I also have a 4x4 2500 Ram that is an 01. I use an ajustable mount from Putnam that is solid steel and rated for 10k. It drops 10 inches. I sold my last trailer mainly because of dragging the dove tail. They are nice for loading cars, but I still drug it on many streets. JC

 

[Egon]

I have the same problem. The equalizing hitch is at the lowest setting and the trailer axles are also mounted above the axles. I am also considering having the axles mounted below the springs.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Do as the others say and get a hitch with a good drop to match. I have used as much as a 12" drop with my F-350. I used to pull a trailer that weighed 15,600# with a F-250, it was a tri-axle trailer, and it squatted the truck bad. It keep blowing front trailer tires due to a good majority of the weight being on the front trailer axle. Get the right truck, hitch, and trailer or you will have problems like I did.

Chris

 

[tillerkiller]

Dexter makes a kit to put your axles underneath your springs without any welding. There is more than one kit because there are different sized axles. By the way, don't just flip the axles over because they are typically bowed in the middle, even if you can't see it, so that only one way is up.

 

[Bigboyskioti]

Replacing the truck, and trailer isn't going to happen.....
I'm running with an 8" drop now. This is something that has been a problem for awhile now and I need to do something to correct it. I've laid a straight edge on the axles and still don't see a bow. Any more ideas? I even thought about replacing spring shakels. I'm not knocking what some of you have said I'm just trying to find the best way to do this.

 

[MrJimi]

Standard hitch ball height is around 16 to 18 inches from ground and all springs are built with a spring saddle and pin, if you put axle over spring you will have to add saddles, how high is your truck? do you have pictures? and you do want your trailer sitting level loaded and if you turn axles around to have seats on top, your brakes will not work properley

 

[InlineDieselFan]

Just to be clear, when using your 8" drop hitch is the trailer level? Or is it nose up so that the dovetail is now only 3" off of the ground?

I would get a longer drop hitch until the trailer is level, if the trailer is level and you still only have 3" of clearance under the dovetail. Then I would look to see if there was some sort of spacer available to help 'raise' the trailer.

steve

 

[Bigboyskioti]

The trailer is nose up when using the 8" drop. I have a couple options that I have been thinking about. One is flipping the axles, another is longer shackels, I could cut the dovetail and just raise it a couple inches, the last thing I can think of is taller tires. I just thought it would be easier to flip the axles. The one problem with getting a longer drop is the fact that you lose some capacity with every 2" of drop.

 

[MrJimi]

Here is a picture of my Chevy S-10 with a 25 foot 14,000 pound capacity trailer with a 6,500 pound skid steer on it and as you can see my weight could go forward some.
And I just use it to move trailer around yard, no highways for this package
proper hitch and ball height is the key

 

[tractorsanmore]

You can also put a adjustable plate on the front of your trailer with a series of holes in it , like they have on most trailers with a pintle hitch on them , the sell a bolt on ball mount . A fab ( welding shop ) can do it ,if you cannot do it yourself .

 

[LoneCowboy]

You can also put a adjustable plate on the front of your trailer with a series of holes in it , like they have on most trailers with a pintle hitch on them , the sell a bolt on ball mount . A fab ( welding shop ) can do it ,if you cannot do it yourself .

that's true and an excellent thought.
My dump trailer has a pintle hitch on it (which is WAY WAY WAY BETTER than a ball hitch) and it can move up and and down, in addition to the truck side moving up and down it's hitch to get it right.
That's a pretty cheap solution

Flipping the axles is the least good solution.

 

[fiddler kelly]

I also have a pintel hitch for mine. the hitch is actulayy a ball like on any trailor hitch so it can be used eother way. I have a tadem axle which does not have a dove tail but has 2 ramps hinged on the back. Ideal for me as I take mine in on old woods roads and there is alot of twisting and everything where the road os old and not level . If I had a coupling that fittd over the ball I think with all the weight the coupling wouldn't last very long .My tracor fits on th etrailor snug the only thing I have to do different is that I turn my boom to one side so it isn't hanging out over where the spare to the trailor is .

 

[LarryRB]

I use to have an 01 2500 w/camper pkg and they do stand pretty tall. I have a Bri-Mar trailer, 18ft with pintle hitch. On the 01, the adjustable hitch for the truck was down 8", and the trailer pintle was up an equal amount to keep things level. Now I have a new 07 3500, Dodge no longer offers a camper pkg with all the springs. The 07 is lower than the 01. Again, both truck and trailer hitch/pintle were readjusted to keep trailer level,.. I do not have a beavertail as it would drag the ground regardless at what settings I would use for level.,. As it is, the tail end of my Bri-Mar does hit here and there.

 

[Bigboyskioti]

Thanks for all the ideas.... I've decided not to flip the axles. I might look into adjusting the trailer side since I can't seem to find a longer drop. I've been told that there is a 10" drop out there but can't get my hands on one. My truck does have the camper package and sits around 40" (guessing) at the bed floor. I'm alo looking at taller tires. Any thoughts on going taller with the tires?

 

[MrJimi]

Thanks for all the ideas.... I've decided not to flip the axles. I might look into adjusting the trailer side since I can't seem to find a longer drop. I've been told that there is a 10" drop out there but can't get my hands on one. My truck does have the camper package and sits around 40" (guessing) at the bed floor. I'm alo looking at taller tires. Any thoughts on going taller with the tires?

How high is your hitch ball on your truck?

 

[ultrarunner]

I welded a 4" block of steel to the trailer tongue and installed a heavier duty hitch instead of lowering the Ball Mount on my Brother's 4wd f250 any farther.

A lot of the U-Haul trailers have 6 position adjustable hitches on the trailers. A good "Hitch and Weld" place can get you on the road...

 

[Bigboyskioti]

I would say that the ball sits somewhere around 24" right about my knee... God knows I've smacked it more than once.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Your ball top should be somewhere around 18" off the ground. Dont go with bigger tires. You will rub your fenders more than likely. Also your trailer brakes will be less effective. Larger rolling mass equals less braking. I think the best suggestion is to have a adjustable plate and hitch welded to the trailer like many of the dump trailers have.

Chris