Posted 2007-10-07 8:28 PM (#68956) Subject: Horse trailer needs to be raised
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Nichols, Iowa
Having problems with my Feathertlite trailer going over uneven ground and tearing off exterior plumbing. Is there any way to raise the trailer? We do a lot of primitive camping. Our trailer has torsion axles.
Posted 2007-10-07 8:56 PM (#68963 - in reply to #68956) Subject: RE: Horse trailer needs to be raised
Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont
Originally written by ddkrueger on 2007-10-07 9:28 PM
Having problems with my Feathertlite trailer going over uneven ground and tearing off exterior plumbing. Is there any way to raise the trailer? We do a lot of primitive camping. Our trailer has torsion axles.
Is this an issue of Ground Clearance or Breakover Angle?
Posted 2007-10-07 9:13 PM (#68967 - in reply to #68956) Subject: RE: Horse trailer needs to be raised
Regular
Posts: 95
Location: East Central Kansas
Yes, trailer can be raised. Usually the manufactors does it and the term is called blocking. Trailers can be blocked 2",3",4" depending on the manufacter. Paul has it correct about the breakover angle. Usually the longer the trailer the more you need to be careful. I have a long Lq trailer and have to watch going into fields, driveways, and areas that have steep angles.
Posted 2007-10-07 11:04 PM (#68977 - in reply to #68967) Subject: RE: Horse trailer needs to be raised
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Posts: 2614
agreed.We didn't tear off anything,but coming out of our road onto the highway,a steep banked curve that we have to swing out,down,then turn to come back up in our lane,we heard this loud bang,we thought one of the horses had done it.
Wrong.
When we arrived,I walked between truck and trailer under GN,and I SAW what the loud bang had been.It had been the GN hitting the rear left corner of the tailgate as we turned to come back up into our lane!@@$#%%!
Posted 2007-10-08 5:58 AM (#68984 - in reply to #68963) Subject: RE: Horse trailer needs to be raised
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Nichols, Iowa
Our trailer is 30 ft. on the floor. Sounds like I need to have the trailer blocked. Does anyone know who can do this, or do I need to take the trailer to the manufacturer?
Posted 2007-10-08 7:34 AM (#68986 - in reply to #68984) Subject: RE: Horse trailer needs to be raised
Location: Texas
Axle blocking is usually accomplished by adding square tubing between the trailer frame and axle frame. A good welding shop can do it, just make sure they get the axle allignment right with good measurement of axle position before and after. Be cautious about how much you raise the trailer, as the step down for your horses can be a problem if too high, with the potential for a back leg to slip under the trailer if the surface is slick.
Posted 2007-10-08 2:16 PM (#69009 - in reply to #68986) Subject: RE: Horse trailer needs to be raised
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Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont
Originally written by Tx. Vaquero on 2007-10-08 8:34 AM
Axle blocking is usually accomplished by adding square tubing between the trailer frame and axle frame. A good welding shop can do it, just make sure they get the axle allignment right with good measurement of axle position before and after. Be cautious about how much you raise the trailer, as the step down for your horses can be a problem if too high, with the potential for a back leg to slip under the trailer if the surface is slick.
Tx Vaquero gave you the right skinny...
Just a re-emphasis on making sure your axles are still true after the raise...or tire complaints will be your next set of posts on this forum...
Posted 2007-10-08 2:21 PM (#69010 - in reply to #68977) Subject: RE: Horse trailer needs to be raised
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Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont
Originally written by crowleysridgegirl on 2007-10-07 12:04 AM
agreed.We didn't tear off anything,but coming out of our road onto the highway,a steep banked curve that we have to swing out,down,then turn to come back up in our lane,we heard this loud bang,we thought one of the horses had done it.
Wrong.
When we arrived,I walked between truck and trailer under GN,and I SAW what the loud bang had been.It had been the GN hitting the rear left corner of the tailgate as we turned to come back up into our lane!@@$#%%!
So now,we go out a different direction.
Before I got the flatbed...I would routinely leave my tailgate at home when I towed with the pickup...just because of what you encountered......by the way you can hardly see it in my tailgate...yeah right...