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How level should trailer be?

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Last activity 2012-07-26 3:19 PM
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Tony M
Reg. Jul 2012
Posted 2012-07-14 10:51 AM (#145588)
Subject: How level should trailer be?


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Posts: 5

Still working on getting my 2 horse bp trailer and truck ready for towing. I have wdh hitch , I just ordered a 6" drop receiver . That is the difference of the measurment of the truck hitch (top of hitch)  and the bottom of the trailer connector truck is 20", trailer 13"-14" hard to say exactly what was level as the ground is not perfectly level. I tried to have the trailer level when i did this measurement using a level. Is this how it should be done , with the trailer level or should it be a little higher in the front?

When I do get the rest of the hitch should i set the hitch up so  the trailer is leevl as possible or more up in the front?

Thanks

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gard
Reg. Aug 2007
Posted 2012-07-14 3:45 PM (#145591 - in reply to #145588)
Subject: RE: How level should trailer be?


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Posts: 5870
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Location: western PA

You will want your trailer to be fairly level after its loaded. That means when its empty, it may be higher than level. For the best tire wear and axle support, the loads are evenly  distributed among the tires. Idealy they should all be equal, in use this isn't always possible.

If a trailer is hitched level, and then heavily loaded, the front tires will carry more of the weight than the aft tires. This can cause the trailer to sway. Many owners and I carry their hitches a little high when loaded. This ensures the front tires are not overloaded and promotes a very good trailer tracking. A secondary consideration, is that it allows any fluids to drain to the rear of the trailer.

When you're setting up your hitch's height, first weight the trailer with a comparable load. Add one or two inches to that resulting measurement and you should be in the ball park.

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Tony M
Reg. Jul 2012
Posted 2012-07-24 2:09 PM (#145803 - in reply to #145588)
Subject: RE: How level should trailer be?


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Posts: 5

I hae the trailer and truck with WDH set up . I did it with the trailer empty. There is a slight decline from front to rear (the front of trailer is a little higher then the rear) Over an 8' length the trailer drops about 2" from level from front to rear. Will this be good, how will loading two horses effect this. It seems their weight will be right over the two axles.
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Tony M
Reg. Jul 2012
Posted 2012-07-24 2:14 PM (#145804 - in reply to #145588)
Subject: RE: How level should trailer be?


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Posts: 5

At first I tried this shank with the dwh , but it did not seem to be enough drop for the trailer , so i used one that had about 2 1/2" more drop then this one (this one had a 2" drop so the new shank is 4 1/2" ) I forgot to take a pic of the trailer with longer shank but here is a pick of the trailer with the first shank. The front tire was not even doing much .
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jdzaharia
Reg. Apr 2006
Posted 2012-07-26 3:19 PM (#145874 - in reply to #145588)
Subject: RE: How level should trailer be?



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Posts: 455
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I have found that "level" is not always the best.  I use an infrared temp gun to take temperatures of the front and rear tires after driving a considerable distance.  Ideally, when the axles are at equilibrium, the temperatures will be the same, given you have the same air pressure in each tire.  I found that my particular trailer likes to be about 2 inches nose-high, which looks basically level to the unsuspecting passer-by.  I also seem to get better tire wear.

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