My Dealer Said

[adamron]

HE SAID,



IF I LOWER MY TRUCK IT WILL CAUSE A DRIVE LINE VIRBRATION,

WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT IF, WHEN I INSTALL MY 5TH WHEEL HITCH, I GO 1 TO 1 1/2" BEHIND THE AXEL I HAVE A 28FT COACHMEN WITH A SLIDE, THE SPRING ARE ON TOP OF THE AXEL'S ALREADY. CAN I JUST PUT BLOCKS UNDER THE SPRINGS TO GET THE RIGHT HEIGHT(MY PIN WEIGHT IS ABOUT 1200 LBS.

2003, 2500 4X4, SHORT BED TURBO DIESEL. PLEASEEEE HELPPP!

THANKS.

 

[Peter Campbell]

Driveline angles (long )

When you change the geometry a driveline vibration is "possible" the U- joint angles are supposed to be about equal or pinion down. The factory has everythig set at built height to meet that. If you change the height of blocks the driveline angles may change in different amounts. All yoy need is a cheap magnetic protractor type level. Determine the angle between the trans output shaft and the driveshaft, then determine the angle between the driveshaft and the pinion ( as operated on the ground). When doing an old dodge "A" body the angle was supposed to be 1 1/2 degrees pinion down. This does not mean the pinion pionts down. it means the pinion to driveshaft angle is more than trans drivshaft angle. It is hard to describe, but I don't have a picture. OBTW speed shops sell shims to correct this in 1/2 degree increments. This is important because the speed of a driveshaft running through a angled U-joint has a sine wave type difference than the input. At the differentiial end the U-joint is 90 degrees off. The driveshaft "sine" wave input goes back to a constant speed output. The extra 1 1/2 degrees was so at full power the pinion goes up and the driveline geometry is perfect under load. Most of the time you will check it and there is no problem, as long as the removed blocks were not angled at the factory for the above adjustment.

 

[ldg]

How about bigger tires on your trailer, will she handle them? Just something I done in the past that worked. Good Luck Oh, by the way, just re-read your post, I have hauled several 28' Coachmen with my Y2K 4X4 3/4 T to dealers all over and have had no problems with the level issue. Have you done something special to yours? (These were straight from the factory). Unless its your only option "do not put the 5th Wheel hitch behind the axle. If anything install it 1 to 2" ahead of the rear axle.



Oops, see you have a short box. You can get a slider (Fifth Wheel hitch) or put it directly over the axle and be care full. Actually I did that with a 6. 5 (yes I had a 6. 5 before I knew what diesel were) Short box chev. Light 3/4 back in 95. Never had a problem with that set up and I would have had to really jack knife it hard backwards to make contact but you still need to be careful with that setup up. I have a very good friend that hauls a 27' Artic Fox with a short box and slider 5th W/hitch and he likes it. Later.