JIMNLIN
Big Cabin, OK
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pcm1959 wrote:I have been reading posts about larger wheel/tire upgrades and there seems to be 1 simple solution that I have recently learned about on another forum. However, it is one I have not heard mention of before, so I wonder what anyones thoughts might be.
The spring equalizers come in different sizes and heights. The post I read on the other forum said he simply replaced the spring equalizers with larger ones and increased his trailer height 2 inches and for only a total of $18. Sounds simple enough to me. SO wht do you think, guys??? PCM
Adding a longer equalizer can have its own problems. Trailer springs work best when the spring eyes are level with the trailer. Compression/rebound parallel to the trailers frame. Adding longer equalizers will not let the spring work at a normal level which adds more stress to the pins/eyes. That creates faster wear and imbalanced spring compression and rebound. I had the same tire Clarence issues on a implement trailer some years back and this was the dealers advise on why it wasn't a good idea to add longer equalizers over what the suspension was designed for.
Jim
'03 2500 Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs
'97 Park Avanue 28' with two slides
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pcm1959
St Augustine, FL
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That is an interesting and consideralbe issue. Eactly what I'm looking for - all the options and choosing the safest and most economical. I love these websites for all the input. Love to hear more. THANKS. PCM
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pcm1959
St Augustine, FL
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pritch272 wrote:You can read about our upgrade to 16" wheels and Michelin XPS Ribs here. I also had some clearance issues to resolve, discussed here (corrected link) and here.
Any answers as to why I can't see the pix??? Lat week I could and now I can't. Thanks. PCM
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pcm1959
St Augustine, FL
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Got it - changed my "preference" settings.
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pcm1959
St Augustine, FL
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Well, yesterday, I ordered my new Sendel 16", aluminum, 7 spoke trailer wheels. I'm going to ditch the 15's and Marathons despite no problems over the last 6k miles. However, I read much more negative about that set up and VERY little good. It's kind of unsettleing to read all those stories. PLUS, I like to be able to cruise/tow at 70mph. So for my comfort AND to get t least another 1" of height, I decided to make the step to upgrade. My tire of choice is going to be the BF Goodrich 215/85R16/E. I'm going to go with the 215 instead of the 225 for 3 reasons: The 215 is slightly taller, the 215 is slightly narrower or closer to the width of the 225 ST's so I won't have tire sidewall clearance issues around the slide out bar, and they both have the same load capacity. I will probably replace the spring equalizer with a taller one to further increase trailer height AND to insure of adequate wheel well clearance. I will try to post some pix when I get the mod done. PCM
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pcm1959
St Augustine, FL
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Well, I went by the local respected, well established trailer repair/service shop today. These guys do nothing but trailer running gear. Anything towable except semis. I told them of my idea to swap out the stock 2" tall spring equalizer and showed them photos of the taller, 4" spring equalizer I like to install. Their toughts: Don't do it without beefing-up the current equalizer bracket!!! They said they have seen this mod done without strengthing the bracket and it has resulted in the bracket bending due to the additional lateral forces the taller equalizer creates. They want to see the trailer, of course. They think it's a viable option, but not without welding a steel block in between the bracket to prevent it from bending. I will keep you posted. PCM
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pcm1959
St Augustine, FL
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I e-mailed Lippert frame this morning to get teir thought on the before mentioned visit to the local trailer shop. Here is there response:
What you plan doing is fine, the dealer does have a valid concern with the added leverage on the center hanger. I would make your changers and weld a cossmembers between your center hangers (side to side)
So I guess I will "do it right" considering the cost of the wheels and tires and all in the name of safety. Why cheap out at this point??? PCM
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pcm1959
St Augustine, FL
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Per 2 e-mails from the rep at Lippert Frame, it is common and acceptable to add taller spring equalizers to an rv trailer (such as going from a 2" standard to a 4". It WILL add about 1.5 inches of height for better wheel well clearance. HOWEVER, the same rep did advise me to have a crossmember weleded between the 2 spring equalizer axle hangers to compensate for greater lateral forces created by the taller equalizer. PCM
* This post was
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edited 07/08/08 10:50pm by pcm1959 *
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JIMNLIN
Big Cabin, OK
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another problem my dear old dad found by adding longer equailizer bars (unbalanced suspension) is while crossing a ditch, for example and the suspension bottoms "full" out (one wheel up and the other down), one end of the equilizer bar can rotate up and the other end rotate down which lets the spring shackle rotate 180 and the shackle hangs in that position. That was on a '73 TT that had the old straight axles. Just a simple axle rotation and backing plate rotation, as no camber bowed axles back then.
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pcm1959
St Augustine, FL
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I got the new tires installed on the new aluminum rims yesterday then took them down and swapped them out with the old 15" steel wheels and 225/75r15d Marathon tires. I did go with the BFGoodrich Commercial T/A LT215/85R16E.
I went with the 215 instead of the 225 due to a catch 22 situation.....1) The 215 is not as wide as the 225 and due to an already close proximity of the slide bar near the inside of the left side tires. I did not want the larger diameter tire to come closer to the slide bar. 2) The 85 series is slightly taller than the 225 so a wheel well clearance COULD be an issue. But I figured if that was the case and since I wanted to raise the rv a bit, I'd go with the 215. IF the wheel well clearance was an issue, I could probably increase that easier than reworking the slide operation bar. I lost about 7/8 of an inch between the top of the tire and the wheel well. My wheel well clearance is still about 3.5 - 4 inches.
At any rate, they look great and I look forward to seeing how they do in 2 weeks. PCM
* This post was
edited 07/13/08 08:05pm by pcm1959 *
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