bstark
Ontario, Canada
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Great stuff. those Webshots are what we needed to get an idea of the O/P's problem. Now all we need to verify is the angle of the O/P's shots aren't giving us all an optical illusion through the angle of the shot making it look like his lower jaw is shorter by far than his upper frame.
Another area of confusion for me (I have lot's of these) is with the O/P's picture, the label on the shock is still partially obscured by the top collar of the shock abosrber which, it is my belief, it should not be if the shock is not under load and bag has air in it. ????
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JohnBoyToo
DFW, Tx
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the trail airs have a double arrow that should have the points just visible to indicate the proper air pressure when hitched... anywhere up to 100 psi according to my research...
Trail air discussion with pic
and just like your trucks tires or airbags:
you want the correct pressure for YOUR 5er...
too much and it can 'carry' more weight, but the ride may be too firm...
too little and the wgt rating is lower, but the ride will be softer
(until it bottoms out from too much downforce  )
so when unloaded, it is not necessarily correct...
but my trail air shock NEVER is extended that much - EVER
how much psi do you have in there ?
last time I checked my trail air for a 5er rated at 2590 pin weight, I think it was about 80 psi iirc ?!?
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Here'n'There
Texas
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NorthernLimits wrote:I don't think you are supposed to have full air in it unloaded.
Mama-Mia 
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Billthepiper
Tijeras, New Mexico, USA
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It looks like the lower jaw is binding and not extending to it's full length. The shock could be binding or as a previous poster said the hinge shaft could be binding. I would let all the air out of the bag and remove the shock, if the shock is stuck that could be the problem. I can't understand Lippert seeing that hitch and saying it is OK, I guess they will say anything to save a doller.
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bstark
Ontario, Canada
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I have had them apart many times and there are now two stop blocks welded to the insides of the top frame to prevent the lower jaw from hyper-extending the shock.
I had one of the early models that did not have the front lip roll added to the very front of the top frame to prevent the frame from deforming inwards and rubbing on the bag before the addition of the stop blocks. both my later models had the stop blocks and the front lip roll addition.
Removing the shock and emptying the air from the bag should allow you to lift the lower jaw by hand and allow it to drop with a very audible thunk when it hits those stops underneath. The brass or bronze bushes are subject to wear from any rust that forms on the steel pivot shaft so for this reason it's wise to dismantle the thing from time to time to put a good high-temp grease on that shaft to keep rust at bay. I put a 1/8NPT grease nipple in the rear of the shaft tube of the lower jaw so that I could get at it with a grease gun through the rear of the pin box and keep that cavity full of lube. It took a lot of lube for it's initial fill but after that a shot a week was great to keep lube in those bushes.
My two later models had no problems to speak of other than very crappy application of powder coat or enamel coating. You could literally peel the black coating off like the skin of an orange.
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Pete_k
Stantonville Tn
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Check the bottom bolt on the air bag, It should fit into a slotted hole. It looks like it has gotten loose and moved back toward the camper. Fist picture shows it has slipped back. Move the bottom back out toward the front of the pinbox. Bet that will fix your issues.
Pete
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diesel man 03
the north country
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That does not look right to me, I would have my dealer check it out.
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atfulldraw
Texas is home
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diesel man 03 wrote:That does not look right to me, I would have my dealer check it out.
I've had two dealers check it out. They both say it isn't right, that I need to call Lippert.
Finally got two guys from Lippert on the phone yesterday -- outcome?
They need more pictures. 
Now they want to see how it looks hooked up to the truck, so I'll keep you updated......
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JohnBoyToo
DFW, Tx
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I too got a call from Lippert and although I sent them two pics that clearly show the 'kink' in the bags, he said that was normal...
(fyi though, I have the heaviest trailair they make at 18k )
will go by the dealers when I get back from vacation....
Must be a Texas thing
* This post was
edited 07/26/12 12:30pm by JohnBoyToo *
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