New truck too tall for my trailer?

tractorsam · Apr 15, 2013

I replaced my previous truck (97 Dodge 3500) with a new one last year and am finding that my trailer '93 Featherlite 24' gooseneck is just too low for the new truck and with the coupler of the trailer as low (or perhaps a little too low) as I can go I still have most of my weight on the rear axle of the trailer (torflex axles). I can take either my backhoe or loader tractor tractor (both about 10000lbs) and run them right to the front of the trailer and I still can't squat the truck enough to level the trailer. The only options I've come up with so far are increasing the tire size on the trailer (currently have 235/85R16's) or having the goose neck cut off and extended up. Has anyone else run into this and found a good solution? Thanks, Sam

Nathan (SD) · Apr 15, 2013

We went from a 1998 Dodge with a flatbed to a 2009 Chevy with a box. We cut the hitch off the trailer and moved it up. Now you need to be careful on eneven terrain or the trailer can hit the top of the box.

mkirsch · Apr 15, 2013

Yeah, the new trucks are several inches higher than the old trucks, because many/most people apparently like the "jacked-up" look.

If you had spring axles I would recommend an axle flip to raise the whole trailer, but with torflex axles, that option is no good for you.

Larger tires will only gain you 1/2" to 1", and that's with a HUGE tire size increase. You can only go so big before they rub the trailer frame, the trailer deck, or each other.

The only viable option is to cut off the gooseneck and have it extended upwards.

ben there · Apr 15, 2013

most everybody around here put flatbeds on after finding clearance problems.

jon f mn · Apr 15, 2013

You could put a spacer above the axles to raise the trailer but that may cause problems with loading. You could also just put a spacer under the front axle that way the rear stays the same but makes the front carry more. Those are not great ideas but may save you some money. A pic would help a lot. How is the clearance between your bed and gooseneck? You may have to lengthen the uprights on the trailer and that would be a big job.

JMOR · Apr 15, 2013

" I still have most of my weight on the rear axle of the trailer (torflex axles)." I'm afraid that you are dealing mostly with the cosmetics of looking-good, i.e., deck level, as weight distribution is primarily a function of where along the length of the trailer that the axles are located. Want more hitch weight? Move the axles rearward.

tractorsam · Apr 15, 2013

It would help the clearance issue but probably won't do much to lower the front of the trailer plus I use the box on the truck about as much as I use the trailer so I'm not too keen on that. Thanks, Sam

Anonymous-0 · Apr 15, 2013

It might be time to look at different trailer.Most of newer trailers have more arch to clear the box.By time you modify yours and end up with not enough room the trade differents might not be to bad.

tractorsam · Apr 15, 2013

I'll try and get a picture in the next couple of days. I don't have a lot (probably not quite enough in truth) clearance above the box. I already have trouble getting some of the tractors up on the trailer with implements mounted so I don't want to pick the trailer up too much. I had thought about lengthening the uprights, it just seems like a huge undertaking and realistically probably beyond my skills and equipment. Thanks, Sam

tractorsam · Apr 15, 2013

Hitch weight or a lack thereof is not my problem at the moment.
Half the time I'm running around with the back tires quite squatted
and the fronts up in the air. Since I replaced the brakes I'm finding
that the front tires are getting scuffed very badly as they are
dragging a lot. Thanks, Sam

Welding man · Apr 15, 2013

Have not run into this on a gooseneck but have on a few 5th wheel campers. Dexter makes a kit to put the springs on top of the axles, but in your case with the torsions,about all you could do is shim the axles. If you do go to a bigger tire ,remember ,you gain the same amount on top as on the bottom and you may run into clearence problems with the bottom of the trailer floor and the top of the tire.

tractorsam · Apr 15, 2013

When did they start increasing the arch on newer trailers? Was there a particular year or have they just slowly grown the same way trucks have? Thanks, Sam

D7fever · Apr 15, 2013

I've got the same problem with my dodge 3500 and gooseneck, almost a foot too high. So far I've been running it, but I think that I am going to lower the hitch on the trailer, that is really the only solution. It is an older trailer, but I have enough clearance, now that it is a flatbed.

VADAVE · Apr 15, 2013

Interesting as I have the same problem--now I don"t feel so alone. I have 1961 Gooseneck brand trailer and a 2004 4X4 2500HD; the front of the trailer is 4 inches too high. Raising the bed at the axles could be done BUT that is really a lot of work and the bed gets pretty high for loading. To me the only viable answer is to cut the neck off and add 4 inches thus lowering the front of the bed.
I have noticed that non-HD trucks are at least 2 inches lower and 2WD trucks even lower so if you have a base work truck without 4WD and no diesel engine you might be OK.

