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Old 10-04-2016, 08:54 AM   #1
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ProPride - What is too high in the front?

Looking for thoughts/advise on dialing in my ProPride on my 28FT. I have used a ProPride for a while now but have moved from an SUV with Air Suspension to a 3/4 ton truck. I have been playing with the settings on the ProPride which include how high to raise the jacks and the height of the hitch bar (I purchased the extended drop).

I started with a perfectly level trailer/truck combo but this setting caused the bottom of the ProPride to be too low to the ground and the ride in the truck a bit bouncy.

I then raised the hitch bar 1 notch (I think it's 1 1/14 inch per notch). This somewhat improved the hitch height but still a bit bouncy ride. As with the above I played with the jacks height in a few different levels 4.5-8.5 inches from the jack base to bottom on the extension tube.

This weekend I moved the hitch bar again 1 notch higher which gives me the best ground clearance and I played with a few different jack heights. The ride in the truck really seemed to improve once I dialed in the jacks to 7.5 inches. This by far is the best ride in the truck we've had when towing the trailer. The down side is now I'm a little high on the front of the trailer (looks about 2 inches from perfectly level). Should I be concerned about being too high on the front of the trailer? At what level should I be concerned about being too high?

Please review the below pictures and share your thoughts.

As a treat for those who have taken the time to read this I have included a picture of a GOLDstream I came across last week.

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Old 10-04-2016, 09:00 AM   #2
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Slightly low in front is preferred to any high-in-front situation. High in front make the rig more prone to instability of the trailer. Although the PP wil prevent Sway, high in front could introduce waddling and an unpleasant experience...at a minimum. It will also increase the likelihood of tail dragging over parking lot entrance aprons, etc.
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Old 10-04-2016, 09:10 AM   #3
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I believe you need a level trailer, otherwise you have uneven loads on the trailer's axles/tires with the rear axle/tires possibly overladed, as well as unstable. I would move the hitch drop bar back down and put more washers under the rivet of the hitch, the w.d. bars look quite a bit too high at the back, they function best a little low in back.

Sometimes it is impossible to add more washers to tilt the head back, there is not enough rotation. Mine is maxed out with washers and not enough back tilt. I believe Andy Thomson at Can-Am puts a bend in the stinger to get there, that may be the next step.
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Old 10-04-2016, 09:29 AM   #4
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I would suggest reread the instructions for setting up the PP. It appears you are guessing at the settings rather than applying the logic of the hitch system.

The trailer wants to be level when done and weight transferred to the front axle of the TV. The former is necessary with an Airstream because of the type of axles used and the latter in order to get the advantage of a WD hitch.
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Old 10-04-2016, 09:42 AM   #5
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Personally, and IMHO, judging from the photographs alone, the rake of the trailer is not much, not enough to matter.

In my view, the goal is a trailer that pulls great and is stable throughout all conditions. If the combination meets these expectations then don't mess with it.


Gradiens super tenui glacie.
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Old 10-04-2016, 10:08 AM   #6
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Level trailer is: equal loads on the TT wheels. This is Goal One.
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Old 10-04-2016, 02:20 PM   #7
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I doubt a 2" difference in hitch height will amount to even half of 40 pounds hitch weight....

Such a rise will shift center of gravity toward the back of the trailer about 1/4000.


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Old 10-04-2016, 06:14 PM   #8
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Are you going to add more weight / cargo to the truck? Or to the front of the camper? If it tows well that's good but I still believe camper level is another goal. Nice combo.
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Old 10-05-2016, 01:29 AM   #9
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What bars do you have? Sean recommended 1400 lb bars for me with my 28' Intl and Ram 2500. Works well.
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Old 10-05-2016, 06:44 AM   #10
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Pro-Pride what is too high

I saw this little video the other day and I thought it explained weight very good. it shows the effect of increased and decreased tongue weight.

https://www.facebook.com/dunlaoghairemarina/
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Old 10-05-2016, 06:01 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by daveswenson View Post
What bars do you have? Sean recommended 1400 lb bars for me with my 28' Intl and Ram 2500. Works well.


I have the 1,400lbs bars.

Nice combo, what year is your 28?
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Old 10-05-2016, 06:02 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HowieE View Post
I would suggest reread the instructions for setting up the PP. It appears you are guessing at the settings rather than applying the logic of the hitch system.

The trailer wants to be level when done and weight transferred to the front axle of the TV. The former is necessary with an Airstream because of the type of axles used and the latter in order to get the advantage of a WD hitch.


I did read and reread the manual, the part of tuning the final adjustments for the ride was a little vague.
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Old 10-05-2016, 06:09 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EarlM View Post
I saw this little video the other day and I thought it explained weight very good. it shows the effect of increased and decreased tongue weight.

https://www.facebook.com/dunlaoghairemarina/


Yes, this is good. I saw an originals to that a year so ago.

I do not think I'm heavy on the rear as shown in the video. I've never had any kind of sway with my setup.
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Old 10-05-2016, 07:16 PM   #14
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We are not really getting at one of the OP's questions, and one that I have, too: "At what level should I be concerned about being too high [or too low]?"

In a perfect world the answer would be that only perfectly level is acceptable. But, this is not a perfect world, and a some small amount out of level is going to happen and it is not going to present problems.

The question is, how little out of level is still acceptable? For example is a quarter bubble OK? Half a bubble? A bubble barely out?
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Old 10-05-2016, 07:43 PM   #15
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Who knows. I try to get it as close as I can, better a little low than a little high in front because the trailer is more stable with weight shifting onto the hitch than away from it, moving along the rises and dips in the road.
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Old 10-07-2016, 07:21 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by field & stream View Post
We are not really getting at one of the OP's questions, and one that I have, too: "At what level should I be concerned about being too high [or too low]?"

In a perfect world the answer would be that only perfectly level is acceptable. But, this is not a perfect world, and a some small amount out of level is going to happen and it is not going to present problems.

The question is, how little out of level is still acceptable? For example is a quarter bubble OK? Half a bubble? A bubble barely out?

Use the truck scale. Load on one axle versus another. Side to side variations as well.

Use an observer to see which brake locks first at low speed. Braking force is more to the forward axle, but . . .

It all works together.
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Old 10-07-2016, 07:51 AM   #17
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slowmover -- thanks for an informed and valuable posting, but it is not remotely close to answering the question: "The question is, how little out of level is still acceptable? For example is a quarter bubble OK? Half a bubble? A bubble barely out?"
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Old 10-07-2016, 07:55 AM   #18
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IMO, never nose high. I shoot for less than 1/2" low in front (level is ideal, but rarely happens). I measure lower belt to ground at the seam where the end caps meet the flat sides. Fine tuning done with WD adjustment. I wouldn't ask on "bubble" position. Too many variables between leveling devices and mounting techniques.
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Old 10-07-2016, 08:22 AM   #19
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dznf0g - thanks, that is helpful. (I agree on the shortcomings of my bubble approach, but the ground may not be level either so maybe there is no way we can be certain.)
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Old 10-07-2016, 08:46 AM   #20
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There is a parking area near our house that is dead level, so that's where I go to verify my hitch setup before a long trip. I measure front and rear lower belt line trim with a tape, if it's within an inch between level and low in front on our 25 I know that's about as close as I can get it, good to go.

Also a good place to measure and compare truck wheel well heights to previous settings we had at the CAT scale showing our actual axle loads.
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