how level should a trailer be?

[brandonwhite]

I know ideally you want it perfectly level but due to the lift of my truck and the size of drop hitches available I can't get it just level. The trailer is an 18' enclosed tandem bumper pull that weighs 4k or less fully loaded. With the biggest drop receiver I can find (11") the trailer is about 1. 5" lower in the front than in the back. With the next size drop receiver(6") it is about 3. 5" high in the front. I already have about 5 receiver tubes in various sizes and really don't want to buy any more so I was just wondering if it is better to have the front of the trailer a little low or a little high. I have pulled it around town with both and it seems to do fine but I am leaving this week on a 4000 mile trip to Canada and I want the trailer to tow good.

 

[klenger]

I'd go with it high in the front. One reason is that with an 11" drop bar, the trailer put's a lot of stress on the bar. The deep drop bars are usually not rated as heavy as a shallow drop of the same basic design. If you are going to be using this trailer long term, I'd get a bar with the correct drop at some time. If this is a one time thing, don't bother. Also, I'd watch how close to GVWR the trailer is loaded. With the trailer out of level, you are shifting some of the load to the axle on the lower end of the trailer, which could over-gross the axle.

 

[WadePatton]

I have a variable that I like. I think there are 5 positions. I'll get a photo and rating and name of it up tomorrow.



I use it from top to bottom.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Yo do not want too much nor too litle tongue weight. With the tongue of the trailer high you are transfering most of the weight to the trailer axles and creating a very high possiblility of the trailer whipping while you are traveling down the road. Likewise a tonge heavy trailer can do the same or push your truck all over the road under the right conditions. Lifted trucks with large tires can accentuate these effects.



When I purchased my TT was told that 10-12 percent of the trailer gross weight was prefrred for tongue weight. Make sure that your truck and trailer are able to work together. If they are not you are taking some very dangerous chances.

 

[HBarlow]

brandonwhite:



With a little shopping at cargo/utility/stock trailer retailers you should be able to get the trailer perfectly level with the 11" draw bar by using a taller hitch ball. The local Southwest Wheel retailer where I live offers a selection of 2 5/16" diameter hitch balls with bases of varying thicknesses.



http://www.southwestwheel.com/



I'm sure that retailers all over the US have similar balls in stock or could order one for you.



I use a Reese adjustable hitch head on a dropped draw bar for my Dodge. Even with the adjustable head I had a choice of having my TT 1/2" too low or 1/2" too high at the coupler. I found a hitch ball with a thicker base which made the top of the ball 1/2" taller. With this ball installed my hitch height is perfect for the trailer. I think I've seen hitch balls with bases as thick as 1 1/2".



Harvey

 

[brandonwhite]

Harvey,



I never thought of that. Thanks. I was planning a trip out to southwest wheel tomorrow anyway so I will pick one up while I am there. Nice to see another Lubbock TDR member.

 

[HBarlow]

brandonwhite:



I see lots of Cummins-powered Dodges around but I didn't know there are any other TDR members in Lubbock.



Now that we know there are two of us maybe we can start our own local TDR chapter!



Harvey

 

[y-knot]

great Ideal with the taller ball, isn't this site great.

 

[OTRPU]

Another idea I've seen used if your ball has a long enough shank is to get stove bolt washers with an inside diameter of the shank and an outside size that matches the ball base and space the ball up enough to get the trailer level. I've just seen this done, never done it myself. Think I'd have reservations if using more than an inch of spacers. For certain use a cotter pin aft the nut. You may think me silly for even mentioning this. . . but I know a driver had a custom hitch installer mounted the lock washer tween the ball base and the ball bar mount. She actually felt the trailer moving around when stopping and starting. Stopped to investigate and the nut had fallen off the ball shaft. All I can say is sometimes professionals hire rookies I guess.



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Tow Safe,

Steve J.