Trailer Level

[mmandley]

I keep seeing this in pictures and when driving and it really worries me people are not understanding this.

There is a reason we have Camber, Caster, and Leveling to trailers.

Single axle trailer are not as prone to this but still need to be level.

Duel axle trailer absolutely need to be level.

Single axle trailer when sloped down on the front, or raised to high on the front cause very serious problems to the trailers and the people traveling next to them.

Up tongue means, trailer is ridding with more weight in the rear, this causes fishtails, more weight on the rear half of the springs and is a very high risk of coming off the hitch ball. It also stresses the hitch ball and can cause it to break off.

To low on the tongue causes more Stress on the hitch ball, adds more weight then recommended on your trailer hitch, and causes the rear axle of the trailer to be stressed on the front half of the springs.

Duel axle trailers are designed this way to evenly carry the load on the boat in our case.

Leaning to fare forward or backwards adds tremendous stress to the leading or trailer axle depending on what direction the trailer is tilted. This also causes the trailer to drift easier when hitting bumps.

The correct way to tow your boat or any trailer is completely level or 1 inch forward for a single axle trailer.

Take a level and sit it on the frame rail of your trailer when your hooked to the truck, if its not level get the proper tow receiver or get a leveling kit for the truck.

You cause great stresses on a tow vehicle when the trailer isn't level. Added weight on the hitch, hitch ball, rear suspension, and braking system of the tow vehicle. The bigger your boat the more stresses caused.

Please take a few minutes next time you load you boat, step back look at your rig, if its sagging in the rear, and or the boat isn't level, fix it. Tow safely this summer and make it safe for those around you.

Sorry i had to write this up after already seeing tons of boats traveling around with really improper leveling setups.

[NCSUmoomba]

I totally agree. People and their trailers really get me upset. The not level is one of them. I have heard people complain about hitting their prop guard on their trailer, well I hardly ever scrape mine, and my trailer is level. The other thing is lights, it pisses me off how many people tow trailers without working lights. I would venture to say that around here, less than half of the ones I see have working lights. Also, there are some crappy trailers out there as well that really scare me, and they are going to kill someone. I once saw a guy towing a Bobcat, on an homebuilt angle frame and rebar trailer that looked like it was about to collapse, with no lights of course, behind a Ford Aerostar van. Someone should shoot that guy. Related to that, the other thing I can't understand is seeing a newer Escalade or Land Rover or whatever, towing a trailer that is a comple piece of s%*t. If you can afford a really nice tow vehicle, you can afford a trailer that won't kill someone.

[csmsk]

Thanks for the post. This is a subject often overlooked and not mentioned often enough on this forum.

Please use proper care while towing, not only to keep yourself and others safe, but to protect your investments as well!

[Razzman]

Ideally your trailer toungue should be 18-19" off the pavement when hooked to the vehicle. Follow that rule and you'll never have an issue. That is pretty much how it's been determined for years. In fact i was suprised to see the dealer check mine with a tape measure when we took delivery.

And i'm in agreement that there are way to many uninformed, ignorant or lazy people pulling trailers. The ones that get me are when you see a vehicle & trailer swaying back and forth in a vary dangerous manner and the driver is just going along like nothings happening!

[jester]

Guys great post. I have also noticed as the weather is getting nicer more people with toys in tow and how bad they do on the weight. Also if you are level on flat ground i would assume it would make a difference loading and unloading the boat. When i got my new tow rig i had to buy a new hitch and ball just so i was riding level again. You can never have too many ways to hookup the boat.

[moombadaze]

Glad you brought this up Mike

Thats one of the reasons I added air bags to the rear of the truck-
I can level the trailer if the bed of the truck is full or empty-even empty I add about 25psi to the bags to level it. Have had to add 50psi to the bags when the truck was full of camping gear

[Razzman]

Glad you brought this up Mike

Thats one of the reasons I added air bags to the rear of the truck-
I can level the trailer if the bed of the truck is full or empty-even empty I add about 25psi to the bags to level it. Have had to add 50psi to the bags when the truck was full of camping gear

Ditto and the only way to fly! :p I run 30/60 in the same scenarios.

