Help leveling out trailer

[Monterro]

Quick background. I recently purchased a 2005 Tundra from a friend so I tow my boat around. Truck has I believe a 2inch leveling kit in front and 1 inch in the rear. I ended up melting my brake line during a long tow over Memorial Day weekend. Too much sag caused the exhaust to come in contact with the rear brake line.

Last week I added Air Lift springs to correct the rear sag but now I think the trailer nose is too far up. We had issues launching the trailer on Saturday which has not been an issue before. On Sunday we had the same issue again getting the Boat of the trailer. Only this time when I got out after launching I notice one of my rear bunks was hanging by one bolt. The bunks are still in on piece just missing 3 of the 4 bolts. Reading some older threads it seems as if your trailer is too high then it could cause issues with launching and recovery.

I did notice that with Air Lift installed I now have to have my jack at max height in order to barely clear hooking up the trailer to my truck. I borrowed a friend's adjustable hitch to try and find out what drop hitch I need. I am trying to get a straight drop hitch and not an adjustable one. I have taken pics of the different heights. I also took a picture of me trying to measure what drop I currently have and the drop of the adjustable one that I think is the best height. It is the first pic and the next 2 are dropped an additional 1 inch.

Updated Pics below

 

[2nazt]

The middle picture looks good but I think a full picture of truck and trailer together is what is needed it's hard to see the slope of the boat etc. The normal height of a trailer tongue by design is about 17" to base of the ball/coupler.

 

[Monterro]

Thanks for the info. I will go to my storage lot and take more pics.

 

[2nazt]

Try the hitch if you still have access for the measurement from ground to the base of the ball mount. Also what was the issue with loading and unloading?

 

[bronze_10]

When I had my air springs installed I measured the bottom of the hitch to the ground without the trailer on it... "normal height" then I put the trailer on it and it sank about 2 inches... not bad... but I added air until the back of the truck was at the normal height... then I had to switch the recover hitch to oNE with less drop... I think I went from a 2 inch to a one inch so the trailer was level.... I have had no issues and we love the air spings!

 

[Monterro]

First pic is with my hitch that is to high. The next 3 has an adjustable hitch on them.

 

[itsdgm]

The second pic (first one with the adjustable hitch) looks closest to level to me. But I'd Measure the frame of the trailer in front of your jack and in front of the license plate. Whichever drop hitch gets you closest to level is the correct height.

 

[Monterro]

The second pic (first one with the adjustable hitch) looks closest to level to me. But I'd Measure the frame of the trailer in front of your jack and in front of the license plate. Whichever drop hitch gets you closest to level is the correct height.

So take the measurements from those 2 locations and then compare. I assume that a level trailer should give me measurements that are pretty close to each other if not spot on.

 

[2nazt]

I agree on the same pic as @itsdgm

 

[Monterro]

Try the hitch if you still have access for the measurement from ground to the base of the ball mount. Also what was the issue with loading and unloading?

Just saw your post. Didn't get a chance to measure it. During unloading I could not get the boat off the trailer. I had to back the trailer up very far up to the point where the jack was touching the water. The boat seem to float and I normally give it a little push back and pull out while my wife ties up the boat. This weekend the boat was clearly getting caught on something and the boat would catch on the trailer and come up as I try to pull off. Like I said I just got the truck but had already launched the boat about 6 times with it. It was smooth until I put Air Lift on it. Only thing that changed is the back end does not dip down and essentially level out the trailer. I damaged my bunk and have to replace it ASAP. I am trying to fix this issue before I mess up another set of bunks. It seems as if I corrected one problem and created another.

Now on to the next issue, bunk replacement. I was going to try and go for the UBB, but seems as if they damage to gelcoat after awhile. I called a local lumber yard and inquired on cypress and stated they don't carry it but says they can get Oak wood and would work great for the trailer. Price is about $100 or so for the wood alone. Any thoughts?

 

[Monterro]

Also does anyone know if I measured the hitch drops correctly? I do not like the adjustable one due to me now being able to see my ball when backing up. A lot of times I up by myself and the backup camera is a life saver for me.

 

[Ronnie]

This is a ghetto solution but have you tried flipping the short tongue upside down to see if that will level the trailer?

 

[Monterro]

This is a ghetto solution but have you tried flipping the short tongue upside down to see if that will level the trailer?

I don't think that could help my situation. Flipping it upside down would simply raise the ball hight which would make the issue even worse.

 

[Ronnie]

Got it, somehow I thought you were having the opposite problem.

 

[2nazt]

You only measure from the top of the plate the ball is mounted on to the top of the square tube. You're about 3/4" to high in the first picture with your tape measure. Easiest way is level trailer flat measure to bottom of the opening the ball goes into. Then measure on the truck the top of the square of the hitch slides into. The difference is the drop you will need roughly. Portsmouth Trailer is awesome and can get you hooked up. We had all out trailers serviced there and trucks set up when I worked in Portsmouth. Those ladies know their stuff! They have all the inventory in house also.

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

@Monterro When I put in a 2.5'" front lift and a 1" rear block and rear airbags, The air bags alone made my trucks backend sit 1" higher when deflated then the front so I had to remove the 1" block - now it sits level
When you added the air springs it lifted your truck.
I would put a long level on the trailer frame, I can tell from your photos the trailer isn't level, I think you should have at least a 2-3 drop hitch
The normal hitch you have should be used for small SUVs and small trucks that sit low
I would start with the hitch size in the last photo and put a level on that.

What I think is happening on the boat ramp is your trailer is not level and front sitting higher so once you back up on an incline the weight of the boat is most likely causing the trailers front end to lift even more and as you are backing
the boat off the trailer the weight is putting stress on the bunks.
Don't quote, I am not a professional

 

[Monterro]

@Benny Sibbitt Thanks for the detailed info. Makes a lot of since now. I ordered me an adjustable hitch up to 6 inches from etrailer and should arrive on Friday. Also I already recovered some new trailer bunks that I will replace then also.

I am definitely about an inch or so higher in the back. Not sure exactly what leveling kit was put on the truck. I can see 2inch spacer in the front but the rear may be an additional leaf spring. Not familiar at all with trucks and lifting them. The truck was a quick purchase from someone who was getting stationed overseas so didn't get a chance to ask a lot of detailed questions about the lift.

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

@Monterro did you ever figure out the problem?

 

[Monterro]

@Benny Sibbitt I have not had a chance to get back on the water to test it yet. I replaced all my bunks last week but then had to go out of town for work. Hopefully I will get it out on the water tomorrow and see how launching goes. Also purchased a new drop down hitch that tells me tongue weight. Should help me out when traveling on long trips

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

I just towed my 242 for the first time today, I had a 3 inch drop hitch and I notice I wasn't level either, trailer tongue sitting to low
I added air to my airbags to get it to sit level, I think I going need a 1 inch drop hitch