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10-23-2013, 07:07 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: McCormick
Posts: 34
M.O.C. #13594
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truck and trailer not level when traveling
Got a question for the Ford truck owners.
I have a 2005 F-350, 6.0 diesel, with the 11,400 tow package.
My trailer is a 2008 3400RL.
When the truck and trailer are married, the trailer is not level...not even close. The bubble is as far left as it can go....
What can be done to bring the truck and trailer to level or near level?
I checked the Ford truck forum and honestly go confused due to so many conflicting ideas. So, I am bringing the question to the MOH forum. 
Thanks in advance for any and all help!
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10-23-2013, 07:09 PM
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#2
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: McCormick
Posts: 34
M.O.C. #13594
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Forgot to mention that my hitch is a 16K Reese
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10-23-2013, 08:54 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
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Do you mean the GVWR of your Ford is 11,400? And do you mean side to side of the trailer is not level? If the trailer is not level that way, then you must have a broken suspension on the lower side. If you are talking front to back leveling there are some things you can do, but I'd rather understand your problem first.
If your hitch is a 16K Reese, then that's great as long as it is higher than the fifth wheel tow rating of your F-350. For example, my fiver two rating is 15,200 so a 16K hitch is plenty (you should always have some margin).
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10-24-2013, 01:29 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 4,200
M.O.C. #11401
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They are rarely level when traveling. Most roads have crowned centers. Could be any number of reasons. Rarely are you ever on a level surface. The Reese is able to level left and right. The two hooked together should not change level. Give us more info.
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10-24-2013, 02:33 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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I pulled a 3665RE with the same truck and a reese 4-way hitch, and I was fairly level with kingpin set as delivered, and hitch adjustment on the center holes. I had sufficient clearance on the bedrails and was a little more than half a bubble high. The severity you describe does not make sense, and some other issue is in play. For example, did you put 20 inch rims on the truck? You described your bubble level showing max left, but how does the truck/fiver itself look when you stand badk and eyeball it?
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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10-24-2013, 02:47 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Belvidere
Posts: 1,834
M.O.C. #185
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Suggestion/questions:
.Put a level on your truck bed unhooked - Is it level?
.Put a level across your hitch - is it level -? (note the hitch can articulate left and right is
the mechanism functioning properly?)
.Put a level on across your king pin unhooked - is it level? (note: On one of my units the King pin
was installed out of level).
.Is the road/ground level where you are measuring?
If all is level then it is probably related to your trucks suspension/shocks. You truck is listed as 2005 and quite possible suspension parts can start to wear.
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10-24-2013, 04:25 AM
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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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Everyone here is looking at the truck. My Reeses head is designed to allow quite a bit of movement to each side, if the poster's is similar could the problem be on the trailer? Say broken shackles or springs on one side.
__________________
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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10-24-2013, 04:43 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Belvidere
Posts: 1,834
M.O.C. #185
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Good point on looking at the trailers suspension!
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10-24-2013, 06:23 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
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I have same combination, including the hitch. The 2008 3400RL has two small levels attached to the front drivers side, so I am not sure if you are talking about left-to-right leveling or front-to-back. If your unit is leaning left or right, I totally agree with Dick. It almost has to be a suspension issue with the 3400. If you are talking about front-to-back level, you must be referring to the truck being too low in the back. My F350 squatted a little so I had the Firestone bags installed. As others have said, more info is needed in order to generate additional suggestions.
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
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10-24-2013, 09:01 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,169
M.O.C. #6433
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I am making an assumption that the bubble level is on the drivers side of the trailer and by the bubble being to the left means the trailer is nose high.
One option is to have the 4" blocks on the rear axles replaced with 2" blocks. I had an '07 F350 6.0 long bed FX4 20" wheels. There was a Ford TSB (technical service bulletin) that stated that some trucks may be too high in the rear for towing a 5th wheel, and the recommended fix was replacing the blocks. I had them do that to mine for free as part of the truck purchase and it made mine ride level. Don't know what it costs to pay for the change.