J.Stones · Apr 15, 2013

(quoted from post at 22:59:12 04/15/13) I've got the same problem with my dodge 3500 and gooseneck, almost a foot too high. So far I've been running it, but I think that I am going to lower the hitch on the trailer, that is really the only solution. It is an older trailer, but I have enough clearance, now that it is a flatbed.

ower the truck! People has been "slammin" them for decades

Anonymous-0 · Apr 15, 2013

I had Stoll to build me a trailer after buying an 01 4x4 Dodge 3500. After seeing how my Dad's GN cattle trailer had damaged his 3/4 ton Dodge.. I had Stoll to add an extra 6 inches height to the arch.. Clears the tailgate well, and lets me level the trailer. Still plenty of room to lower hitch for a shorter truck, if needed..

jon f mn · Apr 15, 2013

torflex axles don't equalize and a front high
situation puts all the weight on the rear axle. It
is one of the disadvantages of those axles.

caseyc · Apr 15, 2013

Time for a flatbed on the truck 8)

Casey in SD

fixerupper · Apr 15, 2013

Recessing the ball down in your pickup bed is an option but you'll have to cut a big square chunk from the bed floor to do it. Jim

tractorsam · Apr 15, 2013

The hitch frame is already sat on the frame of the truck, it isn't
getting any lower. Thanks, Sam

JMOR · Apr 15, 2013

(quoted from post at 18:13:18 04/15/13) torflex axles don't equalize and a front high
situation puts all the weight on the rear axle. It
is one of the disadvantages of those axles.

eems like a serious disadvantage to me!!

jon f mn · Apr 15, 2013

It certainly can be, but they have some serious
advantages too. Mainly that there is no suspension
to wear out. Alignment is also much easier to
achieve and keep.

Eldon (WA) · Apr 15, 2013

(quoted from post at 13:24:27 04/15/13) I replaced my previous truck (97 Dodge 3500) with a new one last year and am finding that my trailer '93 Featherlite 24' gooseneck is just too low for the new truck and with the coupler of the trailer as low (or perhaps a little too low) as I can go I still have most of my weight on the rear axle of the trailer (torflex axles). I can take either my backhoe or loader tractor tractor (both about 10000lbs) and run them right to the front of the trailer and I still can't squat the truck enough to level the trailer. The only options I've come up with so far are increasing the tire size on the trailer (currently have 235/85R16's) or having the goose neck cut off and extended up. Has anyone else run into this and found a good solution? Thanks, Sam

Sounds like it is time for a new trailer. I would sure think about that before I cobbled up the one you have.

Ken Macfarlane · Apr 15, 2013

I don't think its that so much as more people running 4wd's and 1
tons. My friends old 1992 F350 srw is taller (not lifted) than my
2001 F350 srw, both 4wd. I do see a lot of the newer trucks have
more travel in the rear so you have the soft first part of travel
before hitting the overloads. A brand new F350 is about 3" taller in
than my old truck but maybe its just my springs are sagged.

M w J · Apr 15, 2013

On some of those pickups they have a 4 in. spacer under the leaf spring that can be took out to lower the back I have seen that done a few times.

Paul in MN · Apr 15, 2013

On my 02 Ford F350 4X4 there are spacer blocks between the rear spring pack and the top of the axle. These blocks are 4" high. The same truck as a F250 (also diesel and 4X4) has 2" high spacer blocks. So I went to a parts yard and bought the spacer blocks off a F250. Now the truck sits more level, and not having its @$$ sitting high in the air. I am still high with the truck bed for my 2010 5th wheel trailer. Truck manufacturers think they can sell more of the "macho" toys to the city boys by making them taller. I imagine that it gives all trailer builders constant headaches. I have talked to Ford dealers and they say that 4WD requires the additional height. That is total BS. They were much lower in the 60's and 70's. Ford was the tall one in those years.

Maybe the Dodge can be modified in the same manner.

As a farmer, I need a 4X4 truck, but I do NOT want the extra height. I have to lift everything that goes into the truck bed, and I don't get any younger.

Paul in MN

Hogleg · Apr 16, 2013

I did that to mine also, Paul. Helped a lot on the 5th wheel. However I still have a problem with my gooseneck. Found out that Bulldog has a shortened hitch coupler - going to give it a try...

Bulldog BX1 Short Gooseneck Coupler

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Cou...feed=npn&gclid=CNSH9LKSz7YCFQTonAodBxUA4g

Shop around, have seen it cheaper than this place...

John

IronRose · Apr 16, 2013

Had 99 Dodge Dually and a 4Star horse trailer with living quarters 31 ft. on the floor. Raised the trailer with 4" tubing welded between frame and torsion axle. More ground clearance and trailer could be leveled out with truck and handled excellent.

New truck too tall for my trailer?

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