4X4 too high!!

[REpstein]

For newby horse people the order of events is as follows: First you buy a horse(which is the motivation for the events which follow), then you buy a truck and finally, you buy a horse trailer. Well, this weekend a bought the horse trailer. PROBLEM: My new truck is a Dodge 3500 4X4, which means it's much taller (about 4") than a 4X2 and this caused problems when you try to link it up with a gooseneck trailer. Even with raising the trailer by 2", there still a "concern" with the clearance between the trailer and the truck tail gate. I think that is is OK, but I thinking that everything would have been much easier if I could have simply lowered the truck by 2 to 4". In looking under the rear axle I noticed an approximately 4" block between the axle and the leaf spring. I heard warnings from people that lowering the truck might create other problems in the fuel system, the brake system or in the drive shaft angle. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if they solved it by lowering their trucks.



Thanks,

Rick

 

[QRTRHRS]

Rick,



I can't help you with the blocks. I have an aftermarket aluminum flatbed on mine so clearence is not a problem at all. Realizing that this is just more expense but it would be comparable to the "hit" you would take by selling your rig. If your really flush, there are some nice specialty gooseneck beds too.

 

[Uncle Joe]

never mind

 

[MUDDY]

the flatbed is the way to go for towing goseneck or 5ver trlrs with a 4x4. plenty of room.

lower it down and it be as useless as a chevy duramax off road, a lowrider.



put the trailer springs on top of the axle and that give 5 inch more height. some folks argue that 5 inches be harder for the critters to step up into. well, if they cant step up that high then theyd not be a decent trail horse then, would they.

 

[DarrellB]

Yep

Muddymess is right had to do the same thing to the 5 star trailer that I bought. The good thing about it was Trailer World did it at no cost. I have plenty of clearance now and don't have to worry about getting the trailer into the bed. A friend of mine did it and it isn't pretty. How about the neck on the trailer got it raised up to that could help some.



Hay Burners, What are they really good for?



Later

Big D

 

[WLM_RAMMAN]

I have had the gooseneck of many of of my friends flatbed trailers WAY too close to the bed for my liking ... . (too many of the older trailers were designed for those short Power-jokes) I am getting ready to buy one myself and most manufacturers will make the neck 4" higher on request, and mainly due to the height of the our Dodges...

 

[moparguy]

Knowing this was a problem, we ordered our new trailer with what's called the 4whl. dr. neck. This amounted to raising the floor of the nose 6". That's both good and bad. Good in that we've got lots of clearance between the bed and trailer. Bad in that the dealer had never seen one of these before and neither of us realized that the sleeping area above the neck was now so short that getting around up there is a real issue.



I had assumed (I know, never do that) the extra clearance would come from a shorter neck, but no. Had we known, I'd have ordered a 7' tall trailer rather than the 6'6" we got.

 

[KMeek]

I am having a nearly identical problem with my 5th wheel. See the posts under "Towing and Hauling" and responses to recent "truck height problem"

 

[roadranger]

Height Options

Since you've already got the truck and the trailer and can't special order anything, you've got two options;



1. Raise the trailer, by reversing the axle, or mounting springs on top of axle, or whatever it takes to get the trailer UP. Course, then your center of gravity is higher affecting handling.



2. Lower the truck. Dodge offers a kit with shorter blocks, but they want to rape you $600 for the kit. Any truck spring shop can cut down your existing blocks and mount new U bolts. If you've got an older truck with the load compensating rear brake, you'll have to shorten that lever also. Headlight readjustment is good, also get the front end re-aligned as the caster will be off. Never heard about fuel system problems lowering a 4x4 to 4x2 height.

 

[BK]

Beside flipping the axles, which I've done a few times. It's not bad and very common.



Can you fit taller tires on the trailer?



I'm told that Holiday Rambler had gone to taller tires on some of their 5vers just because of the dodge 3500 4x4.

 

[MUDDY]

if you already have the truck and trailer, consider the flatbed. put low sideboards on it. lots of clearance and the gn hitch sits at frame height instead of bed height if its built in. 800 bucks to purchase a bed.



lowering a 4x4, how discusting, low like a chevy, but if you do it, 100 bucks to buy a shorter spacer and u bolts at an alignment shop. doesnt effect overloads either. the chrysler fix at 600 bucks is a rip off. imo dont lower it. go flatbed or raise trailer.



a lot of trailers come with little 215 or 225 tires. 1 of mine came with 215/75 15 and i went to 235/85 16 on it and that raised the unit 2 1/2 inches with the 5 inch bigger tires and the weight rating of the tires are much greater.



if you turn a drop center axle over for more clearance, take time to heat the axle and bend with a jack to get proper camber for reduced tire wear. a simple procedure.



on my rv trailer i ran 4 inch tubing lengthwise under frame to get 4 inch additional lift after the tires and putting springs on top of the axle. for the trailers with straight axles and springs on top from the factory and tall factory tires, a 4 inch tube spacer ran lenghtwise under the frame is the way to go.



so many better choices than to lower the rear of the truck.

 

[QRTRHRS]

In my dreams

#ad

 

[QRTRHRS]

In my budget!

Sorry about the Ford, I forgot where I found this bed pictured on a the correct truck. This is what I have on mine.



#ad

 

[MUDDY]

boy, that first bed is a beaut. probably pretty pricey.

the aluminum bed is good looking too. id like to have that. couldnt afford an aluminum one so i had to go with the steel bed with diamondplate deck, built in gn hitch, and under body boxes.

 

[BK]

The 1st one is real nice on all counts...



The 2nd one isnt bad either...

but it has one major problem... .



its on a F#rd

 

[QRTRHRS]

Okay, okay, I got it now.

Found the picture that I was looking for.



#ad

 

[MUDDY]

now that looks AWESOME.

 

[Forrest]

Thought someone said that they lowered theirs by using the rear blocks out of a 360 V-8 2500. Evidentally the blocks are shorter.

 

[tom sweeney]

i ordered the adjustable suspension on my Holiday Rambler,and it worked quite well!!! i,m not sure if the 3500 is taller than the 2500 4x4 or not,but i have plenty of clearance!!!. . good luck!! tom

 

[BK]

2500 4x4 Vs 3500 4x4,

Depends on the tires. My '99 2500's tires are much shorter than the ones on my friends '01 3500. So his 3500 is a few inches taller.