Lift Kit Needed?

[Terri&KevinGates]

How much bed clearance did you have when that happened? I may have cried a few tears if that happened to me.

About 6.5. We put the hitch up as high as it would go. Got about 8 1/4” out of it. I was worried that it would hit again on the way out. Our truck was a dually so it sat lower in the rear than a single rear wheel would so we still ran pretty level.

 

[BryanValRox]

I will move it back up. I found this online so I assumed 6.5" was the goal? Guess that's a bit too close? Guess this answers my question, if I want the RV to be more level and maintain appropriate clearance a lift kit would be needed.

I was hoping that wasn't the case, the front AC unit seems awfully close to my overhead door as it is.

While I am not advocating for one clearance over another, I think that this comes down to personal preference while balancing the risk and reward against towing posture, equipment set up and the type of travel/camping that you do.

Point being, any clearance comes with risk based on the environment you are exposing it to.

Lets the comments begin !!! 😂

 

[M and E]

While I am not advocating for one clearance over another, I think that this comes down to personal preference while balancing the risk and reward against towing posture, equipment set up and the type of travel/camping that you do.

Point being, any clearance comes with risk based on the environment you are exposing it to.

Lets the comments begin !!! 😂

That's actually a really good point.

When you tow noticeably nose-high, you’re effectively tilting the trailer so some weight shifts rearward. With tandems/triples and equalizers it’s not always dramatic, independent suspension is usually even less so, but it can still mean the rear axle group is carrying more. More load = more heat in the tires, and heat is what kills trailer tires and very often leads to blowouts. Nose-low can do the opposite and put more burden on the front axle group. I know some here will think I’m out of my mind, but you can fact check me. I’m positive about this position. Is blowout risk factorially increased? No, but it is meaningful.

I know nose attitude alone usually isn’t the cause of a blowout. Most of the time it’s a heat failure from being close to (or over) tire capacity, not running inflation matched to the real load, speed, alignment/suspension/bearing issues, older or lower-quality tires.

But to @BryanValRox point, it's all a risk calculation.

 

[UFF]

BryanValRox / M and E, now the last two post are great. It truly is a balancing act and about managing risk. Very well said.

 

[Lantley]

That's actually a really good point.

When you tow noticeably nose-high, you’re effectively tilting the trailer so some weight shifts rearward. With tandems/triples and equalizers it’s not always dramatic, independent suspension is usually even less so, but it can still mean the rear axle group is carrying more. More load = more heat in the tires, and heat is what kills trailer tires and very often leads to blowouts. Nose-low can do the opposite and put more burden on the front axle group. I know some here will think I’m out of my mind, but you can fact check me. I’m positive about this position. Is blowout risk factorially increased? No, but it is meaningful.

I know nose attitude alone usually isn’t the cause of a blowout. Most of the time it’s a heat failure from being close to (or over) tire capacity, not running inflation matched to the real load, speed, alignment/suspension/bearing issues, older or lower-quality tires.

But to @BryanValRox point, it's all a risk calculation.

I don't dispute anything you say as it pertains to carrying the load, tire wear and blowouts. However none of that compares to bottoming out and having body damage to truck and trailer, due to insufficient tailgate clearance.
Nose high or low needs to be dealt with, however in the meantime towing with inadequate tailgate clearance is not the solution.

 

[Lantley]

The OP reduced their tailgate clearance in an attempt to resolve the nose high condition. I don't need a chart or computer analysis to know that was a bad idea.
It's not a matter of choosing one over the other or even comparing one issue to the other . Neither scenario is good. However lowering the tailgate clearance to alleviate the nose high condition is not the solution.
In the end the original poster needs to maintain adequate tailgate clearance and reduce / eliminate the nose high condition.

 

[M and E]

The OP reduced their tailgate clearance in an attempt to resolve the nose high condition. I don't need a chart or computer analysis to know that was a bad idea.

I know. I wasn’t insulting you and I hope it wasn’t taken that way. It was a risk based scenario that I presented. The idea of sharing the chart was to provoke thought about what could go wrong, measuring what risk is higher, and choosing which one somebody will accept. That’s all. I’ll delete the post. Just friendly conversation about something enjoyable to me was the other intention.

