08 F250 HAHA and 08 27'FB CDD

[millvalleyca]

Hi guys

Anyone have the same configuration?

08 F250 Crew cab short bed
HAHA
08 27'FB CDD

What size drop bar are you using? I'm using a 6"
What line is your tension bar set at? Currently between the top and middle line.
How many holes are showing at the bottom of the tension bar? Right now 3 holes.

Is your trailer and tow vehicle level with your settings? MIne is not!

Thanks!
Dennis

[2airishuman]

millva...

is it a 4x4? that has an impact or receiver height and stinger length....

measure the distance from the ground up to the upper INSIDE of the receiver box...

that's the number used as the basis for stinger selection.

we discussed the issue of some of the newer tow vehicles being REALLY HIGH and needing longer stingers...

see the picture here that i took of a new f250 receiver height, and browse the thread...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/556451-post18.html

i think bambi_bandit had nearly the same set up as you.

he just upgrade to a new powerstroke, uses a haha and has a 27ccd...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...cle-43167.html

so if he doesn't see this thread u might ping him...

cheers
2air'

[millvalleyca]

Hi 2air
Yes, it is a 4x4 and the upper inside when I measured it on "level ground" was 19".
I'm just trying to figure out if they sent me the right 6" bar....or are others using a 4" drop.
Thanks
Dennis

[2airishuman]

for some reason, i mistakenly though u had a 4

and wanted to trade for a 6.

my mistake.

IF you can get the trailer LEVEL then you've got the right bar.

so screw the jacks more and bring the spring bars UP...

if the trailer can be made LEVEL you will have confirmed it's the right bar.

is the hitch box really only 19 inches?

that seems low for a 2008 4x4, the ones i measured were much higher.

anyway pm bandit, it looks like he's got your combo...

cheers
2air'

[millvalleyca]

2air
I measured from ground to the top inside of the receiver and it's 19".
Do you know the height of the receiver for the HAHA?

One more bit of info ..... when I raise the trailer when hitched 2+ inches to level the trailer I've already loosened the tension bar.

Dennis

[2airishuman]

height of haha box depends on jack adjustments, since even loose spring bars move it around!

it is the a/s ball/coupler height on the trailer when LEVEL that is used as a guide for stinger drop length selection.

this number is in the specs for your trailer, usually 18.75 inches on NON slide models, i think...

i understand u can level the trailer while HITCHED using the tongue jack....

and this will ALWAY reduce spring bar tension and raise the truck rear too...

that's not the sort of leveling i was referring to in the last post...

once connected AND the TONGUE jack is retracted UP,

use the HITCH screw jacks to get the trailer level...

go as far a necessary with the HITCH screw jacks to get level...

IF u can get the trailer LEVEL while connected USING THE HITCH SCREW JACKS/SPRING BARS,

then the 6 inch drop stinger bar is correct.

if at MAX hitch/screw jack tension, the trailer is still LOW at the nose, ya need a 4 inch bar.

capice?

cheers
2air'

[millvalleyca]

got it!

Next trip out I'll crank the puppy up and see what happens.

Thanks
Dennis

[Bambi_Bandit]

Hi millvalleyca - Got your PM. I will get some photos.

I will say that the only difference in height between our trucks is that I have 20" wheels, and I don't even use a 6" shank. I think I use a 4" if I remember correctly.

What I do know is that when I am hooked up, I am dead on level in both the truck and trailer.

[Bambi_Bandit]

Damn... you gave me a good reason to bring Cosmo back home for a bath... I better hurry before it hits the 101 high today....

Anyways, below are my pics of the setup, both unhitched and hitched. I do have a 4" shank drop.

Note the fabricated clip I use to ensure that the jack does not unwind on me by itself....

[Bambi_Bandit]

I'll try to show overall shots and shots with a small handheld level, both on the truck and the frame of the airstream....

Not an exact science with such a short level, but I'm pretty damn close to level on both the truck and trailer...

Nilesrob on this forum also has the same setup - 2008 F250 with 18" wheels 4x4 shortbed and 27FB Ocean Breeze. He carries a 45 gallon or so aux fuel tank in his bed, so it may seem slightly lower, but again, same setup with the 4" shank and hensley.

Hope this helps... who knows - someone may look at these pics and point out something I'm doing wrong that I didn't know about!

[Sean Woodruff]

You may want to drop your strut bar to the bottom hole on the frame bracket. An Airstream has what the haha company calls an A-style coupler and the bottom hole makes the strut the most level.

[millvalleyca]

Thanks Kevin for the great pics

I like your clip you made.

