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Old 04-30-2019, 01:19 PM   #1
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2018 Nissan Armada really bad sagging

Greetings, Any suggestions from the experts on how to fix my sagging issue with our 2019 25' Globetrotter FB twin. First couple times we towed it just a slight 1 in rear sag. This last time the air suspension didn't seem to be helping at all. When I turned the Armada off and restarted it aired right back up. Have combed the Internet for a fix but the answers are all over the place. We live in Houston if anybody knows a local shop. The Armada has rear air suspension. We have a Blue Ox with 1000lb bars. We are not heavy at all.....just 2 of us and hardly any gear. we are rated to tow 8500lbs with a 850lb hitch weight. we carry our tanks empty. Thanks in advance
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Old 04-30-2019, 01:50 PM   #2
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Greetings, Any suggestions from the experts on how to fix my sagging issue with our 2019 25' Globetrotter FB twin. First couple times we towed it just a slight 1 in rear sag. This last time the air suspension didn't seem to be helping at all. When I turned the Armada off and restarted it aired right back up. Have combed the Internet for a fix but the answers are all over the place. We live in Houston if anybody knows a local shop. The Armada has rear air suspension. We have a Blue Ox with 1000lb bars. We are not heavy at all.....just 2 of us and hardly any gear. we are rated to tow 8500lbs with a 850lb hitch weight. we carry our tanks empty. Thanks in advance
The 25FB is notorious for being nose-heavy... often much more than the "rated" tongue weight.

Go to a CAT Scale and actually weigh your rig to find out the real tongue weight so you can get the Blue Ox set up right, and see if that corrects the issue. If you have enough weight distribution, rather than rear-end sag you should see all 4 corners of the tow vehicle drop around the same amount.

It takes 3 or more passes on the scale to get the information you need. You'll need to weight the Armada by itself, the Armada and Airstream with the weight bars disconnected, and the Armada and the Airstream with the weight bars set for travel. That'll tell you if you're keeping enough weight on the steering axle, let you calculate the tongue weight of the trailer, etc. The charge for subsequent measurements after you take the first one is MUCH less if you take all the weights on the same day. They tend to have a big parking lot, so you pull off the scales and adjust the WD system or drop the trailer off in a parking spot while you weigh the Armada on its own, etc.
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Old 04-30-2019, 02:44 PM   #3
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Don't be surprised if your tongue weight is north of 1000lbs. As stated, you will need to hit the scale to get your accurate numbers. You may find that you will have to cinch up your WD bars some to get some of that weight moved to the front and trailer axles.

It also sounds like there is an issue with the air suspension as that should be compensating for the sag. I had a similar issue with the Cayenne. It took a trip to the dealer to sort it out. It could be any manner of issues, from ECU programming to air compressor to leaking lines and air springs. They are wonderful things when they work correctly, but also an expensive pain when they don't.
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Old 04-30-2019, 04:11 PM   #4
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When at the CAT scales...

Use your WD hitch to level your rig without any air suspension help...

When the rig is level with proper weight transfer you are good to go.👍

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Old 04-30-2019, 04:20 PM   #5
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What is the payload on your Armada, looking at the yellow door sticker?
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Old 04-30-2019, 04:25 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS View Post
Use your WD hitch to level your rig without any air suspension help...

When the rig is level with proper weight transfer you are good to go.��

Bob
����
Bob is correct. See for the reason why. BTW the tongue weight on our 25FBT is 1050 or higher, depending on loading.
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Old 04-30-2019, 04:50 PM   #7
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What is the payload on your Armada, looking at the yellow door sticker?
Exactly Gary; what does the Payload on your drivers door sticker say? Several Youtubes about payload and false sense of value from using airbags. Not really familiar with your Armada, but very curious on your payload....
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Old 04-30-2019, 05:09 PM   #8
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1724lbs
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Old 04-30-2019, 05:10 PM   #9
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Thanks.....this is one I watched last week
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Old 04-30-2019, 05:13 PM   #10
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Next time I hitch it up I am going to go 1 more link on my Blue Ox......10 instead of 9 and put more tension on the bars. I have to think something happened with the air suspension due to the fact that it towed beautifully the first 4 times. Thanks
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Old 04-30-2019, 05:21 PM   #11
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Next time I hitch it up I am going to go 1 more link on my Blue Ox......10 instead of 9 and put more tension on the bars. I have to think something happened with the air suspension due to the fact that it towed beautifully the first 4 times. Thanks
That's a very good payload! I have had 3 BO Sway Pro's; sweet spot if hooked correctly, "they say", is 3.5 links, showing...I had 3.5 links showing on my first 2 25' AS's with the BO, but now I have 4.5 on my current 28' AS FC, which works fine. The front fender of your TV should be within 1/2" loaded or unloaded. Your ride should not feel like your "porposing" in the front either. If your still having issues, call the BO technicians...they are pretty good. That's my experience... Let us know how things work out.
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Old 04-30-2019, 05:28 PM   #12
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i just counted and I will have 6 links left if I put it on link number 10.
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Old 04-30-2019, 05:33 PM   #13
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i just counted and I will have 6 links left if I put it on link number 10.
How many links "showing"?? That's the easier measure they told me to look for...what if your chain has more/less links then mine? Just saying...I know I had my U-bolts bent on my last BO and they replaced the chains also when I got it fixed..I did not count the links to compare, but I know they have told me multiple times, the sweet spot is typically 3.5 showing...but can vary depending on your TV set up. Call them if you have more questions...my 2 cents..when it is set up correctly, works great!
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Old 04-30-2019, 06:00 PM   #14
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I have 1,500 pound bars with my GT25. I take 9 links up to the saddle of the cam device. The GT25 is porky in the front!
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Old 04-30-2019, 07:32 PM   #15
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Use your WD hitch to level your rig without any air suspension help...

