Posted 2009-02-06 9:39 AM (#98923 - in reply to #98917) Subject: RE: Raising Trailer
Elite Veteran
Posts: 954 Location: Hagerstown, MD
First things first. Who told you needed a lift kit? The local 4x4 off road shop? (just kidding)
And why does your trailer need a lift kit?
If you install a lift kit on the trailer, you are raising the center of gravity and modifying the suspension of the trailer. Is that really a good idea? Do you have some sort of clearance problem with the trailer? I have dragged the dump pipes/valves on my LQ a couple of times and just try to be more careful pulling into and out of places that clearance might be a problem?
Posted 2009-02-06 10:00 AM (#98924 - in reply to #98917) Subject: RE: Raising Trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
There have been several members of this forum, that have effected a height increase of their trailers. Most have done so to increase the clearance under the waste tanks and plumbing, some to increase the height of the goose over the truck's side rails.
The only down side seems to be the higher loading height while loading and unloading the horses. Loading wasn't so much an issue, but unloading for a horses that backed out, took some additional practise.
I don't remember any posting from an owner who had this modification performed, and had anything negative to report as a result.
Posted 2009-02-06 4:07 PM (#98948 - in reply to #98917) Subject: RE: Raising Trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
We haved blocked the axles on several trailers at our dealership. It is a fairly time consuming job; as the trailer has to be raised and blocked up, the axles taken loose from the trailer, and than heavy square tubing (blocks) welded to the framing to form the lift. The axles than have to be mounted back to the lift. It seems as though I recall costing upward of $800.
Posted 2009-02-06 6:27 PM (#98950 - in reply to #98917) Subject: RE: Raising Trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
If your trailer is long and dragging is an issue I would highly reccommend it. One thing to be mindful. Most torflex type axles have a bracket that is welded to the frame and the axles are bolted to the bracket. If for some reason you ever need to replace an axle make sure the person doing the lift re-installs these brackets. When we had our trailer lifted at the dealer I didn't know that I had to specify this. I assumed that they would reuse the brackets, but they didn't they just welded it the steel tube they used for blocking it up. Recently had to replace an axle under warranty and had to pay extra. I believe we blocked our axles 3". We have a 32' box behind the truck and pull with a F350 4x4. Very rarely do we drag. On the very back underside of the trailer there are 2 rollers about 10" long that roll when we do drag. It helps save the back bumper and ramp. Some of the people we camp with have a similar trailer that is not blocked and have torn there back bumper off a couple of times.
Posted 2009-02-06 7:22 PM (#98954 - in reply to #98917) Subject: RE: Raising Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 285
We were the ones that looked at the trailer for Claudia before she bought it, and no we are not an off road 4X4 truck shop. We suggested it because the tanks on the trailer sit very low. They will have to be really careful pulling this trailer. We just did not want to see them tear off their holding tanks. Ours was already done when we bought it and if it was not, we were going to have it done. We have talked to many trailer places and they told us it was not that big of deal and the cost would be around five hundred dollars. Sometimes we travel into some very rough places and the lift has saved our tanks many times.
Posted 2009-04-07 9:29 PM (#102935 - in reply to #98917) Subject: RE: Raising Trailer
Regular
Posts: 74
Has anyone around southeast iowa, northeast missouri or west central Illinois had this done. Who did it. Or does anyone know where you can get this done.
Posted 2009-04-07 10:02 PM (#102937 - in reply to #98917) Subject: RE: Raising Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
I raised my previous trailer 2". Did it myself and it took all of a day. I could have short cutted it and saved some time as I had to make a couple of blind hole jigs to get everything right. It turned out very well and the person I sold it to likes the clearance. If I were to do someone else's I would hate to do it for less than $600 when you figure parts, labor, difficulty, and whatever liability incurred. My actual point here is I've also built some other trailers for myself and you can buy torsion axles with more or less "articulation" to them. If I were to do it again I would at least price new axles with the angle increased to raise the trailer that way. You may spend a little more to start with but if you plan on keeping the trailer it could be a good investment. You can go to Dexter axles web site to see what I'm talking about.
Posted 2009-04-07 10:31 PM (#102939 - in reply to #98917) Subject: RE: Raising Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 193 Location: White Pine, TN
We did a 4" lift to a trailer in order to clear a new pickup with the higher sides. The bill was around 875 as I recall. Our guys are good and have done it several times before and that was comforting to the customer.
Raising Trailer
