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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?
I have heard that you can have a trailer shop install blocks on trailer axle to gain height. Not sure if that's the best option for a torsion axle or not.
First thing I would do is park on level ground and re-measure. The clearance you show in the picture looks fine to me. My 5th wheel trailer only that much clearance and it never hit.
You can either lower the truck or raise the trailer. I wouldn't lower the truck, but that's me.
Don't the torsion axles have an adjustment to them?
Yes on the get everything level and re-measure. Yes on the 6 inch minimum clearance between bed rails and the frame rails under the gooseneck
And, with torsion axles, I think putting a sub-frame between the axles and trailer frame is about your only option. I don’t know how far you haul your horses, but I think having them standing as level as possible for their comfort would take precedence over most other choices, and raising the trailer would be the most effective for this, IMHO.
Best of luck to you and your ponies!
I raised my trailer 2" to keep it how i wanted. Used some 2"x4"x1/4" steel and then sleeved it with thick pipe and longer bolts and its worked great for almost 2 years now.
Looks good. I saw those, but they aren't available for axles that are top mounted. (mine are). I'm taking it to a shop tomorrow to evaluate. Thankfully, the trailer manufacturer came back and said the same as what I thought. blocks.
How much clearance do you have between trailer and bed rails?
I did both, lowered the blocks in the truck to F250 blocks (2 inch I think), and went with taller tires on the trailer to raise it 1". Those together got me to 7" of space. When loaded down with the fifth my truck is now about level, thats with about 3,000 pounds on the gooseball.
I did both, lowered the blocks in the truck to F250 blocks (2 inch I think), and went with taller tires on the trailer to raise it 1". Those together got me to 7" of space. When loaded down with the fifth my truck is now about level, thats with about 3,000 pounds on the gooseball.
with you dropping the truck, when you have that 3k on the gooseball, are you nose up on the truck?
I have heard that you can have a trailer shop install blocks on trailer axle to gain height. Not sure if that's the best option for a torsion axle or not.
my buddy has a ‘19 F-350 and ran into the same problem with his G.N. Stock trailer. We took it to a welding shop and they welded in 4” tubular steel to the frame and remounted the torsion axels to this. We could have easily went with 6” to be honest.
we found out the hard way though when he backed down to my shop and the gram of the GN hit his passenger side bed rail.
my buddy has a ‘19 F-350 and ran into the same problem with his G.N. Stock trailer. We took it to a welding shop and they welded in 4” tubular steel to the frame and remounted the torsion axels to this. We could have easily went with 6” to be honest.
we found out the hard way though when he backed down to my shop and the gram of the GN hit his passenger side bed rail.
How many inches of clearance did you have when this happend
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