 

[BryanValRox]

BryanValRox / M and E, now the last two post are great. It truly is a balancing act and about managing risk. Very well said.

Thank you very much!

 

[Lantley]

I know. I wasn’t insulting you and I hope it wasn’t taken that way. It was a risk based scenario that I presented. The idea of sharing the chart was to provoke thought about what could go wrong, measuring what risk is higher, and choosing which one somebody will accept. That’s all. I’ll delete the post. Just friendly conversation about something enjoyable to me was the other intention.

Oh no please don't delete the post. I understood what you are saying. All discussion is valuable and should not be taken personally.
We all have different points of view, ideas and background. While I may not agree with a post that does not diminish its value.
Likewise someone may not agree with my thoughts and consider them worthless and that's OK too as long as everyone remains civil we don't have to agree across the board on each post and idea.
Forums are all about exchanging ideas and info. In that exchange someone generally learns something along the way.
What often happens is that info that doesn't initially seem relative or valuable becomes very important down the road when experiencing or researching a similar issue.
Don't let my comments or anyone else's interfere with you expressing your RV thoughts, experience and opinions.
I generally enjoy your post that are often data driven and informative......keep them coming.......even if I may have a different viewpoint.

Lastly Why many of us are passionate about our ideas and often long-winded. Tone and emotion is not easily transmitted via text as vs. face to face. The temperment, facial expression, sarcasm and body language gets lost leaving one to wonder was I insulted, should I be offended or did I just offend someone else.
This is a very friendly good natured forum, as with all public forum sometimes you need thick skin.
But for the most part we are not easily offended. hopefully none of us take ourselves or our post too seriously or too personally

 

[M and E]

Tone and emotion is not easily transmitted via text as vs. face to face. The temperment, facial expression, sarcasm and body language gets lost leaving one to wonder was I insulted, should I be offended or did I just offend someone else.

It seems like we both have a case of Catholic guilt! I know I do.

That is exactly right. Tone and tenor is hard in forums like these. The last thing I want to do is insult, offense, piss off anyone here. Thanks for sending your last message. For the record, in my real and online life I never have anything but good intentions.

 

[Erik]

As a newbie...
It's refreshing to see such positive attitudes here on this forum. MANY of the other sites I look at have great advice, but far more snarkiness (is that a word?) to each other.

 

[7426TRISS]

Welcome, great people, answers to all you question

 

[Turfengineer]

I have 8” of bed rail clearance and I do run a little nose high. I have an odd driveway with some slope, so I like the extra clearance.

 

[Meanjean73]

Thanks for the discussion everyone. The solution to my nose high attitude would come back to a lift kit (if needed). We definitely don’t want to reduce the clearance over the bed rails. I’m back to my initial setup in the first post.

Looking at others setup maybe my nose high isnt that significant to warrant a lift kit?

So, any input on lift kits would be appreciated.

 

[UFF]

You can always chalk your tires and see how their wearing. As long as they are wearing even you should be ok. Sounds a little old school but if it is only wearing the chalk on the inside of your tire tread your axle is overloaded. Also it can tell you if you tires are over inflated only wearing the middle or under inflated if it is only wearing both outsides of the tire tread. Can always look underneath also at the axle, if the middle of the axle is up your good. If the middle is down your not. Just remember your fresh water tank could weight 800lbs. I always try to fill my tank when I’m close to where I’m camping. Once again just my opinion.

 

[Lantley]

My thought on 1" nose high.
If I can visibly see the rig is out of level. That's too much. From there I would calculate how much correction I need to be level or close.
No need to obsess with being 100% dead level but you do want to be close and not ignore the situation
In your case the calculation is 1".
From there I look for solutions. 1" isn't too bad. A tire size upgrade may get you 1/2".
You can possibly install a Correct Tracks axle alignment kit and gain an inch.
I would explore my options and take the path of least resistance and cost. For 1" I would not rush out and install a lift kit without exploring a few more basic options. I would not hesitate to run 1" high why I explored my options. You have time to sort things out a bit
I have raised my rear with tires, and correct track kit in the past on a prior 5'er. If tires give you a 1/2" that may pass the visual inspection and be close enough to be good enough.
As mentioned above I would not compromise tailgate clearance to be level.