Level Towing
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Cabot, Arkansas
Level Towing
I've got a twin axle 28' travel trailer that I tow behind a F-250 crew cab long bed 4x4... Over 50' of "can't park it there" when I've got them coupled together.
I bought the trailer second hand and when I slid the supplied weight distributing hitch into my stock, but tall F-250, the trailer sat nose low. I had to adjust the hitch up 2 holes just to make the trailer sit level. The previous owner obviously was towing the trailer fairly nose low behind his stock 2 wheel drive chevy.
Since then, I have taken notice of other travel trailers and how they are set up. Most are a little to a lot nose low as they run down the road. Are they just poorly adjusted? Is there any benefit to running slightly nose low?
I guess the point of this is: What is the best way to have the trailer set up for tow... Level or slightly nose low?
Thanks
Edmo
I bought the trailer second hand and when I slid the supplied weight distributing hitch into my stock, but tall F-250, the trailer sat nose low. I had to adjust the hitch up 2 holes just to make the trailer sit level. The previous owner obviously was towing the trailer fairly nose low behind his stock 2 wheel drive chevy.
Since then, I have taken notice of other travel trailers and how they are set up. Most are a little to a lot nose low as they run down the road. Are they just poorly adjusted? Is there any benefit to running slightly nose low?
I guess the point of this is: What is the best way to have the trailer set up for tow... Level or slightly nose low?
Thanks
Edmo
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,324
Likes: 1
From: Denton,TX
Level Towing
Get it as close to level as possible. You'll never get it perfectly level, but it should never be front end high. All of these people with poorly leveled trailers (either way) are putting way too much weight on 1 axle if it is a multi-axle trailer. Also, too much or too little hitch weight.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Level Towing
A lot of times, the nose low trailers are low because the owner is not using a weight distributing hitch. You can usually tell a weight distributing hitch by the weight transfer bars you will see that go from the truck hitch to the sides of the A frame of the trailer.
Not using such a hitch puts all the weight on the rear axle of the truck which often pushes the bed down and causes all kinds of problems. Properly distributed weight will spread the weight out between all axles of the truck and trailer and when properly adjusted will keep the rig level. Much safer and better handling.
Good Luck
Jim Henderson
Not using such a hitch puts all the weight on the rear axle of the truck which often pushes the bed down and causes all kinds of problems. Properly distributed weight will spread the weight out between all axles of the truck and trailer and when properly adjusted will keep the rig level. Much safer and better handling.
Good Luck
Jim Henderson
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,324
Likes: 1
From: Denton,TX
Level Towing
>A lot of times, the nose low trailers are low because the
>owner is not using a weight distributing hitch. You can
>usually tell a weight distributing hitch by the weight
>transfer bars you will see that go from the truck hitch to
>the sides of the A frame of the trailer.
>
>Not using such a hitch puts all the weight on the rear axle
>of the truck which often pushes the bed down and causes all
>kinds of problems. Properly distributed weight will spread
>the weight out between all axles of the truck and trailer
>and when properly adjusted will keep the rig level. Much
>safer and better handling.
>
Definitely! I would not tow anything the size of your travel trailer without a weight distributing hitch with sway control. Your tow vehicle should be sitting level when the weight is distributed properly. Adjust the height of the hitch based on your tow vehicle being level.
>owner is not using a weight distributing hitch. You can
>usually tell a weight distributing hitch by the weight
>transfer bars you will see that go from the truck hitch to
>the sides of the A frame of the trailer.
>
>Not using such a hitch puts all the weight on the rear axle
>of the truck which often pushes the bed down and causes all
>kinds of problems. Properly distributed weight will spread
>the weight out between all axles of the truck and trailer
>and when properly adjusted will keep the rig level. Much
>safer and better handling.
>
Definitely! I would not tow anything the size of your travel trailer without a weight distributing hitch with sway control. Your tow vehicle should be sitting level when the weight is distributed properly. Adjust the height of the hitch based on your tow vehicle being level.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: tucson/luray usa
Level Towing
i have to agree with the others, level is the only way to pull a trailer. especially one as large as yours. when you go nose low or nose high you have stability problems that can cost you not only the trailer but the truck as well.Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
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From: Chicago Area
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