Hiya , how level should my TT and truck be compared to each other when looking from afar ? This is after they are hooked of course . Mine has a slight " v " position but only to the tune of a few inches . is this acceptable ?
The tow bar should be level (not almost) when secured to the
truck hitch ball. This can be achieved by using a hitch insert that has the proper
rise or drop.
Tongue weight can be adjusted with a weight distribution hitch and or
adjusting the load in the trailer.
It would not be acceptable to me. But you are different. I like mine level. It towes better that way. A slight V suggests that there is too much weight on the back, and the front is rising. Taking weight off the front axle, and could cause sway.
I like the TT to be within 1" difference measured on FRAME, front to back, with front lower if unlevel. Mines 1/2" lower in front.
I like TV to be same angle unloaded and loaded, just closer to ground front and back. I measure how much wheel wells drop, and adjust WD hitch to get equal drop. Slightly more drop in rear is ok, mines within 1/8".
If TV is not level unloaded, it should not be level loaded, IMO.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded) Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories. I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
Shogun wrote: ---If your tow vehicle sits equally lower front and back the the wdh then you may be overloading the front axel.---
I agree with Shogun. You should not try to get equal drop front and rear.
Both GM and Ford recommend that the WD system should be adjusted to bring the front of the TV back to approximately the height/load which existed before the TT was attached.
This means there will be very little load change on the TV's front axle and very little rise or drop. About 70-80% of the tongue weight will be carried on the rear axle and about 20-30% will be transferred to the TT axles.
As to how level should the truck be when loaded -- you should check your Owner's Manual to see if it contains any specification.
For example, the Ford truck manuals I've looked at, beginning with the 1998 model year, contain a specification such as:
3. Measure the height of a reference point on the front and rear bumpers at the center of the vehicle.
4. Attach the trailer to the vehicle and adjust the hitch equalizers so that the front bumper height is within 0–13 mm (0.5 in) of the reference point. After proper adjustment, the rear bumper should be no higher than in Step 3.
The instructions do not indicate any preference for having the front below or above the reference height -- as long as it is within 1/2".
Also, the instructions do not say the TV should be "level" -- only that the rear, with TT attached and WD applied, should not be higher than when the TT is not attached. The weight distribution recommendations for GMC vehicles are similar.
Relative to the unhitched loads, the front axle load might have relatively little change and the rear axle load might increase by 75% of the tongue weight . Depending on the stiffness of the rear springs, the rear might "squat" (relative to the unhitched height) by about 1-2" with WD applied.
You really aren't looking for level as you are parallel to the ground. Nose down slightly in the front is okay, never nose up!! As for the TV, the rear will always drop more than the front, but you want to shift some of that weight to the front axle. When I am hooked up I drop 3/4" on the rear and just shy of 1/2" on the front and my TT is perfectly parallel to the ground and it tows very stable.
NCH
2000 Ford F350 4X4 PSD,CC, DRW
4:10's, BTM Muffler, Isspro Gauges,
Coolant Filter,CCV Mod
FTVB , Ford AIS
6.0 Cooler,SCT2 W/DP's 40 tow & 80 econo,Zoodad mod
2005 Keystone Hornet 30BHSS
Reese Dual Cam
Family of 4 saved by Grace!!! MY TRUCK OUR TRAILER
NCHornet1 wrote: You really aren't looking for level as you are parallel to the ground. Nose down slightly in the front is okay, never nose up!! As for the TV, the rear will always drop more than the front, but you want to shift some of that weight to the front axle. When I am hooked up I drop 3/4" on the rear and just shy of 1/2" on the front and my TT is perfectly parallel to the ground and it tows very stable.
NCH
Good advice. We often use the term "level" but in fact we should be looking at the rig being parallel to the road. Since most roads & parking lots are not level that means all measurements should be from established points at each corner of the TV. I suggest that you put a piece of masking tape at each corner of the TV and establish an unhooked position. Make a zero mark on the tape (suggest something like 35") measured from the road/parking lot. It's usually good to push the front down about 1/4" to 1/2" and about 3/4" for the rear. This assures that all four wheels of the TV is carrying part of the load of the trailer. The front of the trailer should be in a straight line with the TV or maybe 1/2" lower.
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