"Flipping the springs on 5'er"

[1BIG44]

When hooked up my 5th wheel leans back about 1. 5" This doesn't seem to bad to me, should I consider raising the trailer so that she rides dead level. If so what has it cost you to get this done?
Wes

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2001 Quad Cab 4x4 ETH

 

[Wiredawg]

Welp, I had to have my triple axle Travel Supreme flipped before the dealer would even sell mine to me. Sets perfectly level. Thank goodness he did 'cause the trailer would'a gouged the bed when I stopped at a camp ground in Tennesse. I turned on a sharp curved hill that came darned close to touching anyway.

Cost was $800 but I negotiated with the dealer to split it with me.

Does pull great though. #ad


Happy Towing,

Wiredawg

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2000 4X4 SLT QC 8' bed; 6 spd, 3. 54 ; BD exhaust brake and 4" exhaust syst; TST PM2; Airlift Super Duty rear air bags; RS 9000 shocks; pyro/boost gauges in 2 gauge a-pillar mount; back preasure gauge mounted under dash; KN air filter; Brown's Welding brush/grill guard, rear bumper & headache rack; nerf bars and aluminum roll top rear cover, Warn front receiver and Hadley air horns, 20K Reese hitch.

[This message has been edited by Wiredawg (edited 12-29-2000). ]

[This message has been edited by Wiredawg (edited 12-29-2000). ]

 

[Steve M]

$800? Ouch! I had to have our new Jayco raised 3" to give a level ride and clear the bed rails. The Jayco has adjustable leaf spring heights just for this. Aside from some cosmetic cheapness in the Jayco, it does have some quality underneath. The dealer didn't charge for the adjustment.

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98 2500 CC 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10, -silencer, AFC+20, Edelbrock IAS, VDO gauges
97 Dodge Stratus 150HP
92 Harley Fatboy, Dynojet fuel management, Supertrapp 2-1

 

[Wiredawg]

Steve:

I needed 5 inches to clear my bed. I guess I wood'a argued more, but after talking 'em $10K off the sticker, there wasn't any more bargaining room.

I thought I'd have sway or center of gravit problems, but I don't. Pulls straight and solid. 18 wheeler pasing don't even effect it.

Wiredawg

 

[merryman]

Its not a terrible DIY project. A friend and I changed the axels on my 11K pound fiver in an afternoon.
You will need a couple adequate jacks(and of course safty blocking) and your axels will probably need new spring "perchs" welded on (I have seen two fivers that came with double perches), so if you do not weld, you would need to haul the axels to a welding shop. Other than those requirements, its a pretty straight forward job.
Remove the spring shackles, take the springs lose at the single shackle end, disconnect brake wiring, Roll the axel out from above the spring, weld on the new perch, reconnect the spring to the frame, roll the axel back under the spring, replace the shackles, reconnect the brakes. Repeat for the other axel(s) Other than the welding, and the adequate jacks, nothing special required.
Be sure to keep the same side of the axel up or you will mess up any built in caster and camber.

Vaughn

[This message has been edited by merryman (edited 12-29-2000). ]

 

[Steve M]

Yeah, you're right about that... Keep in mind, I'm way down here at entry level where $800 seems like alot more. If I needed to go higher than 3", it would have been taller tires at my cost. Once I find out how our setup handles the off road twist I'll be taking once every couple of months, I might lower it back down alittle. My wife is already talking bigger 5th wheel. Might have to do it all over again. I'll go along with whatever she wants. Even if it means a new truck with a long bed. #ad


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98 2500 CC SB 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10, -silencer, AFC+20, Edelbrock IAS, VDO gauges, Reese 15k Classic
97 Dodge Stratus 150HP
92 Harley Fatboy, Dynojet fuel management, Supertrapp 2-1
00 Jayco 25' 5th wheel single slide

 

[dabubba]

Steve,
when you start to look at new ones- try looking at the forest river products out of indiana - prarie creek, cardinal-- these rigs are manufactured for 4X4's and "california high crowned roads" I've got a 4X2 and have to have my hitch all the way up and the pin all the way down and have mondo room between the bed and the 5th #ad
#ad
- If you want to save some $$$$$$ pick up a trailer life and get the americana web site- forest river made his 5vers last year- he has a free video that shows the rig and some of the clearances-- just my $. 02

_________________________________

Problem Child--- 99 4X2 Qd cab SLT
00 Cardinal 29lx Loaded

 

[RAPID RICK]

$800 to put the axels under the springs????
Man we better raise our prices where I work
'cause we only charge $231 to do the same thing!!! You got RIPPED OFF
Rick

 

[M1A2]

I have a Jayco also and the adjustable suspension is only good for 2-3 inches. If you need more (like I did) then an axle flip is the way to go. I gained an additional 4 inches and now my fifth wheel rides level. There is an additional benefit in that you have a better departure angle on the back side (i. e. you are less likely to drag pulling into and out of places like gas stations and uneven camp grounds). Cost was only $200 including parts/labor and all welding. It is reversible too.

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1999 FLAME RED 2500 SLT, QC, 4X4 AT, 3. 54 AGATE LEATHER

 

[BV]

Locally places are charging $100 an axle. I did them myself for around $40 in parts and a 1/2 rack-o-beer for the neighbor to weld in place. You will gain 3" or more to the overall height.