[skiyaker]

amen- took me about 3 trips to Rural King to find the right tongue... and thanks for not mentioning me by name for the first pic I ever posted on this site but rest assured I'm flying right now ;)

[mmandley]

amen- took me about 3 trips to Rural King to find the right tongue... and thanks for not mentioning me by name for the first pic I ever posted on this site but rest assured I'm flying right now ;)

I realy wasnt talkign about anyone specific to this site, i will PM you if i have a personal issue with you or something you post. I try realy hard to not point fingers in the open forum LOL.

I got the Air system for Big blue and it gets installed Sunday morning before i head to Exile to bail my baby out of hock.

Biggest problem Blue has is when Fierah is hooked up she sits 3 inches lower then i like but my trailer is at 20 inches. When i unload Fierah Blue sits at 25 inchs and i have to stand on my bumper to get the ball to go under the tongue LOL.

Now ill be able to drop the hitch reciever down and load up Fierah then hit the go button on the air system to level her out again.

[zabooda]

Probably talking about me..lol. When I use my motorhome, I have a long drop hitch that still doesn't level out the single axle trailer as well as I like. I get more concerned about the tail end dragging.

[jester]

Biggest problem Blue has is when Fierah is hooked up she sits 3 inches lower then i like but my trailer is at 20 inches. When i unload Fierah Blue sits at 25 inchs and i have to stand on my bumper to get the ball to go under the tongue LOL.

Now ill be able to drop the hitch reciever down and load up Fierah then hit the go button on the air system to level her out again.

Mike, You know you are taking all the fun of hooking up. Too bad I never got that on tape. It would make a great show.

[cab13367]

I'm guilty as charged. I did put inflatable air bags inside the rear coil springs of my previous tow vehicle - a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee - out the bags would only last one season and would develop cracks in them. I sent them back and they sent me new ones but I would have to go thru the hassle of installing them again (quite a job). This happened three years in a row.

My current tow vehicle is a 2000 Dodge Durango and sad to say, I have not done anything to it and I look like I am going pertually uphill when my boat is attached. So what does everyone recommend I go with as far as a reliable set up without spending a ton of $$? Air shocks?

Thanks,

Al

[Razzman]

Al go with bags from Air Lift Suspensions (http://www.airliftcompany.com/index.php), they are rock solid and do the job perfectly. In fact i do believe that's what Mike got as well based on my recommendation. When i bought last year i found them with the single inside gauge and compressor for around $200 total and they're not hard to install as you have a leaf rear suspension.

I feel for that Durango btw! My wife has an '03 and the poor thing squated so bad towing the old boat (which was lighter) that i went out and bought the truck. But then hers has the 4.7L V8 and it worked too hard for my likeing.

[NCSUmoomba]

I know I will probably catch some flak for this, but I am a firm believer in having a full size tow vehicle for a full size boat. I will admit that when I first bought my boat, I was towing it with a Ford Ranger, however, I did swap out the rear leaf springs for some heavier duty ones which helped with the squatting. After about a year of that, I wised up and bought a F150.

[cab13367]

Al go with bags from Air Lift Suspensions (http://www.airliftcompany.com/index.php), they are rock solid and do the job perfectly. In fact i do believe that's what Mike got as well based on my recommendation. When i bought last year i found them with the single inside gauge and compressor for around $200 total and they're not hard to install as you have a leaf rear suspension.

I feel for that Durango btw! My wife has an '03 and the poor thing squated so bad towing the old boat (which was lighter) that i went out and bought the truck. But then hers has the 4.7L V8 and it worked too hard for my likeing.

What about air shocks? Are they a comparable option to air bags? They seem to be a bit less expensive.

[Razzman]

What about air shocks? Are they a comparable option to air bags? They seem to be a bit less expensive.

Air shocks will do the job Al but here's why I don't recommend them. One, regardless of what any shock mfgr says they will not properly support the ame load air bags will. Second, they will on some vehicles cause the rear end to hop and become very harsh as the shocks are generally not the best on valving. Three they are notorius for blowing air lines at the seemingly most inoportune moments.

