Rear Height too High

[rthomas]

I traded my '97 2500 for a new 3500 4x4 which is now 38 inches high at the end of the bed. So my gooseneck trailer goes down the road at an up angle. I see via TDR that there was a TSB #02-001-01 which addressed this problem for '94-'01. . Does this TSB also apply to the 03's ?

How can I read the TSB? Do I have to go to a dealer?

From the print out in TDR, pg 82, it implies that a "spacer block" is changed.



Has anybody had a similar experience and used an aftermarket kit to solve the problem?

 

[Badunit]

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2001/02-001-01.htm



I don't see anything about '03.

 

[DBVZ]

What about putting blocks on the trailer suspendion, or turn the springs over so the axel is under instead of over the springs? It may be easier and cheaper to modify the trailer.

 

[MattSt]

You don't have an adjustable hookup on your trailer? I had to raise mine up 4 inches from the old 2001.

 

[Slow Six]

Rear height

I have been under my 03 3500 DRW looking things over. They have changed the way the rear springs are mounted. The tall spacer block used on the 2nd. gen. is gone. There is only 2 short leaves between the axle and the main spring pack. IMO this is a much better setup. These two short leaves look as though they are needed to keep the main springs off of the brake calipers. As I see it, lowering the back end on these new trucks will not be as easy. I am hoping that once I get the trailer on the back end will settle some.

 

[jelag]

I have a 3500 01 and the back of the bed was 39" with the pickup empty...



I went to the dealer after reading the service notice here and we looked into it... . the kit would reduce the back of my 01 by about 3 inches making it close to the old Ford... . however I had to give up on the overload pack on the rear... ... as it no longer fits with the kit... .



I have both the trailer tow and camper overload kit on my 01.



After being in AZ with the trailer and going down from a higher parking lot to a lower road and dinging up the back of the truck bed I made the following changes.....



I jacked the trailer up and installed a 2 x 3" tube on the frame... I purchased 2 x 3 x . 120 wall tube from a metal supply house... .



We used a square and marked the frame to the center line of the spring hangers before we did the work..... we cut off the spring hangers and welded on the tube and new spring hangers... .



All went well... ... I had to lengthen the wires to the brakes... . my only regret was I used 2 x 3 tube and should have used 2 x 4 tube... . I chose 2 " wide tube as that was the width of the frame rails under my trailer... .



I went back and looked at a new Ford, my SIL has a new F350 03 and his is the same... .



I bought the 01 4 X 4 because it was a great value at the time... . now thinking back, I'm guessing my next new truck will be a 2 wheel drive... . for s**t's and giggle's I've decided to keep track of how may times the truck is in 4 x 4 this past winter..... 2 times in freezing rain... ... total of maybe 1 hour... .....



hope this gives you how I feel about this... ...

 

[THerman]

In case there are other solutions I haven't heard of yet, I'll give a new twist to this.



For all those towing horse trailers that have torsion axles welded in, there is not the simple "flip the axle" solution. Still could add a spacer by cuttin out the torsion axle, welding in the new spacer, etc, but now the horses have to jump into the trailer, or the ramp is now very steep... .



Still searching for the best option. Have seen lots of people that have gone to spring shops and had them lowered at a decent price... . and if I was still in AK, I'd know just the place to go... . but haven't found it here yet.



I was considering replacing with the 2WD block, Ubolts and shocks... .



Other hints?



I don't know about the 03, but good luck. I'm sure there is someone here that will help you.



Tod

 

[sag2]

The TSB will fit on 02 heavy duty, but not 03, as the springs are different.

 

[dnitzel]

I flipped the axles on my 5er from the top of the leaf springs to the bottom. It works just fine! It allowed for the replacement of the stock single ply sidewall tires to a bit taller and higher weight rating two ply. Adjusted my hitch as well, raised it on the trailer, lowered the plate on the truck.

 

[Fireman]

Slow Six,



You're going to have to have alot of trailer to make the backend of that dually sit down. My trailer has about 2000# of pin weight and it doesn't sit the truck down much at all. My old truck would sit pretty level but this one doesn't. I have raised the pin box to its highest position and have the hitch adjusted down and I now have minimum clearence between the overshot and the bed rails. I thought that Dodge was going to lower the height of the 4wds because of this,but it looks like they didn't.



For those who suggest an axle flip or extensions, that is not a good opyion for me. My trailer is a hauler, so due to the length of the ramp and the height of the floor I can't afford to raise the trailer, it would make the breakover angle too great and I wouldn't be able to load my bikes. I already have trouble loading the lowered one.



Looks like I'll have to live with it for a while,

Fireman

 

[hclark]

Ron,

I had a similar problem when I went from a 2wd 97 2500 to a 03 3500 4wd. I was concerned the 5th wheel would have a big rake,and not have enough clearance between the top bed of the truck and the 5th wheel. When I finally tried it with the hitch, it only had a slight up rake, with plenty of clearance. It may settle some. It was not as bad as I expected. I was considering the same options @ flipping the springs on the 5th wheel or blocking the 5th wheel. I was not interested in lowering the bed by taking out the higher blocks, but there was a post from a gentleman in the TOWING forum, that had done the conversion.

Good Luck

hclark

 

[rthomas]

Thanks to all who responded, there were some good thoughts on the rear height. Doesn't look like much can be done with the springs, the disc brake caliper housing is only about 1 3/4" below the spring pack, so taking out the 2 short 6" spacer blocks may cause a problem with the caliper housing. Modifying the spring frame mounts is probably too extreme, besides DC is rigid about drilling and welding to the frame.



My horse tariler has torsion axles that are tack welded and bolted to it's frame. Spacer blocks could be welded in between the axles and the frame to change the ride angle, and even though this raises the back end of the trailer, the horses could deal with it.



The overall problem is that the gooseneck just wasn't designed for the truck bed heights now around. Maybe its time for a new trailer?



Thanks again

 

[Fireman]

All you need is an excuse!

Get a new trailer

Fireman

 

[Dean Upson]

The pickup box is over an inch deeper in the '03's. That adds to the clearance problem, too.



Dean