Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

Perhaps I do have peanut butter springs. We are the 2nd owners of this truck and I'm fairly certain it has factory springs. The truck does have a lot of miles (220k), but it is mainly a mall cruiser.

That might be your problem right there... With shock and spring suspension (not strut/coilovers), the shocks do absolutely nothing to carry the load. You could remove them, and your ride height would be 100% identical. But... with 220k miles on the springs and millions of bumps, they have softened up some, as well as compressed due to the continous load. Springs are very rarely replaced on trucks, if they are still in one piece, why touch it, is the general attitude. (performance cars are a different matter, there is a large difference in handling of factory new springs and oem springs with 100k miles.)

 

[NYBo]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

I'm with 'crater 100%. I doubt your tongue weight is far enough out of whack to be causing that much squat. You need to level the Suburban- front suspension geometry changes which affects handling and steering, braking balance is affected, and your headlights will be searching for airplanes.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

I'm with 'crater 100%. I doubt your tongue weight is far enough out of whack to be causing that much squat. You need to level the Suburban- front suspension geometry changes which affects handling and steering, braking balance is affected, and your headlights will be searching for airplanes.

Maybe, but I'd look at the boat first regardless. I also move my boat around the property with a 10 yr. old Jeep Cherokee that drops probably 3-4", and it has half the suspension of a 'Burban. Unless that 'Burban has been worked pretty hard, I can't see much potential for spring wear if as the OP states it's been a mall cruiser and road warrior most of it's life. (who drives 200K miles to the mall?) But, it can happen and certainly worth a look too.

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

I used to own a '92 Suburban K1500. The weight distribution on them were terrible. I had a monster 6000lb 33ft camper. It was probably close to 7500lbs after my wife packed us up. lol. Anyhow, the sticker on my hitch said tow capacity was actually 5000lbs. To go any higher (10,000) you had to use weight distribution bars. If I was just moving around the camper (off road) I didn't bother with the bars. The back end dropped several inches and the front end went up. The truck really struggled with it. I wouldn't venture out on the open road without the bars. I once set the tension of the bars too low and almost lost it on the expressway due to really bad sway. I bought an Expedition and it was a world of difference. The back end hardly dropped at all. Just my $.02.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

First you need to measure the height of the coupler(where the ball inserts) with the trailer level(parallel to the ground). Then measure the height of the ball on the truck. They should be identical or the truck should be slightly higher to account for the squat when you attach the boat.

I tow a boat similar in size to yours with a 1/2T 2000 Silverado truck so the suspension is similar. I use an equilizing hitch to make it ride level. I would not use air bags.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

i have a 9 f 150 and a sundowner 225 i needed a 7 inch raised hitch, not easy to find since it had to be class 4 i found one for $70 and the ball costed me $15. how ever i feel your pain with the "burb" i would surgest air bags if it squats your truck more then 5 inches then depending on where boat sits level find a hitch for it to sit right weather its flat 2 inch raise, 4, 6, 7 dont buy just any hitch that says it can be used as a drop, must say its ment for a raise or you will crack it in half and waste money possible injuries or damages.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

Bruce is correct.
You will be surprised how much tongue weight will increase, if the ball is to low.
18/19 inches from top of ball to the ground is pretty much the norm.
depending on the trailer.

 

[security6]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

First, thanks for all the response. I have learned a lot here. Also, apparently I don't know how to estimate distance very well (don't tell my wife). I took some measurements this morning, and here is what I found:

• Total trailer weight (unhitched, jack on scale) = 5360 lbs
• Weight on two axles when hitched with trailer unlevel (truck not on scale) = 4640 lbs
• Height of ball mount without trailer (using .75" rise ball mount) = 16.25 inches (it was between 16.25 and 16.5, but probably closer to 16.25)
• Height of ball mount with trailer connected (using .75" rise ball mount) = 13.75 inches
• Height of bottom of trailer hitch when trailer is level = 20 inches
• Distance between ball mount (where I measured for everything) and bottom of trailer hitch, when connected = 1 inch

The trailer weight is close to as heavy as it will ever be. The water tank is full, the gas tank is 95% full, all the toys/life jackets were in there. We might add a few lbs for food and drinks.

So, my "guesstimate" of 5 to 6 inches of drop was way off. No wonder why everyone was so surprised. Actual drop from empty to having the boat on is 2.75 inches. It might be more when I have the truck loaded with people (like when going to the lake), but probably not that much more. Sorry for my bad estimate.

I calculate my tongue weight to be 720 lbs, which is 13.4% of total trailer weight. Not bad considering the trailer is not level, thus putting more weight on the tongue than there should be.

So it looks like I was doomed from the start with my ball mount having only a .75 inch rise. Assuming that my truck springs don't compress at all (not accurate obviously), I would need a ball mount having a rise of 3.5" (20" - 1" - 16.25" - .75").

So my question here, is how much rise should I have on the ball mount? Should I figure the truck will still drop 2.5" with the trailer on it? Would a ball mount with a rise of 6" be about right then? Should I find a mount with a 5" rise and see how it looks? If I can't get things perfectly level, is it better to have the trailer tongue a tad high or a tad low? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

I calculate my tongue weight to be 720 lbs, which is 13.4% of total trailer weight. Not bad considering the trailer is not level, thus putting more weight on the tongue than there should be.

Your method and math is impeccable, but I believe you've been given some bad advice about tongue weight ratios. 6-10 % is ideal according to my 40 years of experience and the written instructions provided by the custom boat trailer manufacturers whose products I have purchased. I have trailered my 9,600 lb. boat/trailer with both a 1/2 ton Suburban 1500 and a 3/4 ton Suburban 2500, so I know whereof I speak. My tongue weight has never varied much and, measured just as you have done it, comes in at 740 lbs. or 7.7%. In my opinion, you have considerably more tongue weight than you should for your 5360 lb. boat/trailer. My boat/trailer combo sits perfectly level when on the hitch with the 3/4 ton. With the 1/2 ton, I had to add Helwig "helper" springs to the rear leafs to maintain any semblance of being level. If I were you, I would first get your boat moved back an inch or two and see what that does for you. After that, and before you buy anything, hook it up and see how many inches you're going to need (if any) to get level. Remember, not only should your trailer be level, so should your truck. You've won the battle but lost the war if your trailer is level but the nose of your truck is pointed up in the air. You may need to give your rear springs some help.

 

[cribber]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

Here is a link to check out on trailer tongue weight % recommendations. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/information/tongue-weight.htm

You're just above ideal range for your recommended tongue weight so you should be okay. You could move some of your gear towards the back and a full load of fuel might help get you down to 12 % Your trailer tongue should sit level or with a slight downward angle. Measure it how it sets now using a level to get it to the angle you need. My setup needed a 3 1/2 inch rise to get it to just under level.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

Or push the winch back a few inches. With the right draw bar, it should do the trick. You're on the right track, the tongue is still a bit heavy though.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

If you can move boat back about 3-4 inches, my guess this will remedy the situation.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

You might get a shorter draw bar drop , which will shift more weight back on trailer axels.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

yep, way too much tongue weight! With a tandem axle, you can easily run at the lower end of the recommended range. (tandems are naturally more stable)

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: Trailer not level - air bags or taller hitch?

Suburbans have squishy rear springs, but will tow like a beast! 6" of squat is just too much IMO, see if you can have your trailer balanced (might have to shift the axles a bit) to keep your tongue weight to around 10% of your boat and trailer's weight.