Posted 2011-07-05 9:22 AM (#135388) Subject: Blocking axles
Regular
Posts: 95 Location: East Central Kansas
Need some help. 2006 Ford diesel failed me for the last time. Got a 2011 Dodge 4x4 Lariemie Longhorn Long Bed. The truck sits up high so I will need to block the axles on my 2006 Elite Gooseneck Trailer. Here is the fun part. Noone seems to know what Blocking the axles are. I state I want to raise the trailer 2 - 3 inches and they ask me if I just want to flip the axles. Can they do this to an elite axles? Also I am in the Kansas City area. Anyone know who can block axles in my area?
Posted 2011-07-05 9:41 AM (#135389 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Regular
Posts: 56 Location: Shawnee, Oklahoma
We block axles after market in our shop in Shawnee, OK......the price depends on if they are welded or bolted on. We can block all makes of trailers. I'm surprised no one in your area does this. Maybe a trailer dealer with a shop in your area will see this and contact you...it's really no big deal. 2 inches is all we ever go...that's standard in the industry and works on every 4x4 on the market today.
Posted 2011-07-05 11:53 AM (#135391 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Have you had the trailer on the pickup yet? When I got my Dodge it seemed like it sat higher than my Ford but when the trailer was on it sat down more than my Ford....almost as if there were more play in the springs on the Dodge than the Ford.
Posted 2011-07-06 11:03 PM (#135427 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Veteran
Posts: 264 Location: Sumas Washington
I had to block my new Platinum to make it work correctly with my 04 Dodge truck. It was fine till I got into some rough road conditions and the trailer contacted the tailgate. I have a fab shop so I was able to do the job myself, I would not reccomend to anyone that this is a "Home shop" or easy fix. Have it done correctly.
Posted 2011-07-07 10:21 AM (#135438 - in reply to #135427) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: ohio
Okay, glad someone else has a new 2011 Dodge. Ours is a 4x4 dullay to boot. We have had it two months now and still afraid to hook it up to LQ trailer! You are right it sets up so much higher than our 97 Dodge that it is imitidating just to look at. We do have our 3 horse 12' LQ blocked up 5" because it hit the truck bed of the 97' 4x4. Our trailer dealer has a machine shop and can do about anything with a trailer. We had this done about 5 years ago and it is supposed to be reversable if ever we decide to take it back down. Unless you have a ramp, your horses will have to get used to jumping in at times. We do not have a ramp but have good trail horses who know how to get in a out okay. We always try to park where it it the lowest for them. Hope this helps, at least we are not alone in this!
Posted 2011-07-07 12:11 PM (#135444 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Regular
Posts: 95 Location: East Central Kansas
Thank everyone for all the info. I have lowered the gooseneck by 2" and gone as low as I can go. I still have 7" clearance between the trailer and bed rails at the point where the gooseneck coupler hooks up to the hitch. I have called Elite and they hae been great. Company told me how they do thier blocking. I have found 2 companies in my area that will do it. Cost will be somewhere between $500 to $700. I just need 2 " and that should do it. Looks like the brackets will need to be cut off and then extenders dded and welded back on.
Posted 2011-07-17 1:58 PM (#135761 - in reply to #135550) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: ohio
Good news for you Dodge people. We finally hooked our 2011 dually up to the 3 horse LQ and it is just fine. It took a lot more cranking (no electric jack here) to get the trailer high enough, but once it was on the truck , it just sunk right down and the clearence that we had before is still there. So I guess there are heavy duty springs that allows for this once hooked up. This was a very big relief!
Posted 2011-07-17 8:10 PM (#135772 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Veteran
Posts: 264 Location: Sumas Washington
You will have to give us a complete report on your first-second and third impressions of your new truck. Handling compared to your previous truck. Transmission shifting and exhaust brake intergration,. Power for hills. ETC.
Posted 2011-07-18 9:29 AM (#135785 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Regular
Posts: 95 Location: East Central Kansas
Update
I am trying to get a hold of the Twister trailer folks. I just live up the road from Fort Scott. I really like thier work. For a dodge update. I have the Longhorn dually. They have really done thier homework. Out of the gate I am beating my mpg's by 1mpg so far. Ford ran a 4:10 and this truck runs a 3:73. Pulling power is great. I did test out the EB and that is the best invention since sliced bread. The 6 speed auto is also great. Crusing down the road at 65mph the rpm's seem a little low though. I think this machine is a pulling machine with 650lb of torque. Wonder how the 800 HO will do. Have read alot about people doing the egr and dpf deletes however I think I will leave this stock for now. Hope this info helps.
Posted 2011-07-19 9:30 PM (#135852 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: ohio
Gonzo, We just got back from a short trip due to the heat and humidty! But the truck was a real power horse! It took several big hills up and down just fine. It is a 2011 Dodge Dually 3500 diesel, automatic 6 speed so it did all the shifting. Husband just kept saying how easy it was to drive and the power it had to do the job. I'm not good at figuring the fuel mileage, but we went 250 miles on $115 worth of fuel @ $3.89 a gal. We were overloaded as usual, but thank God no blow outs on trailer this time. The jake brake did just fine too. The truck was down to the mud flaps almost touching the road but it didn't look overloaded. We still had 8" clearance between truck bed and trailer. But again, our trailer is blocked 5". We haved pulled this same outfit (3horse 4Star 12' LQ) with a 97' Dodge Cummims extended cab, 8' bed 4x4. The truck was cranked up, blowed black smoke, 5 speed standard transmission. It took the load pretty well but not much whoa to it. We depended on the trailer brakes to stop it most of the time.
Grimm, didn't mean to hijack your thread! How is your trailer blocking coming?
Posted 2011-07-21 1:07 PM (#135926 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Regular
Posts: 95 Location: East Central Kansas
Found several folks to do it. I am trying to get ahold of Twister Trailers since someone on this thread stated they had it done by them. Have tried for 2 weeks but cant get ahold of anyone. Even tried sending emails. Well if they don't want to go I have two other places who do. Just wanted to give twister the business since I am so close to them.
PS on the MPG......29.56 gallons. 250miles/29.56=8.45mpg. Mine I have 900 miles on it and getting 14.2 MPG now. I think I will top out between 16 - 17 empty.
Posted 2011-07-21 6:56 PM (#135941 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: ohio
Thanks Ggrim on the mpg update. My husband didn't cut the truck any slack. He made it work for it's worth! He says he will not change anything on it, just leave it stock as it does the job. And yes, the rmp's is low. My 95 DodgeV10 automatic runs about the same rpms on normal driving. This is his first automatic vehicle ever and he is driving me crazy with the cruise control, auto start and power stuff. We agrue all the time about things. When we was taking it to get the hitch put on it, he made a pit stop along the country road. Well, when he went to start off again, he could not get it in gear! Someone who has always had a clutch, never thought to put his foot on the brake before the truck will do anything. It outsmarts him on something every time he gets in it!
Posted 2011-07-22 1:51 AM (#135945 - in reply to #135388) Subject: RE: Blocking axles
Regular
Posts: 95 Location: East Central Kansas
Got the trailer scheduled to be blocked next week. Wife called and got it scheduled. Another note on these new dodges diesels. With all the emmision stuff idling alot causes the DPF filter to clog up. Dodge has a high idle feature if your going to idle for extended periods. In park turn on your cruise and set it. This will kick on the high idle. To turn off just shut off the cruise. Evdryday I learn something new on this truck.
Blocking axles
