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Post by wahoo on Oct 28, 2021 9:39:03 GMT -5
Current situation: 2011 KZ Escalade with Fifth Airborne pin box in its highest position, stock 2019 F350 dually with B&W companion in its lowest position. RV is sitting nose high, ground clearance is 25 inches front, 16 inches rear. Rear tires are squatting a little with the additional weight. Suspension was just replaced with new springs, equalizers and wet bolts. This appears to be becoming a bigger issue as trucks get taller although I am not sure if newer model KZ fivers take this into account. I found this article discussing the issue and a fix that looks ok, wondering if anyone has done it or even has an opinion on this or other possible solutions. Thanks in advance! www.rvlifemag.com/towing-tall-trucks/  |
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Post by laknox on Oct 28, 2021 10:42:59 GMT -5
Current situation: 2011 KZ Escalade with Fifth Airborne pin box in its highest position, stock 2019 F350 dually with B&W companion in its lowest position. RV is sitting nose high, ground clearance is 25 inches front, 16 inches rear. Rear tires are squatting a little with the additional weight. Suspension was just replaced with new springs, equalizers and wet bolts. This appears to be becoming a bigger issue as trucks get taller although I am not sure if newer model KZ fivers take this into account. I found this article discussing the issue and a fix that looks ok, wondering if anyone has done it or even has an opinion on this or other possible solutions. Thanks in advance! www.rvlifemag.com/towing-tall-trucks/<button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button><button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button> My brother just picked up a '19 SRW 350 to replace his '05 350 dually that blew the engine (anyone want a truck in excellent condition with 141k?; needs engine?). He's now only got about 4-5" bed clearance but has one hole left in his new Companion puck hitch. Even now, he's about 2" nose high and will end up about 4" nose high if he moves the hitch up. The '19 does have 2.5-3" blocks in the rear suspension, and I flat-out told him that removing them would be the easiest solution, but he's waffling. I also told him that, since he's not really planning on towing all that much, he can probably tow the 4" nose high, with no problem. It's a rear kitchen, so the angle shouldn't affect the fridge and he's got Sailun G's on a 14k GVW trailer, so the extra load on the rear tires really won't affect them. He =needs= the clearance to be able to get into his property, though. This is my biggest fear when I get another truck. We boondock and having that 8" of clearance has saved me more than a couple times. Most people recommend that any trailer lift > 2" should really have a sub-frame at least 1' longer than the spring hangers welded to the main frame and the new hangers welded to the sub-frame, with cross-braces added. Your mod should work, but I'd keep a close eye on it, especially if you have to make lots of tight turns. Post pics after a year of traveling! Lyle |
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Post by wahoo on Oct 28, 2021 12:25:23 GMT -5
Thanks....those pics are from the article. My local trailer shop can do the work and they feel good about it. I spoke with the factory, they used Leland Jake Plates with good success to raise trailers for customers. The jake plate is essentially what you describe. Unfortunately there appear to be no jake plates around so fabbing a couple seems to be the best answer. Looks like Leland was bought by Dexter who sold it to LCI...and another product option leaves the market:)
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Post by Edd505 on Oct 28, 2021 13:25:33 GMT -5
My brother just picked up a '19 SRW 350 to replace his '05 350 dually that blew the engine (anyone want a truck in excellent condition with 141k?; needs engine?). He's now only got about 4-5" bed clearance but has one hole left in his new Companion puck hitch. Even now, he's about 2" nose high and will end up about 4" nose high if he moves the hitch up. The '19 does have 2.5-3" blocks in the rear suspension, and I flat-out told him that removing them would be the easiest solution, but he's waffling. I also told him that, since he's not really planning on towing all that much, he can probably tow the 4" nose high, with no problem. It's a rear kitchen, so the angle shouldn't affect the fridge and he's got Sailun G's on a 14k GVW trailer, so the extra load on the rear tires really won't affect them. He =needs= the clearance to be able to get into his property, though. This is my biggest fear when I get another truck. We boondock and having that 8" of clearance has saved me more than a couple times. Most people recommend that any trailer lift > 2" should really have a sub-frame at least 1' longer than the spring hangers welded to the main frame and the new hangers welded to the sub-frame, with cross-braces added. Your mod should work, but I'd keep a close eye on it, especially if you have to make lots of tight turns. Post pics after a year of traveling! Lyle Lyle what rims does he have on the new truck? Many came with 18" rims and some with 20", I have the 20' and if I find some 18 at a reasonable price I'll drop down for the extra clearance. Might be something he can look into. I have a programmer that allows me to adjust the speedo to tire size, I had to adjust with stock tires & wheels to match GPS speed as it was off by about 4mph. |
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Post by wahoo on Oct 28, 2021 17:14:10 GMT -5
Headed to the local 4x4 shop in the morning, they say they can lower the rear of the truck 2 inches by swapping lifting blocks and u bolts. Read somewhere that can cause pinion issues but they say they do it all the time with great results. If it happens, will have more info to solve the issue. If anyone made a flatter king pin box and I could pick up another inch or two, I might be good.