What size spring bars are you using....it doesn't look like mine and I'm using the 1,000 lb ( mine is flat at the end not bent like yours)
What is the height from ground to the top inside of the truck receiver box? I measure at 19"

Dennis

[Bambi_Bandit]

Originally Posted by Sean Woodruff

You may want to drop your strut bar to the bottom hole on the frame bracket. An Airstream has what the haha company calls an A-style coupler and the bottom hole makes the strut the most level.

Hi Sean,

Thanks for your advice. Once I get the rig out of my driveway and onto flat ground I'll give that shot.

[Bambi_Bandit]

Originally Posted by millvalleyca

Thanks Kevin for the great pics

I like your clip you made.

What size spring bars are you using....it doesn't look like mine and I'm using the 1,000 lb ( mine is flat at the end not bent like yours)
What is the height from ground to the top inside of the truck receiver box? I measure at 19"

Dennis

Hi Dennis,

1000lb bars... See pic... I know that Hensley sources the bars from different vendors, so there is probably some variation on design, assuming it still meets the functional criteria.

The clips were designed by Roger Williams Airstream in Weatherford TX. They are great to prevent the jacks from backing up on you. You can call them to get them sent to you while your driving down the road. It's a cross between an aluminum bracket and a zip dee knob thingee... (I can't remember the zip dee part right now).

[millvalleyca]

Silly me.....I called the HAHA company today and was told I have a 4" drop (measured from the top to the top of the bottom bar).

I guess the only alternative is to crank it up the next time out and see if the trailer levels itself.

The guy I talked to said not to worry about the truck and just the trailer.
"Just look for the ride you like" (after adjusting the spring bars) and if it's still unleveled then maybe change the 4" for a 2" drop bar. (no one ever suggested a 2" on the forum)

Being a newbie...to me the drive was just fine (1,000 miles each way to the Grand Canyon and back) but when I stopped for fuel/eats I noticed the forward slant.

Thanks!
Dennis

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by millvalleyca

Silly me.....I called the HAHA company today and was told I have a 4" drop...

I guess the only alternative is to crank it up the next time out and see if the trailer levels itself.

The guy I talked to said not to worry about the truck and just the trailer.

Originally Posted by 2air'

...for some reason, i mistakenly though u had a 4

if the trailer can be made LEVEL you will have confirmed it's the right bar...

i towed ya so...

based on the pic u put in the haha thread, it looked like 4.

get the trailer level has been the mantra all along...

but DON'T "not worry' about the truck.

AXEL weights matter too...

cheers
2air'

[Hensley Ron]

I towed ya so? I like it. You must have talked to G-rod (Jarrod the exhalted haha tech). I think we talked about the jack holes on the other forum. You won't notice a difference between 2 and 3 holes showing, but always best to go with the manual. I've towed three different trailers with four different vehicles with my haha. I've expereminted with 2 holes, 3 holes, and everything in between (just kidding, please don't drill a 2 1/2 hole). It really makes little difference in the ride or the leveling of truck or trailer. In some cases, though, using the wrong hole may make it difficult to allign the head.

[millvalleyca]

Hi guys

Do you think storing too much in the FB outer storage has anything to do with me being unleveled?

The storage unit is under the bed and accessed right behind the tongue jack.

I'm gonna weigh what I have in there (chairs/table/hammock) I'm guessing 100 or so pounds of stuff.

Does it make any difference if I transfer some of the heavier items to the truck bed?

Just wondering
Dennis

[2airishuman]

millva...

it really depends on the actual TONGUE weight,

along with the proper jack tension and stinger drop.

IF the tongue mass is >1000lbs there could be issues using 1000 lb spring bars.

as my unit's tongue mass went over 1200 lbs, the lesser spring bars were no longer adequate 4 weight distribution...

but your tongue mass should be under 1k lbs.

so IF/when u weigh the trailer and tv axles, don't forget to get a tongue weight too...

moving gear from the trailer to the truck bed does put that load directly over the tv axles...

but lightening the trailer tongue (below 10%) can affect handling negatively.

it's all related and adjusting one thing impacts everything else...

this is one of the reasons to have a BIG tow beast with extra capacity,

and why trying to limit loads to 80% of a given rating is a good thing.

cheers
2air'

[Sean Woodruff]

Originally Posted by millvalleyca

Hi guys
I'm gonna weigh what I have in there (chairs/table/hammock) I'm guessing 100 or so pounds of stuff.

Does it make any difference if I transfer some of the heavier items to the truck bed?

Dennis, I think you'd have a hard time recognizing the difference with moving only 100lbs from under the bed to the bed of the truck.