pulling 5th wheel for 1st time/getting it level

[slowautoxr]

I pulled this about 100 miles each way a couple of weekends ago. Prior to leaving I went to a trailer place and they said that there wasn't much I can do about the angle between the truck and the trailer. I didn't think to check with the experts here I was surprised that the back of the truck didn't sit down anymore than it did. It pulled fine and to be honest, didn't really seem to work the truck - unlike the 24' car hauler that I pull regularly.

I know I need to weigh this setup but I'd like to get it level if possible before I do.

[Excavator]

you cant lower it any more over the truck as it looks like you are close to pickup body now. Gen rule is 6 inch space above the body. That is what I have on my 5ver rv. If any less you risk hitting body when trailer leans in turns from crown in roads or just a low spot a trailer tire can find.

[LMJD]

I wouldn't worry about being off level that slight amount. My trailer, comparable in size to yours is off at least that much, and that's with the axles flipped. My horse trailer is off also. Been towing those particular trailers both since about '91, no big deal.

[SmokeyWren]

Towing that much trailer is serious business. If I'm the driver, I want that trailer level front to rear before I hit the road. Not almost level, but level. I use a 4' carpenter's level on the floor of the trailer, and be sure the floor is level front to rear when the rig is hooked up and parked on a level parking place.

You probably can't lower the hitch head in the bed any more and still maintain at least 5" of clearance between the underside of the trailer overhang and the top of the bed. So your next step is to raise the trailer on the trailer suspension. That's called "flippin' the axles" although you don't literally turn over the axles. Instead you move the spring perches from under the axles to over the axles. That will raise the trailer about 3 or 4 inches.

Of course, that assumes your trailer has normal leaf spring suspension. If you have a higher-priced trailer that has torque tube suspension, then I don't know how you raise the trailer without some serious engineering and fabrication work.

[FF1967]

My 5th is similar to yours. I had to flip my springs to the top of the axles to get the clearance I needed over the truck bed. I now have 7" of space between fiver and truck bed and the trailer sits level when hooked to the truck. I bought a axle flip kit from dexter axle,about 100.00. I am very happy with the way to tows.

[96P_Stroke4x4]

i would also suggest flipping the trailer axles to be under the springs, unless it's a torsion setup. if torsion axles, just make and bolt a boxed spacer to put between the axles and frame. did that to my old 5er and worked great.

[NEVERSWEAT7]

I experienced that same thing. The truck came with a 4" lift from dealership. I had about an 1.5 inch clearance between bed rails and bottom of trailer. I had to take the 4 inch blocks out of the rear, replace it with a 1 inch blocks and then I added Firestone Ride rite air bags which when empty could get me back to where I was at originally and then some.

I leave about 28 lbs in the bags for the 3 to 4 inch lift dry (very comfortable) and then pump them to 70 which with the fifthwheel on pretty well levels me out. The coach itself had adjustable shackels designed to be adjusted to meet the needs of the tow rig.

I also lowered them to get the biggest lift between the two that I could go. On leaf springs most opted to do a spring over which I never agreed with for safety reasons but many do it with no repurcusions. Maybe it is ok.. I have never heard of an incident but it just does not look lke the natural design of that system. It is like others stated here. The axles end up underneath the springs. You do get added height.

It worked well for me and my set-up

[LMJD]

...... but many do it with no repurcusions.

It works out just fine, there's a lot of smaller 5th wheels with the axles flipped in my part of the country including my own. But with that said, it's kind of a pain. My slideout two steps are'nt low enough so I have to add a portable plastic step below them. The trailer looks goofy sitting so high but I'm used to that. I noticed half the trailers coming through town the other day were not level and a couple inches high in front, no big deal, but in my case mine was so far off level I had to flip my axles on my older Prowler.

[Fordpowerstroke350]

As a RV owner and commercial RV transporter for many years its my opinion that when you flip the axles you are creating a possible unstable condition due to the additional height which in a cross wind or semi passing can create some white knuckle moments (or hit a slick spot). I realize that that in some cases that axle flip is the only answer if you must for some reason have a jacked up tow truck. Also towing with the trailer front high will put a great amount of weight on the rear axle creating a possible tire failure condition