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Post by Edd505 on Oct 28, 2021 20:19:44 GMT -5
Headed to the local 4x4 shop in the morning, they say they can lower the rear of the truck 2 inches by swapping lifting blocks and u bolts. Read somewhere that can cause pinion issues but they say they do it all the time with great results. If it happens, will have more info to solve the issue. If anyone made a flatter king pin box and I could pick up another inch or two, I might be good. Be interested in how this works,I would like more than the 5" I have. I have had to back out twice as the 5W nose was about to hit the bed rail.
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Post by laknox on Oct 29, 2021 9:43:38 GMT -5
My brother just picked up a '19 SRW 350 to replace his '05 350 dually that blew the engine (anyone want a truck in excellent condition with 141k?; needs engine?). He's now only got about 4-5" bed clearance but has one hole left in his new Companion puck hitch. Even now, he's about 2" nose high and will end up about 4" nose high if he moves the hitch up. The '19 does have 2.5-3" blocks in the rear suspension, and I flat-out told him that removing them would be the easiest solution, but he's waffling. I also told him that, since he's not really planning on towing all that much, he can probably tow the 4" nose high, with no problem. It's a rear kitchen, so the angle shouldn't affect the fridge and he's got Sailun G's on a 14k GVW trailer, so the extra load on the rear tires really won't affect them. He =needs= the clearance to be able to get into his property, though. This is my biggest fear when I get another truck. We boondock and having that 8" of clearance has saved me more than a couple times. Most people recommend that any trailer lift > 2" should really have a sub-frame at least 1' longer than the spring hangers welded to the main frame and the new hangers welded to the sub-frame, with cross-braces added. Your mod should work, but I'd keep a close eye on it, especially if you have to make lots of tight turns. Post pics after a year of traveling! Lyle Lyle what rims does he have on the new truck? Many came with 18" rims and some with 20", I have the 20' and if I find some 18 at a reasonable price I'll drop down for the extra clearance. Might be something he can look into. I have a programmer that allows me to adjust the speedo to tire size, I had to adjust with stock tires & wheels to match GPS speed as it was off by about 4mph. He's got the 20's. He's also feeling the cash pinch, so not going to spring for new wheels and tires any time soon. :-) FWIW, =all= speedos are off by 2-4 mph, even with stock tires/wheels. I have 265s on my truck instead of the stock 245s, and I add 4% for miles and just use the GPS for speed, but it's about 4%, too. Lyle |
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Post by wahoo on Oct 29, 2021 15:06:53 GMT -5
Struck out at the 4x4 shop, the 2019 dually only has a one inch block. While looking around, there is a company that builds shackles that will lower the bed by 1.5 inches without affecting tow ratings: www.pmfsuspension.com/1999-2022-Ford-F-250350-Rear-Lowering-Shackles_p_193.htmlThere are numerous methods to raise the trailer but none are really attractive either from a cost or reliability perspective. Still looking around for the magic.... |
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Post by 660catman on Oct 29, 2021 19:05:20 GMT -5
Struck out at the 4x4 shop, the 2019 dually only has a one inch block. While looking around, there is a company that builds shackles that will lower the bed by 1.5 inches without affecting tow ratings: www.pmfsuspension.com/1999-2022-Ford-F-250350-Rear-Lowering-Shackles_p_193.htmlThere are numerous methods to raise the trailer but none are really attractive either from a cost or reliability perspective. Still looking around for the magic.... That seems like a reasonable price for a change. I know my nephew had a complete undercarriage made up for his fifth wheel to lift it. I can’t remember if it’s welded onto the frame or bolted in multiple spots. |
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Post by Edd505 on Oct 29, 2021 21:33:09 GMT -5
He's got the 20's. He's also feeling the cash pinch, so not going to spring for new wheels and tires any time soon. :-) FWIW, =all= speedos are off by 2-4 mph, even with stock tires/wheels. I have 265s on my truck instead of the stock 245s, and I add 4% for miles and just use the GPS for speed, but it's about 4%, too. Lyle He might be able to trade his rims for 18's, kids now days are looking for the 20's. Not sure where he is but I see tired & rims all the time on Craig's list El Paso. I watch there as it's only about 1.5 hrs away. I scored 4, 20" rims & 4 Michelin tires with about 1000 miles, $800. No not stolen guy bought a new F350 and sent it to get jacked up with big tires, business guys with multi business. I met him at one and saw the restored vehicles along with the Police car from Mayberry RFD. Some guys just have too much money.
