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Old 08-13-2016, 11:09 AM   #1
mk3ga
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Hitch and Pin Box Height Adjusting

This may be a stupid question, but I believe I have too much weight on my front RV axle and am trying to properly adjust the hitch and/or pin box height. I have seen comments about putting both the truck and the RV on a level surface and adjust to make the RV level.
My question is do you have the RV unhooked and level and the truck level then measure from the ground to the pin box and then measure to the truck bed height and add the bed to hitch plate height and make everything level? OR do you keep the RV hitched with the weight on the truck and then check the level of the RV and make the adjustments?
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Old 08-13-2016, 12:11 PM   #2
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Doesn't sound stupid to me as I have the same questions in my mind. I can't see any weight difference in the axle loading given the equalizer between axles...but I could be wrong. I think it's only pin weight you are changing vs weight on both axles. Help me obiwan knobe! John
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Old 08-13-2016, 12:24 PM   #3
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I think you need to be hitched. Measure fron of trailer vs back of trailer. If distance is greater than 1 1/2 inch think about adjusting
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Old 08-13-2016, 01:04 PM   #4
mk3ga
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Thanks everyone. I will try it hitched up and measure the trailer frame.
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Old 08-13-2016, 01:20 PM   #5
mk3ga
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M.O.C. #17869
What confused me was this response below to someone else that said to do it the other way. Just seems logical that you want the trailer attached so you can see how the trailer levelness will be when traveling with the weight on the truck.

"Expert Reply:
What you will do is park the truck and trailer on level ground. Using the landing gear/jacks on the 5th wheel to make it level, then measure from the ground to the bottom of the pin box skid plate, not the king pin, and record the measurement.

Next measure from the ground to the top of the skid plate on the 5th wheel hitch and record it. Adjust either the height of the 5th wheel head or the king pin on the trailer or both to get the measurements as close to the same as you can.

If you have a new Snowbird SE, the hitch weights range from 2,120 pounds to 2,320 pounds dry. On the new models it looks like the pin weight is about 18 percent of the trailer weight.

If the trailer is being towed nose up, the hitch weight will be too low and can lead to ride problems with the truck, bad trailer sway, and tracking problems with the trailer. If it is too low it can weigh the rear of the truck down and cause the front to raise up and lead to handling and braking problems and the trailer could also sway since less weight will be on the axles.
expert reply by: Michael H"
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Old 08-13-2016, 02:01 PM   #6
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I am afraid that doesn't make sense to me. My truck drops a coupe inches or more when I hook trailer to it. I have seen some real nose high trailers on the highway
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Old 08-13-2016, 02:01 PM   #7
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If you don't measure hooked up you can't allow for any squat of the truck. Finding a level place that long is sometimes a problem, but then we measured front and back. To get things the way we wanted we lowered the hitch and then lowered the pin box.
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Old 08-13-2016, 02:49 PM   #8
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I agree with you, it makes more sense to keep it hooked up and measure the trailer at both ends at the height of the bottom of the frame.
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Old 08-13-2016, 03:05 PM   #9
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This is not precise but it worked for me. After installing my Timbrens I hooked up, stepped back and looked at ride level of TV and RV. I could see the nose of the RV was low so I unhooked, raised my hitch, hooked up, stepped back and looked again. All level. All that measuring is good and fine but sometimes KISS works very well. Just MHO.
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Old 08-14-2016, 01:04 AM   #10
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After I installed my Air Lift bags with in-cab gage and controls I found a level place and added air until floating the bubble with the Montana hooked. Then I checked the reading on the air gage @40 psi. Now after hooking up I simply ad air until reaching 40 psi and I am good to go.
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Old 08-15-2016, 07:43 AM   #11
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I appreciate the information here. I have been wondering what the tolerance is for off level. KOLCB, where does the 1.5 inch tolerance come from?
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Old 08-24-2016, 03:25 PM   #12
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Controlling factor for me is spacing off the bed rails. In order to get about 6 inches of clearance, I end up with the trailer slightly low in the rear. My truck is standard height (not lifted), and it hunkers down when we hitch up the 5er. It handles well, but my rear landing gear looks mighty close to the ground when retracted.
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Old 08-24-2016, 05:10 PM   #13
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If I air bag the truck, it will sit higher when loaded than it does now. That will make the back of the trailer even lower than it now sits. I would post a picture if it wasn't so damn complicated.
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Old 08-25-2016, 02:07 PM   #14
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by K0LCB

I am afraid that doesn't make sense to me. My truck drops a coupe inches or more when I hook trailer to it. I have seen some real nose high trailers on the highway
I have a dually it is older. 2001. When I attach the trailer MY rear squats 1.5 or 2 inches. It wont matter if the hitch is slid back (manual slider) or not.
I have had a borken spring and got it replace cheap compared to the garage that wanted to change me 3K To change both rears.
One replacement spring was only under Three hundred bucks. But you have to know your apples and oranges to make the determination.

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Old 08-25-2016, 02:32 PM   #15
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Bad Moon

If I air bag the truck, it will sit higher when loaded than it does now. That will make the back of the trailer even lower than it now sits. I would post a picture if it wasn't so damn complicated.
Posting a picture couldn't be easier than this technique I just found out about.

1. Upload your picture to this site. (go to the site and either drag a picture to the box or click on the “or select” button to search for your picture)

2. Copy the resulting URL.

3. Paste that URL directly into your post without any additions or subtractions.

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Old 08-25-2016, 04:53 PM   #16
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IMG]http://i.imgur.com/AZ4JJE2l.jpg[/IMG]
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Old 08-25-2016, 04:56 PM   #17
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Well, it didn't pot the photo, just the link, but i guess it's better than nothing!
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Old 08-25-2016, 05:50 PM   #18
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Bad Moon

Well, it didn't pot the photo, just the link, but i guess it's better than nothing!
It looks like you didn't cut the whole string. There should be a left bracket "[" at the beginning of the string. It should look like this:

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/AZ4JJE2l.jpg[/IMG]

and will display like this:


But you are very close to having it right.
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Old 08-26-2016, 02:46 PM   #19
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Thanks for the help!
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Old 09-18-2016, 04:09 AM   #20
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With truck and trailer hooked up and ready to go, measure the front of the main frame to the ground, then the rear of the frame to the ground. Those numbers should be as close to equal as you can get. It is safest to emergency stop a trailer that is level.
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