When the rig is level with proper weight transfer you are good to go.👍

Bob
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This.
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Old 04-30-2019, 08:59 PM   #16
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That's a very good payload! I have had 3 BO Sway Pro's; sweet spot if hooked correctly, "they say", is 3.5 links, showing...I had 3.5 links showing on my first 2 25' AS's with the BO, but now I have 4.5 on my current 28' AS FC, which works fine. The front fender of your TV should be within 1/2" loaded or unloaded. Your ride should not feel like your "porposing" in the front either. If your still having issues, call the BO technicians...they are pretty good. That's my experience... Let us know how things work out.
I started with the 9th link from the free end in the notch. (That's how Blue Ox tells you to count, not about links "showing" under the cam which you can't see until you have it locked in, etc. but it works out to seeing about 3.5 links under the cam) I felt like it wasn't returning enough weight to the steering axle, and scales agreed. I have 1000-lb bars with about 950 lb tongue (loaded for travel) and Blue Ox customer support said to try putting the 10th link in the notch before going up a bar size. That brought my steer axle back to within 20 lb of the truck-only value, and settle the rig down nicely.
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Old 04-30-2019, 09:43 PM   #17
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Post some pictures of your rig hitched up with the spring bars loaded.
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Old 05-01-2019, 06:36 AM   #18
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Image with sag

Sorry this is the only one I have. This is the first time with the sag problem
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Old 05-01-2019, 07:33 AM   #19
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2018 Nissan Armada really bad sagging

I’ve towed about 25k miles with the same truck. 25’ @780lbs tongue weight and a 30’ @980lbs tongue weight.

The QX/armada has a soft rear end and the air bags definitely help, but you’ve got to get aggressive with weight distribution bottom line. I used an equalizer hitch and was able to get the truck level within 1” fender height front / rear with both trailers.

The receiver is stout - large cross member welded directly to the frame rails, it can handle the torque.

That being said if you are >1,000 lbs on the tongue you may be pushing the limits of WD on that truck due to wheelbase length. You can only force so much weight forward given the length of the lever you are manipulating.

I believe for the 30’ with 200 more pounds on the tongue I had to change (raise) my L brackets to help the spring arms engage sooner as weight was applied.

It’s also possible that you have a leaking air bag. Get some load on it and spray it down with a bottle of soapy water... look for bubbles.

In your picture is super clear that regardless of if air bags are inflated or not, you don’t have enough weight distribution action from your hitch. You may have maxed out your hitch spring arms, or your hitch is simply not configured correctly (or ball height and # chain links).

You’ll also need to evaluate upgrading the spring arms to a heavier weight or changing hitches. All hitches have pros and cons... the equalizer hitch is renowned for a “stiff” ride that transfers vibration to the trailer... however I can say it does a great job of weight transfer when you call on it.

I’ve always used 1,000 lb equalizer bars.... but if your tongue weight is north of 1,000 with that truck you could very well need stiffer 1,200 or 1,400 lb bars for your hitch.
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Old 05-01-2019, 09:12 AM   #20
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We have a 2006 Infiniti QX56 so I'm not sure if the air suspension is the same. If it is, the air suspension is not made to handle that kind of weight for any length of time. I added the Firestone air bags to the inside of the coils and that solved the sagging. Use 0 lbs. PSI when not hooked up and 30 lbs. psi when towing. This takes the strain off of the air suspension. The tongue weight of ours is right around 1,100 lbs.
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