If you can find an SCT programmer it allows reprogramming the speedo, measure tire size in inches 33, 34, 35 and insert that number drive and check with GPS, my speedo is with in 1mph of the GPS.
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Post by laknox on Nov 1, 2021 10:21:14 GMT -5
Struck out at the 4x4 shop, the 2019 dually only has a one inch block. While looking around, there is a company that builds shackles that will lower the bed by 1.5 inches without affecting tow ratings: www.pmfsuspension.com/1999-2022-Ford-F-250350-Rear-Lowering-Shackles_p_193.htmlThere are numerous methods to raise the trailer but none are really attractive either from a cost or reliability perspective. Still looking around for the magic.... Haven't seen prices recently, but several years ago, having a complete sub-frame built to lift a FW wasn't all that expensive. I'm sure it would depend on the shop doing the work. A number of guys did it themselves, too. Lyle |
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Post by laknox on Nov 1, 2021 10:33:22 GMT -5
He's got the 20's. He's also feeling the cash pinch, so not going to spring for new wheels and tires any time soon. :-) FWIW, =all= speedos are off by 2-4 mph, even with stock tires/wheels. I have 265s on my truck instead of the stock 245s, and I add 4% for miles and just use the GPS for speed, but it's about 4%, too. Lyle He might be able to trade his rims for 18's, kids now days are looking for the 20's. Not sure where he is but I see tired & rims all the time on Craig's list El Paso. I watch there as it's only about 1.5 hrs away. I scored 4, 20" rims & 4 Michelin tires with about 1000 miles, $800. No not stolen guy bought a new F350 and sent it to get jacked up with big tires, business guys with multi business. I met him at one and saw the restored vehicles along with the Police car from Mayberry RFD. Some guys just have too much money.
If you can find an SCT programmer it allows reprogramming the speedo, measure tire size in inches 33, 34, 35 and insert that number drive and check with GPS, my speedo is with in 1mph of the GPS.
I was told several times that my '02 couldn't be programmed for the 265s without changing the ECU. This was =not= dealers, either. With my '11 Sonata, the dealer told me that the ECU fell under DRM copyrights and nobody could calibrate the speedo/odo. Personally, I think they F around with these to show more mileage. Once I calibrated my speedo and odo with my Garmin, I'd have to multiply my trip odo by 0.96 to get actual miles. Cost me almost 2 mpg when hand-calc'd. Even had a cop pull up next to me once and ask why I was driving slightly under the speed limit. I told him my speedo was locked on the limit with my cruise. He tracked me for several miles at 2-3 mph below the speed limit. I did ask one independent shop about the Sonata, and they confirmed that they couldn't touch it to calibrate the speedo. Lyle |
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Post by wahoo on Nov 16, 2021 16:22:01 GMT -5
Headed to the local 4x4 shop in the morning, they say they can lower the rear of the truck 2 inches by swapping lifting blocks and u bolts. Read somewhere that can cause pinion issues but they say they do it all the time with great results. If it happens, will have more info to solve the issue. If anyone made a flatter king pin box and I could pick up another inch or two, I might be good. Be interested in how this works,I would like more than the 5" I have. I have had to back out twice as the 5W nose was about to hit the bed rail.
So duallys only have a one inch lifting block that is needed for pinion angle...however this company makes a shackle that will lower F250/350s up to two inches. www.pmfsuspension.com/1999-2022-Ford-F-250350-Rear-Lowering-Shackles_p_193.htmlReceived them yesterday and installed this morning, now the truck looks slightly higher in the back rather than the stock, jacked-up appearance. Still have to raise the trailer a little but on the right track to get to level now. |
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