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07-16-2019, 07:46 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 492
M.O.C. #17391
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Towing with a lifted truck
I dont want this thread to bash anyone I just want to know how many think its ok to put the axles on the bottom of the springs to lift the trailer? i saw a guy on a truck site with a 6" lift and he took the axles on his 5th wheel and put them on the bottom of the springs to lift the trailer. he thinks it's safe. I wonder how that changed the center of gravity and how safe that is.
I am not in that camp and not planing to do this to my 5er
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07-16-2019, 08:03 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: POINTBLANK
Posts: 1,888
M.O.C. #19944
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not me - … - trusting in fate too much
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RAM 22' DRW 3500 Crew LB 40 gal reserve tank / RETRAX Bed Cover / 2020 373RD HC / IS / MOPEKA Tank Monitor / Furrion Side&Rear Cameras
Slide Toppers / EMS-HW50C / Sailun 85's
3rd AC / Dometic 320
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07-16-2019, 08:04 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Trinidad, TX
Posts: 506
M.O.C. #20746
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Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
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2018 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn 4X4 Dually Cummins Aisin CC LB / B&W Companion hitch
50 Gallon Transfer Flow in bed tank w/ Trax 3
2018 Montana 3121RL
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07-16-2019, 08:19 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,553
M.O.C. #2283
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I would have no problem lifting the trailer like he did. My problem is with the truck. His drive shaft isn’t lined up straight. If you like vibration especially starting out this is an excellent way to get it. And it weakens the U joints.
Lynwood
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07-16-2019, 08:25 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,470
M.O.C. #23668
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Reversing the axles as you described is how it used to be done. I used to see it quite often on older rigs. That's how you gained lift, especially on 5ers that were historically built with low ground clearance and low pin height.
I don't know if was problematic. I do know it was common practice.
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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07-16-2019, 09:18 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,371
M.O.C. #4831
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Montanas are built with the axle on top of the springs. If you need to go higher then you need blocks between the axles and springs which brings up other issues.
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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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07-16-2019, 09:57 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,702
M.O.C. #12947
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Not sure if that is right, or at least not on ours.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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07-16-2019, 10:56 AM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Chino Valley
Posts: 226
M.O.C. #23720
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We have 10's of thousands of miles with the axles turned on our 25' salem. We did notice it put a LOT of added stress on the frame. We had to beef that up. We also double towed with that same trailer. It's GVWR is under 10K, and I believe that makes a difference. I wouldn't do this to my Montana, but that is how we were able to drag it off road without hitting the truck bed! This question is kind of like the double towing question, some would some wouldn't. IMHO Like Rohrmann said, already done on our monty!!
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Steven & Denise
New to us 2014 3150RL
Chino Valley, AZ
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07-16-2019, 01:59 PM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Fulton
Posts: 456
M.O.C. #20688
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Yea but isn’t that gonna lift the whole camper, We’re 13’5” now!
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Wayne & Malinda
2018 Montana 3731FL
MORryde IS/DiscBrakes
2017 F450 DRW KR 4x4
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07-16-2019, 02:47 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,470
M.O.C. #23668
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Yes, it will lift the whole rig about 3". I think you would need a very compelling reason for reversing axles. Best left alone on the newer, heavier rigs, IMHO
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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07-16-2019, 05:47 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Chino Valley
Posts: 226
M.O.C. #23720
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I believe that most if not all of montanas are already on the bottom of the spring stack, so NO turning the axles!! But on some of the others the axle is on top of the spring stack. On my salem, we gained over 5" . The axle plus the thickness of the spring stack! It was a low profile 5er, so the 5" was no big deal. As I said, I did have to reinforce the frame above the spring mounts.
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Steven & Denise
New to us 2014 3150RL
Chino Valley, AZ
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07-24-2019, 02:06 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Long Isalnd
Posts: 136
M.O.C. #23929
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carl n susan
Montanas are built with the axle on top of the springs. If you need to go higher then you need blocks between the axles and springs which brings up other issues.
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If the axle is on top of the springs and you place a block between them it will lower the trailer. The block only works to lift the trailer if the spring is on top of the axle
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07-24-2019, 02:18 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Reno
Posts: 293
M.O.C. #22620
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I did that with a 16' TT I had a few years ago. Didn't do it to match my truck, but to get some ground clearance. Raising the height of a Montana will reduce the number of overpasses one could travel under. My Monty is 13'5", reversing the axles would push it up to 13'9' or 13'10'. Still legal, but could be a problem on some US and state hwys, especially on the east coast.
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07-24-2019, 02:31 PM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Overland Park
Posts: 108
M.O.C. #22381
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If your unit has the springs attached at the bottom of the axels and you want to attach them to the top, you will need to have new spring mounts welded to the bottom of the axles. If you just flip your axles over without doing this your axles will now have negative camber and will cause very poor handling and significant tire wear... FYI!
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07-24-2019, 06:48 PM
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#15
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Monroe GA
Posts: 49
M.O.C. #22777
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I know none of us is likely towing our rig around the track at Indianapolis or anyplace like that. But just a little food for thought anything you lift you also
raise the center of gravity. Make it a bit more top heavy. High winds, going around tight curves in the mountains etc, your rig would be a bit more tipsy that way..
__________________
2019 3121RL Anniversary Edition
2016 Ram 2500 4x4 6.7 CTD
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07-28-2019, 07:08 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wampum
Posts: 571
M.O.C. #9928
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My 3121RL is 13'4" already. No way could it be raised the height of the axle and still clear some bridges.
__________________
"What happens at camp stays at camp"
2018 3121RL
2016 Ford F350 SB SRW
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07-28-2019, 10:02 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,702
M.O.C. #12947
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Usually, the highest point on these rigs is the top of the front A/C and if the rig is lifted two or three inches at the axles, likely the most the front will go up would be maybe 1/2". The rig will pivot up the back end the most, so that will maintain the original height.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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07-29-2019, 07:46 AM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Catoosa
Posts: 780
M.O.C. #18384
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rohrmann
Usually, the highest point on these rigs is the top of the front A/C and if the rig is lifted two or three inches at the axles, likely the most the front will go up would be maybe 1/2". The rig will pivot up the back end the most, so that will maintain the original height.
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While that might be true with a single axle trailer, a dual axle trailer will give a more uniform lift. Besides that the main reason to lift a trailer is to make it tow level on a lifted truck, therefore any pivot effect would be negated by the increased height of the tow vechicle.
__________________
2015 3100RL legacy...2005 Ford F-250 CC SB. Tows like a charm! 4/19 Updated to 2017 Chevy 3500 CC SB SRW -hope it tows as well as my F 250 did!
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