Here is some go reading for you: http://www.dexteraxle.com/lit/literaturehomeframe.htm

Checkout the Overslung/Underslung Conversion Kits.

 

[1BIG44]

Thanks for the info. Did any of you change yours because you were only an inch or two out of level? I don't know whether an inch or two is enough to justify doing the work.
Thanks,
Wes

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2001 Quad Cab 4x4 ETH

 

[R.ebel]

Flipped the axel's on my 24' traval trailor to gain a little more ground clearance. Did it myself for $25. The down side was that my fuel milage went down 1/2 mpg #ad
Flipping the axel's raised my trailor 4. 25 inches.

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1997 2500 Ext Cab 4X4,5 spd,3. 54's,Pac brake,Rancho 9000's,Centerforce clutch,K&N airfilter,Missing
Cat,Isspro gauges,and #11plate(280hp/680tq)AFC medium spring

 

[Driftwood Ram]

Originally posted by 1BIG44:
Thanks for the info. Did any of you change yours because you were only an inch or two out of level? I don't know whether an inch or two is enough to justify doing the work.
Thanks,
Wes

When you say you are up an inch or two, where are measurements being taken?? An inch or two at the bed for example can translate to a lot over the length of the trailer



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96 2500 4x4 Driftwood auto Waren 4x boards pyro,boost,trans temp on a piller mag hytec trans

 

[RottonRob]

I have a Question for Jayco owner who adjusted the height of their 5ers. Mine is in storage so can't look under it . Is there adjutable hangers or what to raise them. Thanks

 

[Steve M]

The Jayco has three holes in the for and aft spring perches. The center pivot has two holes for height adjustment. With the hitch height being the same, you can raise the rear of the trailer quite a bit with an adjustment of the axles. But it is limited.

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98 2500 CC SB 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10, -silencer, AFC+20, Edelbrock IAS, VDO gauges, Reese 15k Classic
97 Dodge Stratus 150HP
92 Harley Fatboy, Dynojet fuel management, Supertrapp 2-1
00 Jayco 25' 5th wheel, single slide

 

[1BIG44]

Originally posted by TRACY MURPHY:

Originally posted by 1BIG44:
Thanks for the info. Did any of you change yours because you were only an inch or two out of level? I don't know whether an inch or two is enough to justify doing the work.
Thanks,
Wes

When you say you are up an inch or two, where are measurements being taken?? An inch or two at the bed for example can translate to a lot over the length of the trailer

When I determined level, I parked on a level lot and shot my laser level down one side from front to back. The measurement in the front from ground to laser line was about 1. 5" higher than the measurement at the rear of the trailer. Measurements were 24' apart, so an 1. 5" drop in 24' isn't bad, but it isn't level either. I just don't know if I would be better off or not.
Thanks,
Wes


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2001 Quad Cab 4x4 ETH

 

[Wiredawg]

Dang!

I guess they really took me to the cleaners, even at the negotiated down price of $400 (half the $800)to flip my axles. In hindsight, I should have shut down the deal unless the threw in the axle flip at no cost.

Oh well, next time.

Wiredawg

 

[Driftwood Ram]

Wes;
IMHO it is not worth it or necessary to flip the axle if that is all you drop over 24 feet, but I am not an expert on the subject either. I asked this same question last year and got just the opposite response from what is comming in mow. I am really up in the front and unless someone can come up with a real good reason not to, plan to get them changed before starting to travel this spring. Quoted price by my local shop $250. 00 to do both axles. Good luck and safe towing.

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96 2500 4x4 Driftwood auto Waren 4x boards pyro,boost,trans temp on a piller mag hytec trans

 

[Don D]

To answer an earlier question about adjustable spring hangers, several manufacturers have started offering this as an option only in the last year or two.

As far as raising a trailer an inch or two, you can replace the equalizer pivot arm that attaches the springs to the center hanger. Most factory ones have the spring bolts one or two inches below the hanger bolt.
You can buy these at most RV dealers that go as much as four inches of drop, but you will only gain approx. 1/2 of that in lift because you are not changing the mounting point on the ends of the springs.
This can also change the caster of the axles slightly.

My 5er sits fairly high in the stock spring-under configuration. (four steps to get in the door and no wheel wells) I saw one just like mine that a guy had done the spring-over conversion to and that thing was way too tall. Mine's not quite level but I don't want to be that tall. The refrigerators in the newer ones can be within 5% of level with no ill effects.
I have noticed that even though I'm not very much higher in front, the brakes will lock up first on the front axle, so weight transfer is effected by not being level.

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'93 W250, LE, CC, 4x4, 5spd. , Cummins, K&N, 16cm turbo, Power Wagon injectors, Professionaly rebuilt and calibrated pump, straight exhaust, Lund visor w/lights, 5th wheel, Gooseneck, H. D. rear hitch, Aluminum everything. My Rigs

 

[M1A2]

The adjustment for height on the Jayco is only on the newer models. Mine is a 95 and is not adjustable. I think it is only on a 98 / 99 or newer feature.

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1999 FLAME RED 2500 SLT, QC, 4X4 AT, 3. 54 AGATE LEATHER