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So, I just installed the BW Turnover and wiring into my '18 F250 Diesel. I came from a 2012 f250 diesel. There's a considerable height difference, not just in the height of the bed, but the bed rails as well. Here's some pics. Realistically, what are my options? (The horse trailer is sloped very slightly away from the trailer due to the grass being slightly lower). I went to do a test drive, and couldn't leave my driveway because of one area that goes up and then down. The tailgate was 1/4" away from the trailer frame.
Everywhere I've read so far says 6" of clearance between truck and frame.
Seems like my options are:
have some shop weld blocks onto trailer to lift trailer higher off torsion axles. any lift in the rear would allow my to adjust the coupler for the same lift. This means a higher step for horses and possibly less stable trailer.
replace the rear block on my truck (is this 3"?) with a 1.5". This would gain about 2" at tailgate. But, this just about levels out the truck empty, which means heavy loads would now make my truck nose up, requiring air bags or those weird bump stops that are like non-adjustable air bags.
I'm going to lower the coupler (gain height) on the trailer and try to find a level area to see how far I can go. But with torsion axles, when the trailer's not level, the rear axle can get overloaded easily.
Any other ideas or what have you all done with this issue before?
block the axles with 3” lift. Parts cost about 250.00. I am doing this with my LQ 4 horse trailer this weekend as a matter of fact. Works amazing!!! It’s a bigger step for the horses but I have a ramp so that helps.
Why did Ford raise the Super Duties up another several inches? I upgraded from an 08 F250 to a ‘17 and have to adjust everything to haul anything! New drop hitch, new longer safety chains for every trailer, extensions for all electric cables. I haven’t tried to hookup the 5th wheel yet, but expect the same problems as you guys with goosenecks! I’m guessing most of us buy Super Duties for their hauling and towing capacities and not to drive over fallen giant Sequoias or Redwoods! The guys who do that are going to jack them up another foot or so anyway……so why does Ford make it so hard for the rest of us to use the truck?
On my 4GN, I swappedout axles. I had 6,000 lbs axles and I had bent one when a tire went under the trailer on the hiway and hit the axles, bending them enough they were destroying tires. I went with 7,000 lbs axles just because I almost always have 4 and sometimes squeeze 5 horses in. The axle weight made no difference, But I had them put in 22° down axles vs the 22° up axles that came with the trailer. It cost me $700 per axle or $1400 total installed for both axles, with new brakes and bearings. When I had checked the weld shops wanted $300 per axle to block them. So $700 and upgrading the axles,getting new brakes and new bearings was a worthwhile upgrade for me. It took the installer all of 30-45 minutes to pull my old axles and bolt in the new axles. It was jack the trailer up,uno 4 bolts per axle and drop the axle and slip the new axle in and install 4 bolts. Then hook up the brake wires to each drum.
With the old axles, on my 2015 truck, I was 19" high at the front and 13" high at my back bumper, and this gave me 8" of bed clearance
The 22° down axles were supposed to lift me 4". But after installing them, I was 19" front and 19" at rear. Still keeping 8" of clearance
My horses don't care about jumping up up 19" Heck they step over 2 foot logs on the trail. So getting in the trailer was only a challenge for the foals I was teaching to load. And even the 3-4 month babies figure it out after loading a couple of times.
My horses don't like the big step down when backing out. They will do it if I ask, But I have enough room in the trailer to let them turn around and walk out. I back them out,just often enough to remind them of the process.
This is an old thread,So probably won't help the original poster. But maybe others will find this information informative.
Why did Ford raise the Super Duties up another several inches? I upgraded from an 08 F250 to a ‘17 and have to adjust everything to haul anything! New drop hitch, new longer safety chains for every trailer, extensions for all electric cables. I haven’t tried to hookup the 5th wheel yet, but expect the same problems as you guys with goosenecks! I’m guessing most of us buy Super Duties for their hauling and towing capacities and not to drive over fallen giant Sequoias or Redwoods! The guys who do that are going to jack them up another foot or so anyway……so why does Ford make it so hard for the rest of us to use the truck?
Not a big job to lower it. They lowered them in 2020.
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