If you want to keep cost down then just get the bags without the compressor and and manually fill.

[mmandley]

Got my air bags installed Sunday morning before we picked up the boat. I didnt get all the on board stuff done. Just the bags and cut a couple short lines to manualy fill them till i can get the on board stuff done.

WOW what a difference. I dropped Fierah on the truck, she squatted about 5 inches like normal. Hit the air and up Big Blue went. 50psi and she was level and rode like there was no boat on the back of her.

[zegm]

I love my VW Touareg with the air suspension. I hooked the boat up to her saturday, put her suspension setting in auto (I usually drive it in sport mode, lowered) and when I cranked her up she jacked up her little rear end and front end till everything was level!

She also comes with an air line under the rear seat and a fitting to attach it to just in under the front seat. If we need to fill a tube for Wolfeman or Kaneboats I just hook it up, crank it up and fill up their tubes!

[viking]

Got my air bags installed Sunday morning before we picked up the boat. I didnt get all the on board stuff done. Just the bags and cut a couple short lines to manualy fill them till i can get the on board stuff done.

WOW what a difference. I dropped Fierah on the truck, she squatted about 5 inches like normal. Hit the air and up Big Blue went. 50psi and she was level and rode like there was no boat on the back of her.

Yah - you need air bags now with all that audio weight in her. :D

[kaneboats]

If we need to fill a tube for Wolfeman or Kaneboats I just hook it up, crank it up and fill up their tubes!

What's a tube? You must be talking about some other kaneboats you know, right?

[cab13367]

Alright, you talked me into it. Ordered the air lift kit today.

Thanks (I think),

Al

[kaneboats]

Good for you, Al. You'll be happy.

[dru1974]

Look guys sorry about my minivan I was at work you know I am a landscaper and made my bobcat trailer out of leftover material. I thunk it worked real good.

[mmandley]

On vacation we saw the best thing, i wish i could have gotten a picture. You always see these Mexican guys towing a Toyota with a Toyota using those tow bars.

We say a Toyota towing a car trailer with a Chevy 1500 on it. Man was that a backward looking deal, and his bumper would literally spark on every bump in the highway.

[Razzman]

Alright, you talked me into it. Ordered the air lift kit today.

Thanks (I think),

Al

Al you won't be sorry, trust me ! Sounds like a used car salesman huh! Seriously, remember one thing, those era Durangos are heavy but couple that with a short wheelbase and their screwy short front shock setup and they have a nasty habit of "dancing" on the highway. In fact i'm putting on a set of the Monroe Reflex shocks next week on hers, they really help eliminate the "Durango Dance"! I've also been told cutting an 1/8" off of the frame bumpers in front helps the 2wd models.

[cab13367]

50psi and she was level and rode like there was no boat on the back of her.

50 psi?? I thought this was a low pressure system?

[cab13367]

Al you won't be sorry, trust me ! Sounds like a used car salesman huh! Seriously, remember one thing, those era Durangos are heavy but couple that with a short wheelbase and their screwy short front shock setup and they have a nasty habit of "dancing" on the highway. In fact i'm putting on a set of the Monroe Reflex shocks next week on hers, they really help eliminate the "Durango Dance"! I've also been told cutting an 1/8" off of the frame bumpers in front helps the 2wd models.

Razz,

Our Durango pulls our boat straight and true - we don't have the Durango Dance. Must have been an option that didn't come on ours :)

I am looking forward to a level riding rig though.

Al

[Razzman]

50 psi?? I thought this was a low pressure system?

Up to 100psi max. When no load i run 5-10 psi in the bags depending on the road conditions. Boat with no load in bed around 35 psi and boat with camping load is 60 psi.

[mmandley]

It doesn't take much air to get 50 PSI Al. I just touched the compressor line on the inlet to the Air bag and then checked it with the gauge and it peged at 50.

I don't really know if that's whats in there, the gauge that came with the kit only reads 50 and the kit is a 100PSI deal. go figure LOL.

I can say towing the last couple times now with the new Air Bags has been great. The truck rides like there's no boat there, and now i don't have to stand on my bumper to hook up the boat and un hook it LOL.