Posted 2007-11-04 6:04 PM (#70467) Subject: blocking the axles
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Posts: 2615
I know this has probably been covered before.I was talking not long ago with someone about this.Our trailer has been dragging some,the steps have drug on the gravel road and it's just a matter of time before the tanks/plumbing drags with worse results.Our dealer can block the axles up with a lift kit.Any pros/cons on this from people? I think they told me it will result in probably about 3 1/2 " height.
Posted 2007-11-05 1:17 PM (#70516 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Originally written by crowleysridgegirl on 2007-11-04 6:04 PM
I know this has probably been covered before.I was talking not long ago with someone about this.Our trailer has been dragging some,the steps have drug on the gravel road and it's just a matter of time before the tanks/plumbing drags with worse results.Our dealer can block the axles up with a lift kit.Any pros/cons on this from people? I think they told me it will result in probably about 3 1/2 " height.
Posted 2007-11-05 5:48 PM (#70520 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by crowleysridgegirl on 2007-11-04 6:04 PM
I know this has probably been covered before.I was talking not long ago with someone about this.Our trailer has been dragging some,the steps have drug on the gravel road and it's just a matter of time before the tanks/plumbing drags with worse results.Our dealer can block the axles up with a lift kit.Any pros/cons on this from people? I think they told me it will result in probably about 3 1/2 " height.
Do you have a stepup or ramp in the rear?
If it is a stepup you will have to be careful of horse headbob when unloading...
Posted 2007-11-09 5:15 PM (#70794 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
I got my '92 Dodge 4X4 lowered, and my gn step-up raised so it wouldn't ride at a steep slant. It did make the step-up pretty high. I trailer my daughter's pony(13.2hh) and a Shetland pony regularly and they load fine, but they have a bit of a hop to get in. The danger with this set-up is if you have a problem loader and they pull back....They could potentially slip or slide under the trailer with their front hooves. I haven't experienced this, but if it can happen, some horse will do it! Take it slow, and never "pull" a horse into your trailer.
Posted 2007-11-09 5:44 PM (#70796 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
Location: Texas
The real risk is when you back the horse out and his back legs slip under the back of the trailer. The horse must straighten his back legs when he puts weight on them to move his front legs back, and if they are under the trailer, it can be a bad deal. I've seen it happen and it ain't pretty. I only offer this as something to think about for your horses' sake. Obviously if you turn the horse around and let them jump out it is not a problem. Did anybody but me notice how high the shiny $400,000 trailer was in the back?
Posted 2007-11-09 7:24 PM (#70804 - in reply to #70796) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 2615
All of ours unload pretty carefully,but,anything can happen,it is true.I'd rather turn one around in there and unload that way than drag the bottom guts off of the thing and spend more $$ on it.
Posted 2007-11-10 4:09 PM (#70857 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
Location: Central Arkansas
Hey TV....I remember mentioning the high step up for the horses to the salesman and he stated that there was a state of the art hydraulic ramp inside those shiny back doors.
They had another just as shiny trailer that looked almost identical to the one at the Congress at the AQHA World show in OKC. This one was sitting inside the Cox Pavilion but both back doors were always shut whenever I happened to walk by it.
Tex V wrote: Did anybody but me notice how high the shiny $400,000 trailer was in the back?
Posted 2007-11-10 6:39 PM (#70868 - in reply to #70864) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 2615
I'm having it done anyway.If they are going to slide underneath it they are just as likely to do it the way it is now,none of them are right on the ground and our stock trailer is higher than the LQ.
Posted 2007-11-12 12:01 PM (#70961 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
Mine is a stock trailer with no back tack, so I usually take the easy way out and turn the horses around. I do practice backing them out occasionally....just in case!
Posted 2007-11-12 8:48 PM (#71015 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 285
We just upgraded to a bigger lq trailer that has been lifted. Hubby intended to have it done if it was not. With our old one, which was not lifted, we drug a lot and one time ran over an aligator that tore part of the grey tank off. Got it fixed then hubby put some angle iron under the tanks in the event it would if that ever happened again and when we were on are some bad roads.
Posted 2007-11-14 9:55 AM (#71165 - in reply to #71138) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 2615
Wellfor crying out loud,Paul,how the heck do you think I'm going to do THAT???
The dealer is doing it,they do them all the time,I guess they know what they're doing,I sure don't.We're not going to be picking it up at the dealer's anyway,they are meeting us halfway.
Posted 2007-11-14 7:59 PM (#71219 - in reply to #71214) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 2615
No need to get bent out of shape here,I just wondered,if you think I know how,what did you say it for? ANd is it a secret or are you going to try to explain it to me,it 's an honest question.I don't know everything or I wouldn't be on here asking,you know.There's a few guys on here that know a lot more than most,Hosspuller,Gard,ect.Oh,and that Paul guy,what's his name?
Posted 2007-11-15 8:12 AM (#71234 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 2957 Location: North Carolina
Paul is right .. The only way for a trailer owner to check if the axles are correctly placed after blocking is to observe the tire wear pattern. But Dang !&^#$(@ the tires are expensive (after replacing 4, I know) The only other option is to take the trailer to a heavy truck alignment shop to check & adjust the axles. That's what I did after blocking the axles...
My reasoning was if the tires wear poorly, I'll have to pay for an alignment anyway AND I'll have worn tires. Doing the alignment upfront meant the tires wear well and save some fuel from the beginning.
Posted 2007-11-15 8:56 AM (#71235 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Hosspuller has made a very good point and doing as he says, would be a cheap insurance policy to check the accuracy of the folks who did your blocking installation. The cost should be less than the price of one tire. Knowing that the axle placement was correct would be very reassuring.
Posted 2007-11-15 10:18 AM (#71242 - in reply to #71235) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 2615
Hosspuller is a class act.He always gives good advice and without being hateful about it,too.I'll do that.We'll take it to a place,I know just the one for that kind of work,and hope they don't say,"Man this things WAY off!"
Posted 2007-11-15 11:21 AM (#71254 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
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Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
When the trailer is being inspected for the axle alignment have the service person check the brake wire routing. He should check to see if any wire splices were added or if all of the wiring attachment clips are being utilized.
A poor splice connector or loose wiring will cause trouble down the road. When he is looking at your new riser blocks, he will be in direct contact with these components.
Posted 2007-11-15 11:35 AM (#71259 - in reply to #70467) Subject: RE: blocking the axles
Member
Posts: 6
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
We had that done on our new exiss before we bought it. It has made a tremendous difference. We pull it on some rough rds and camp in wy in the mtns. and where others have drug the sewage pipes, ours never touch. No problems with it, so far & have just pulled it 5000 mi.
blocking the axles
Take it slow, and never "pull" a horse into your trailer.
