Getting trailer to ride level

[agallant80]

So where would you measure to get the trailer to ride level and how perfect does it need to be? In this photo its like 17.5 in the back and 13 in the front of the axles(marked in red). So question is where would you measure from the ground to make sure the trailer is level?

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

Your truck looks like the rear suspension needs help. What's the boat and trailer weigh and what's the tow rating of your truck?

 

[agallant80]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

Boat 7K
Trailer according to title 1,500
80 gal fuel @ 6/gal = 480
25 poop at uh 10 gal? = 250
25 water @ 8.5lbs 212
Pillows, blankets, DVD collection, plotter, generator other assorted crap = 500

8,351 filly loaded truck rated at 11,000

Its jacked in the photo because the WD hitch is not setup correct(ford requires for over 5,000lbs). Leveling the trailer is step 1 which is why I am asking.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

I don't think that it needs to be perfectly level, but the real goal is to balance the tongue load so that it's not lifting up the front end of your tow vehicle - as it is in the photo. You're ability to steer in rain and to stop quickly are severely impacted.

For measuring, I would measure from the frame at the very back end of the trailer and then also at the tongue. You can also just toss a level on the frame at any point. The general rule of thumb is for the tongue weight to be 5-7% of the total load without exceeding 10% or the tongue load specified in your owners manual. Based on what you listed above the tongue weight should probably be less than 800lbs

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

I would say the way your measuring now is logical. Appears you have more weight on your front trailer axel verses the back. I suspect your trailer would be pretty level if both of those measurements were equal. Is it possible to move the boat back a couple inches to reduce tongue weight? You have the most tow capable SUV made and squatting it that much requires some serious tongue weight.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

I'd say move back a bit. I try to have the front of engine at the rear of the wheel (back wheel on tandem). That allows the extra 'crap' to balance out the front. IN your pic looks like the front of the engine might be between the wheels?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

WOW......


Leveling the trailer and tongue weight are TOTALLY unrelated... you level the trailer by changing the height of the hitch ball with different inserts or different adjustment on an adjustable.... You most certainly do not change tongue weight to level trailer...

Where the engine is relative to the axle is nothing more than a crapshoot........ Stopping in the rain... again not relevant to the question...... We have already discussed tongue weight with the op multiple times on his other threads for this same trailer.....



O/P, you need to get the trailer as level as possible and the reason is that when you pull it over uneven surfaces such as in and out of driveways or parking lots, the equalizers can max out and put most or all of the trailer weight on one axle and or the front or rear of the trailer can drag the ground..... a level trailer is a neutral trailer with the most clearance all around.


I would strive to have the tongue within an inch or two of the back.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

Correct the suspension issue on the tow vehicle first. That thing squats way to much.Doesn't that expedition have air ride?
Then level the trailer with the proper draw bar. It doesn't appear to be to low. If the Expedition would be a little higher (maybe two inches) the trailer would set level

 

[agallant80]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

The original question was where to measure from in order to get the trailer level, not how to level it on the hitch, not how to correct sagging suspension but I'll address those issues seeing as people are trying to help and may not know everything that is going on here.

Tough weight is about 810 according to the bathroom scale method which is close enough to the 10% figure so I am good there.
boat trailer etc are all under the 10K that the truck is rated at
Truck is sagging because the weight distribution hitch is not adjusted properly
Getting the trailer to sit level not hooked up to the truck is step 1 to adjusting the WD hitch so everything is level and the rear is not sagging when its all connected.

It sounds like using a level to make sure the trailer is level is the best method. I will also verify by measuring from the ground on the front of the tires and on the rear.

Here is a photo of the hitch that needs to be adjusted. By the way even not adjusted well it works great. The difference is night and day.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

don't measure anywhere near the axles... measure at the very front and very rear of a side frame rail

forget the level... if the ground isn't level you'll be wrong

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

These are the steps you need to do:

Measure the height of your trailer frame between your tires. That is what the height will be at the back and the front of the trailer. The height here is at the pivot point so it should be pretty constant no matter if the trailer is parallel with the ground or not.

Without it connected to your truck, crank up the tongue jack until the distance at the front of the trailer is equal to the back. Should be the same as the previous measurement.

Measure the height inside the coupler to the ground where the ball is going to sit.

Adjust the height of the ball at the hitch so that it is at that same height you just measured from the trailer.

Connect the trailer to your vehicle. It will squat the rear of the truck. Adjust the equlizing bars until your trailer is level(parallel to the ground) again.

Obviously, you need to do this where the ground is flat preferably in a paved parking lot.

You need to follow the directions on your hitch to have the proper ball mount pivot pitch.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

delete

 

[agallant80]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

These are the steps you need to do:

Measure the height of your trailer frame between your tires. That is what the height will be at the back and the front of the trailer. The height here is at the pivot point so it should be pretty constant no matter if the trailer is parallel with the ground or not.

Without it connected to your truck, crank up the tongue jack until the distance at the front of the trailer is equal to the back. Should be the same as the previous measurement.

Measure the height inside the coupler to the ground where the ball is going to sit.

Adjust the height of the ball at the hitch so that it is at that same height you just measured from the trailer.

Connect the trailer to your vehicle. It will squat the rear of the truck. Adjust the equlizing bars until your trailer is level(parallel to the ground) again.

Obviously, you need to do this where the ground is flat preferably in a paved parking lot.

You need to follow the directions on your hitch to have the proper ball mount pivot pitch.

Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for. I did not think of measuring between the tires. One question. The manual makes mention to ball mount pivot pitch but I really don't understand what the point is.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

The manual makes mention to ball mount pivot pitch but I really don't understand what the point is.

That sets the angle of the equilizing bars with out them up on the bracket. That determines the tension of the bars. Depending on the instructions, this may be something that will be trial and error.

You probably already discovered that you attach the trailer to the hitch, then jack up the trailer, along with the rear of the truck, to allow you to get the bars up onto the perch on the bracket easier. Be careful!

I actually use a floor jack to do this when I am in my driveway. Its a lot fast than cranking up the tongue jack.

Check out Youtube. I believe there are some good videos that can help you too.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

That sets the angle of the equilizing bars with out them up on the bracket. That determines the tension of the bars. Depending on the instructions, this may be something that will be trial and error.

You probably already discovered that you attach the trailer to the hitch, then jack up the trailer, along with the rear of the truck, to allow you to get the bars up onto the perch on the bracket easier. Be careful!

I actually use a floor jack to do this when I am in my driveway. Its a lot fast than cranking up the tongue jack.

Check out Youtube. I believe there are some good videos that can help you too.

It just says for long wheel base use 5 washers and for sort wheel base use 4 for the screw that sets the angle. Thanks. I get it now.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

It just says for long wheel base use 5 washers and for sort wheel base use 4 for the screw that sets the angle. Thanks. I get it now.

Hmmmm....the angle of the receiver could influence it as well.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

can you post a better/ bigger pic of boat on trailer @ the stern? it looks like you could move the boat back a few inches, which would make a world of difference.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

don't measure anywhere near the axles... measure at the very front and very rear of a side frame rail

forget the level... if the ground isn't level you'll be wrong

Then again, if the ground *is* level, he won't be. Find some level ground first.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

can you post a better/ bigger pic of boat on trailer @ the stern? it looks like you could move the boat back a few inches, which would make a world of difference.

He has 10% tongue weight. That's perfect.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Getting trailer to ride level

Hmmmm....the angle of the receiver could influence it as well.

The washers act as a shim to angle the receiver to set the tension on the bars.