Short girl. Tall truck.

[Airdreamstx]

I recently traded in my 2019 Ram 1500 for a 2019 Ram 2500. I am a solo traveler and 5’3”. 😁 I am loving the 2500 and how much better it pulls, but it is SO TALL!?! I have a 2019 28FC with the anti sway system that my Airstream dealer Installed. I have to put the orange squares or something under the jack to get it tall enough to hook up. I feel like the front gets too high and it’s kinda freakin me out! I am at a state park now and my space has a slight downward slope to it. I’m backed in and there is a slight drop off at end. When I was raising the jack to get the trailer unhitched, I had visions of my AS tipping back and going off the ledge! I have everything in place like I’m supposed to and my trailer is sitting in the actual space. Now down the hill! But I think I’m going to have a mild panic attack every time I have to hitch/unhitch! Those of you with a “tall truck,” is this normal or what do you do? Please advise

[kpm]

We have an Equalizer hitch with a Ford F350, which is a pretty tall truck. We always extend the foot by five holes when unhitching just to make sure the tongue jack will be able to lift the tongue high enough. It can get pretty high, as you have seen, but by extending the foot we haven't had to use any blocks.

You didn't say how your hitch was set up, but one of the main things when setting up a new truck is to make sure the trailer frame is level when the weight distribution hitch is engaged. If not, adjusting the hitch is necessary. Depending on the brand of the hitch, a longer shank may also be needed for a taller truck.

[Alumaholic]

Sounds like whoever set up your weight distribution hitch didn't replace your old shank with a new shank with a longer drop appropriate for your tall truck.
Please send us some pictures, and we can help.

[majorairhead]

Sounds like you need to adjust your hitch on the truck, the ball needs to be lowered using a drop hitch.

When the trailer is level and you back up to it, the top of the ball should be about the same height the top of the receiver on the trailer hitch.

https://www.etrailer.com/faq-ballmount.aspx

[Airdreamstx]

Here ya go

[Airdreamstx]

Current situation

[Al and Missy]

You are going to have to replace the shank, i.e. the part that goes into the receiver on the truck that the hitch ball is bolted to. If the trailer is level as shown, the ball should be at or just above (to allow for some sag, but your 3/4T may not sag much) the height of the coupler on the trailer. Your Airstream dealer should be able to order the proper shank and install it for you.

I should add that towing as you are set up puts extra stress on the rear axle, and reduces tongue weight which may contribute to instability. It is important to tow with the trailer level.

Quote: "...When I was raising the jack to get the trailer unhitched, I had visions of my AS tipping back and going off the ledge! ..."
You do have the wheels chocked when unhitching, right?

Al

[jeffmc306]

I agree with the two previous posts and would bet the dealer did not replace your 1500’s shank. We also replaced a 2019 Ram 1500 with a ‘19 2500 and found it was about 3” higher. Our old Blue Ox shank ran out of adjustment before the trailer was level.

I took the opportunity to I get a 2.5” shank that eliminates the need to use the reducer sleeve (came with your 2500). I’m using a Curt 12” rise, 8” drop from eTrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...rt/C17132.html

Your trailer should be level at the hitch when connected to your truck. By installing a drop shank, you’re effectively making the ball height the same as your old truck. No more feeling like you’ll tip over your trailer on its back side!

Good luck!

[majorairhead]

Indeed, you can see how your ball height is higher than the hitch on your trailer. You need to drop your ball height. Go to an rv dealer that sells the equalizer hitch and have them set it up properly for you.

[Airdreamstx]

Thank you all very much for the info and guidance. Not sure why my Airstream dealer wasn’t the one to figure this out but now I know. I’m on Dallas area so I will probably try to find someone local. But that means another panic attack to get the hitched up and fixed. 😬

Thx again!

[majorairhead]

Also, for future reference, that pin on your trailer jack stand, in the last picture, right above the orange blocks you're using, that pin pulls out and the jack stand can slide/extend up and down.

Just make sure you have it all the way up, or close to all the way up, and pinned in before you travel.

[majorairhead]

Just an fyi, you can't remove that pin in the position you're in now, you can only move that jack foot up and down when the trailer is hooked up to your truck.

Also, if you take out that pin, hold on to the foot end of the jack stand so it doesn't come the whole way out.....it can be tough some times to slide it back in.

