Travel Trailer: Rear of truck too high?

[slo-ryde]

My truck has the camper/towing package which causes the rear of the truck to ride several inches higher than the front. I'm looking at travel trailers and need to know if the hitches can be adjusted to compensate for this. Or, should I be looking at removing the extra springs added for the camper package to drop the rear down to something closer to the height of the actual trailer being pulled?



If I have to work on lowering the rear of the truck is it simply a matter of taking out springs and spacer blocks? Would I need to buy extra parts from DC for this task?

 

[Steve Campbell]

I believe.....

your 2002 comes with a 4 3/4" spacer block. A 3" block should make the truck sit "level", or very close to it. (Some have posted they cut theirs down-others posted using 2-wd blocks. I made mine out of 3" square tubing. ) If you lower more than that, you need to keep your driveline/pinion angles in mind. If you plan on doing a lot of towing, a set of new 5/8" u-bolts would be good (you can have these make at a spring shop). I would not take any springs out. Don't forget to readjust your headlights.

 

[TowPro]

Reese makes a draw bar that plugs into your receiver that you can adjust the hight up or down. You will probably be looking at a trailer that you also need a weight equalizer hitch and they also are available in Adjustable models.



Here is one at Camping World



Your dealer will also have them. They might try to sell you one thats the right hight, but not adjustable for a couple dollars less, which will work fine, until you buy your next truck! (luckily my dealer gave me a great trade in on the fixed hight draw bar for the adjustable one)



I would not lower the back of the truck, I think I saw you have a 2wd, and there not really that bad, I towed a 5th wheel with my 2500 2wd for 5 years without lowering it, now I have a 2wd 3500, and its a little higher, but I still don't need to lower it.



Don't forget when you put weight on it it will be closer to level

 

[slo-ryde]

Thanks for the info! I'll definitely be using a weight distributing hitch when I start towing. I've never actually seen this hitch being set-up so I don't know how much lift it provides at the rear of the truck. The trailer I have my eye own has a tongue weight of 1,000 pounds and I know that will definitely drop the rear of the truck down some. It just seems like the spring bars would end up pulling the rear of the truck back up again.



I'll definitely be getting a hitch with the adjustable head on it. I don't have any plans for replacing the truck anytime soon but even the best plans are always at risk of change!

 

[RMcCulloch]

Since the primary function of a weight distribution hitch is to shift part of the load to the front axle, you may be in the position of not having to shift very much of it - just enough to insure that you're not over your rear GAWR.