Another possible option. If your hitch is made such that it has multiple choices of bolt holes you may be able to lower the hitch a few inches. My previous Pullrite Super 5th was like that. I lowered it when I added a 5th Airborne pin box because the new pin box raised the front of the trailer.
Now have a '12 F350 long bed FX4 20" wheels. Trailer rides a little nose high but not enough to worry about on this one. And my new hitch is not adjustable like the old one.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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10-24-2013, 06:15 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 214
M.O.C. #7994
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Need more info from the O.P. Is the trailer nose high and tail low, or is it low on one side.?
But you do need to state which otherwise we are really all guessing.
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10-25-2013, 11:45 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita
Posts: 633
M.O.C. #13025
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From what the OP says the bubble is way off. First thing to do is put a level inside the trailer on the floor. How does the level look? How does the trailer look to the eye? My trailer has a level mounted on the pin box. It is adjustable. If yours is the same the level may just need to be adjusted. Start with the simple things before you make changes to suspension.
__________________
Russ and Linda, So. California
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, D/A, SRW, SB
2005 2955RL, Pullrite Superglide 16K hitch. Bridgestone Duravis R500 tires. EZ Flex Equilizers with wet bolts.EMS HW50C, Disk brakes
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10-25-2013, 01:46 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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We still don't know if the trailer is off front to back or side to side.
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10-25-2013, 08:22 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
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We can't tell where the bubble that he's talking about is located. The only bubbles on my rig are the ones I either stuck on, screwed on or hold against my rig, so who knows what the OP is talking about.
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10-26-2013, 01:22 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Okeechobee
Posts: 2,150
M.O.C. #11206
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Hi
Some pictures would help as well.
Phil P
__________________
2009 Montana 3665RE
2009 Duramax 3500 DRW quad cab
personal web page https:// www.sallyscoffees.com
If you get a page not available then remove the "s" after HTTP
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10-26-2013, 02:35 AM
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#16
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: McCormick
Posts: 34
M.O.C. #13594
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Sorry about not getting back quickly...been away from my computer.
The out of level is front to back. The pickup bed is slightly higher when a level is placed on the bed rails. The trailer front to rear level bubble is to the left of center.
I cannot find anything wrong with the trailer suspension. So this has to deal with the truck suspension or the actual trailer hitch. When hooked up, the clearance between the trailer and the pickup bed is about 5-6".
Hope this helps. Let me know if more information is needed
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10-26-2013, 02:43 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
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The suggestion of a picture is probably the best one yet. A picture from the side showing the full truck and rig hooked up and ready to travel will speak a thousand words when diagnosing. I thought Reese hitches had an adjustable head on them that can be raised or lowered depending on where it is set currently. If the trailer is nose low, hitch adjustment or a set of air bags may be needed. If the trailer is nose high and you only have five inches of clearance to the bed rails, this may be a difficult situation to remedy. If you cannot post the picture, you can email to to any of us and we would be glad to post it on this thread for you. This will let all look at it and ponder the situation.
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
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10-26-2013, 02:47 AM
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#18
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: McCormick
Posts: 34
M.O.C. #13594
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The bubble level I am speaking of is one I mounted on the side of the trailer. I have a front to back level mounted on each side of the trailer in the front and one on the rear of the trailer on the drivers side. When set up they are all level and match a carpenters level placed on the inside floor and counter top. Trust me...all my mounted levels are accurate.
When I am hooked up, all my front to rear levels show at least a half bubble left of the level box (outside the level box).
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10-26-2013, 02:55 AM
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#19
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: McCormick
Posts: 34
M.O.C. #13594
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My truck rims and tires are standard issue size for the truck. No modifications have been made to the suspension. Everything is factory. The weight rating is 11,400 with a combined rating of 23,000.
A Ford dealer looked at the truck suspension and everything isok.
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10-26-2013, 03:05 AM
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#20
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: McCormick
Posts: 34
M.O.C. #13594
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I am currently not hooked up, so I cannot provide a picture of my rig nor the bubble position. When I can I will snap a picture of the trailer king pin box bolt positions for you to look at. My thoughts are this issue could be caused by the truck suspensuon blocks (as mentioned) or the trailer king pin box needs adjusted.
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Linear Mode