[Airdreamstx]

Got it! Thanks again!

[GCinSC2]

Airstreamstx,

Looks like the hitch is going to be reset with a longer shank as others pointed out, good advice.

Can I suggest a few points to check while setting up the hitch again?

Ball shank length. Just flip the head assy over or look under the head and see of the shank length is interferring with the WD bar socket movement. It will be obvious it leaves big divots on the underside of the shank and on the WD sockets.

Ball nut, check to see if its tight. This requires a big wrench and socket.

Apply grease to ball. It looks like this ball has been run dry and that can scratch things up. Grease light film on ball regularly reapplied and wiping down inside of hitch ball socket once in a while makes stuff wear less.

Best of luck with new truck.

Gary

[Ray Eklund]

Hello short girl with a tall truck.

I am towing a 27 foot 2019 International with a F350, 3 inch Dexter lift kit and 16 inch wheels. My shank is 2 1/2 inches to fit into the F350's larger receiver. Even then, there is some slop in the reciever. I would avoid the adapter to convert a 2 inch shank to fit a 2 1/2 inch receiver. Lots of up, down and left to right slop. I even shim the top our our 2 1/2 shank... but that is on some earlier thread I had.

My level trailer in our garage is at 23 inches, measured at the bottom of the latch where the ball inserts. Garages have a grade down to the door for water to drain out of the garage... so garage is not lever front to back, but close side to side.

My hitch to the 'bottom of the Shank' is at 12 1/2 inches to the garage floor.

I have FIVE washers. (Yours appears to be more than FIVE. My five washers were fine with the 25 foot International with 16 inch tires.) It was set up by Las Vegas Airstream. It towed close to level with the 15 inch wheels, and I will recheck now with the 16 inch. May now be perfect.

I include two photographs.

You can also FLIP your current SHANK. I did that for my 25 foot to F350 to adjust to level. The current setup FLIPPED the shank back to like yours and was level with the 3 inch Dexter Lift and I will see if the extra 1/2 inch of wheel keeps it close to level.

The GRADE of where you are parking the trailer will cause LEVEL to very HIGH or very LOW in steep grades. At LEVEL Grades... it would be just raising the trailer to clear the ball.

Somehow you may have a different issue and being diagnosed as something else. My experience with the setup on my 31 ton and 27 foot 2019 International is not even close to being off like your photo.

(Added: The axles on a Front Bed seem to be way back of center of the trailer. Ours is a Front Bed. So if there is a difference, it takes MORE or LESS lift depending on the placement of the axles. Someone may want to correct me, as I am not in a lot full of Airstreams... but this struck me like a brick tossed out of an airplane.)

A 'wildly generous' opinion.

[JDG]

Airdreamstx
Ditto for all the above information. I have a 2018 RAM 2500 with 33 Classic. I use an Equalizer 12” Length 9” drop 13” rise. Part # 90-02-4400. Works well and I think it was around $180 so the Curt above may be a better deal price wise. Good luck.

[Bumpy]

Have a peek at what Wendy has been up to:

https://www.airdreamsentertainment.com

All it takes is imagination!

[Jim J]

I made the same truck trade you did and had the same hitch. Got a new Equalizer shank with a 6 inch drop and mounted the hitch in the lowest position. It was just right for my FC 30 which has the same hitch height as your 27.

I found the part I needed at E trailer for About $140.

Equal-i-zer Weight Dist Shank - 2-1/2" Hitch - 10" Rise/6" Drop - 600 to 1,400 lbs TW

[Mollysdad]

Lots of good advice above.
The trailer should be level when towing because otherwise more weight is carried on the rear axle and less on the front.
Besides, you don't want to drag the bumper going into every gas station.
The Equalizer hitch is very adjustable, but the ball needs to be about 20" high to start.

[kendrick.l.j]

Welcome to the forum!
~~~~… just waving to ya.
Another short girl with a tall truck.
My rig is a 2017 Classic with a 2017 RAM 2500 Laramie but I have a different hitch so I’m no help to ya but I hope you enjoy your travels as much as I do and I can honestly say that I’ve never been in contact with a nicer group of people. I’ve learned so much in the last 2+ years from this site that I feel pretty confident that if I get in a jam or have a question I’ll get help within 24 hours.
Again, welcome and I hope to see ya down the road.