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Old 04-19-2019, 09:56 PM   #1
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Leveled truck sag

So my tow vehicle is a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. I have a 2 inch leveling kit on it. So of course it sags a little in the rear with the 16' sport hitched up. Is this an issue?

Also, I would like to bring my dirt bikes along with the trailer. But i'm afraid with the added 500 lbs. in the bed it would sag way too much. Would adding a set of air lift springs to the rear be the best option?

Thanks!

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Old 04-19-2019, 10:12 PM   #2
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Stock vehicles are setup with a bit of rake just for this reason. If you level it by raising the front, and add load to the rear, the sag will be pronounced as you're experiencing.

If you don't want to sagging look, either remove the leveling kit, or lift the rear. Bags will help a bit to support the load. But may still visibly look droopy in the rear.

The Land Cruiser forums get this all the time too. Newbies level the front with a spacer kit. First time they load out to go overlanding or vacationing, it sags like an old car.
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Old 04-19-2019, 11:26 PM   #3
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nI have a ram with air bags. I use them to level out the truck when carrying a full payload.

Your picture does not show a WD hitch. That is another way to get more level.
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Old 04-20-2019, 09:13 AM   #4
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Front leveling kit aside, it looks like the trailer is weighing the rear of the truck down more than it should. I would check the the way the trailer is loaded. It is easy to put too much cargo in the front. The truck should be able to handle 500 lbs on the hitch without the level being significantly affected.
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Old 04-20-2019, 09:31 AM   #5
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A dropped shank on the hitch would help.
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Old 04-20-2019, 09:42 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Bgibbs View Post
A dropped shank on the hitch would help.
?? that will just lower the trailer tongue and make the trailer out of level too.
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Old 04-20-2019, 07:53 PM   #7
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WD hitch is the simple solution.
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Old 04-20-2019, 08:02 PM   #8
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You will need the longer shank with any of the changes or the trailer will be high in front.
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Old 04-20-2019, 11:22 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by out of sight View Post
Front leveling kit aside, it looks like the trailer is weighing the rear of the truck down more than it should. I would check the the way the trailer is loaded. It is easy to put too much cargo in the front. The truck should be able to handle 500 lbs on the hitch without the level being significantly affected.
That is what I was thinking too. However, it didn't even have anything loaded in the front during this picture.

I feel like a WD hitch is overkill for the 16', but maybe i'm wrong about that?
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Old 04-21-2019, 05:38 AM   #10
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Welcome Aboard!! 👍

Question...why the kit, appearance only or other concerns?

Raise the rear, WD or lose the kit. 🤔

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Old 04-21-2019, 06:39 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by James3344 View Post
That is what I was thinking too. However, it didn't even have anything loaded in the front during this picture.

I feel like a WD hitch is overkill for the 16', but maybe i'm wrong about that?
So you then have about 350 to 400 lbs load on the hitch. That's two guys sitting on the tailgate. Your truck can handle it. A weight distribution hitch would be overkill.
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Old 04-21-2019, 07:16 AM   #12
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WD hitch is the simple solution.
This!
For a small trailer, the Fastway E-2 is the baby brother of the Equalizer.
Sway control is a bonus.
Now, when you raise the truck to level, your trailer will be out of whack, so you can drop the hitch head one hole in the shank. Easy-peasy. (It takes a little experimenting, I'm not sure mine is done yet!)

BTW, I just noticed that the YouTube couple that do RV advice,"Fate Unbound" don't have an equalizer hitch on their rig. With a 22' box RV! They live in!

Quote:
Originally Posted by out of sight View Post
So you then have about 350 to 400 lbs load on the hitch. That's two guys sitting on the tailgate. Your truck can handle it. A weight distribution hitch would be overkill.
But those two guys are totally behind the rear axle of the truck, so part of their mass is trying to LIFT the front wheels too!
I just think level is better.
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Old 04-21-2019, 07:30 AM   #13
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Simple.... You just need a one ton for that huge trailer!
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Old 04-21-2019, 07:44 AM   #14
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Yes...you can tell WD is 'overkill' by noting how much the TW drops the rear of the truck.🤔
You could put a bike rack or generator platform on the rear of the trailer to offset the rear bias of the trailer axle placement, the extra weight would raise the tongue.🤓

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Old 04-21-2019, 07:52 AM   #15
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If you raise the rear then you will need to drop the ball height the amount you raise the rear. I am not familiar with the "leveling kit". I think the more tongue weight you have on a short trailer the better so I would not try to load the trailer tongue light. You do not want to be tongue high either. Unless there is some good reason for the leveling kit I think I would take it off. I would think you could work it out so you can carry the bike also.
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Old 04-21-2019, 08:23 AM   #16
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You basically need to go down, to go back up.

You're current ball is to high, what Bill M. said is correct.

Drop the hitch ball, then use a WD system to bring back up the a level height. Remember, you plan to put dirt bikes in the truck, you can then adjust the pitch of the head to give you more lift/leveling depending on the amount of sagging the extra weight creates. Be very careful on the size of leveling bars (500lbs-1200lbs) used because you do want "flex" in the system. If you will put to much stress on the trailer frame by using to much of a leveling bar, it can create problems with your frame (bending/cracking).

It's not hard after you understand how all the pieces work together (ball height, head pitch, leveling bar load level).

Enjoy,
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Old 04-21-2019, 08:24 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by Bill M. View Post
If you raise the rear then you will need to drop the ball height the amount you raise the rear. I am not familiar with the "leveling kit". I think the more tongue weight you have on a short trailer the better so I would not try to load the trailer tongue light. You do not want to be tongue high either. Unless there is some good reason for the leveling kit I think I would take it off. I would think you could work it out so you can carry the bike also.
Tongue load 350 lbs
Driver and passenger 350 lbs
Bikes 500 lbs
Total payload 1200 lbs

Check your payload sticker. It should work.
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