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08-13-2016, 11:09 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Macon
Posts: 14
M.O.C. #17869
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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?
Thanks,
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08-13-2016, 12:11 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
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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
__________________
2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
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08-13-2016, 12:24 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Arroyo City
Posts: 3,110
M.O.C. #13395
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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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08-13-2016, 01:04 PM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Macon
Posts: 14
M.O.C. #17869
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Thanks everyone. I will try it hitched up and measure the trailer frame.
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08-13-2016, 01:20 PM
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#5
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Macon
Posts: 14
M.O.C. #17869
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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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08-13-2016, 02:01 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Arroyo City
Posts: 3,110
M.O.C. #13395
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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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08-13-2016, 02:01 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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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.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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08-13-2016, 02:49 PM
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#8
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Macon
Posts: 14
M.O.C. #17869
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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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08-13-2016, 03:05 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cuyahoga Falls
Posts: 710
M.O.C. #18572
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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.
__________________
ATC/NAC Jerry A. Burkholder, USN (RET.)
Rule #1. The Chief is always right.
Rule #2. When in doubt, refer to rule #1.
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08-14-2016, 01:04 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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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.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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08-15-2016, 07:43 AM
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#11
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Oswego
Posts: 7
M.O.C. #17681
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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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08-24-2016, 03:25 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Medford
Posts: 498
M.O.C. #18546
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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.
__________________
2016 Montana High Country 310RE
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LT CC 4x4 Duramax
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08-24-2016, 05:10 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Medford
Posts: 498
M.O.C. #18546
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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.
__________________
2016 Montana High Country 310RE
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LT CC 4x4 Duramax
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08-25-2016, 02:07 PM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hudson
Posts: 480
M.O.C. #2446
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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
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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.
__________________
Chris Donna and Oliver the rescue Dog.
Old 3255RL It is a weekend warrior and less than 15K miles. Mostly sits at the house. Home is where the heart is.
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08-25-2016, 02:32 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,464
M.O.C. #4831
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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.
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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.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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08-25-2016, 04:53 PM
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#16
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Medford
Posts: 498
M.O.C. #18546
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IMG]http://i.imgur.com/AZ4JJE2l.jpg[/IMG]
__________________
2016 Montana High Country 310RE
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LT CC 4x4 Duramax
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08-25-2016, 04:56 PM
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#17
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Medford
Posts: 498
M.O.C. #18546
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Well, it didn't pot the photo, just the link, but i guess it's better than nothing!
__________________
2016 Montana High Country 310RE
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LT CC 4x4 Duramax
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08-25-2016, 05:50 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,464
M.O.C. #4831
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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!
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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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08-26-2016, 02:46 PM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Medford
Posts: 498
M.O.C. #18546
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Thanks for the help!
__________________
2016 Montana High Country 310RE
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LT CC 4x4 Duramax
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09-18-2016, 04:09 AM
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#20
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New Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Goodyear
Posts: 4
M.O.C. #19042
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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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