Raising my 5th wheel

[Oldman1946]

I have a 2014 Open Range 5th wheel. I have a 2012 RAM 3500 which sits pretty high and my trailer sites slightly tail low. I currently have 225/74 R15 tires and was wondering if I replaced them with a 16in rim and larger tires would that raise me up a couple of inches. I really do not want to flip the axal.

[time2roll]

Check your springs still have a nice arc to them.

[magic43]

I would not hesitate to flip the axle. I did and was/am very pleased.

[lenr]

Correct Track will add leverage to the spring hanger. I had one almost rip the hanger off in an emergency braking incident. I took them off and had MORryde install riser tubes. LT215/85-16 tires will add some height--I used them on the trailer with 33" spacing. Of course that depends on the OP being willing to use LT instead of ST. A sub-frame is by far the strongest. The MORryde SRE4000 equalizer will raise the trailer about 1" and give a smoother ride to the trailer at the same time. The SRE4000 needs 3" of clearance before installation (after larger tires).

[GPG52_]

If you are looking for a few inches only, you may want to consider LIPPERT Correct Track™ Suspension Alignment Kit;
SKU: CORRECT-TRACK , Starting At $260.95
it is a shackle kit originally designed to help align axles, but does give you 2" lift by default.
GPG52

[Slownsy]

By placing axles under springs you gain debt off axles and springs normally around 5-6”
Frank

[laknox]

Oldman1946 wrote:
I have a 2014 Open Range 5th wheel. I have a 2012 RAM 3500 which sits pretty high and my trailer sites slightly tail low. I currently have 225/74 R15 tires and was wondering if I replaced them with a 16in rim and larger tires would that raise me up a couple of inches. I really do not want to flip the axal.

16" tires likely would only give you about 0.5-0.75" more height.

LCI Correct Track will give you 2".

If axles are on top of the springs, do a "flip", putting the axles =under= the springs. You can gain 4-5" by doing so.

If you have multiple holes in the spring hangers, make sure you're in the bottom holes.

If your truck has spacers in the rear axle, remove them to lower your truck.

Something I just heard about yesterday, is the Timbren Axle-Less Suspension system. They are made with no lift/drop and 2-4" of lift or drop. Max axle size is 7k, however. https://timbren.com/axle-less/ Pretty cool, especially if you boondock in rough areas.

Anything beyond this would likely require installing a sub-frame and cross-members to lift the FW.

Lyle

[Durb]

BarryG20 wrote:
Going to 16 inch wheels will allow you to get a taller tire. You will need to look at the 235/80/16, 235/85/16 or the 255/85/16

based on your existing tire size they are 28.3 inches in diameter
the 235/80/16 are 30.8 gain 1.25"
the 235/85/16 are 31.7 gain 1.7"
the 255/85/16 are 33.1 gain 2.4"
the height gain will be half the difference of the diameter difference
ie 30.8-28.3= 2.5/2=1.25 inch added height

you will need to check your axle spacing center of axle to center of axle and decide for yourself what is enough tire spacing between the tires. My trailer has 33 inch axle spacing so I could no way use the 255/85/16 tires as they would touch each other but the other two sizes would work.

You also want to check the clearance between the top of the tire and the underneath side of the trailer, take that measurement and for the sake of discussion lets say it is 6 inches now minus the increased height 6-1.25= 4.75 inches. If that is enough space for the trailer suspension to cycle without the tires hitting the underside of the trailer you are good. Trailer suspensions don't move too much only a few inches I believe but that will depend on the trailer and type of suspension used.

Very informative post.

[BarryG20]

Going to 16 inch wheels will allow you to get a taller tire. You will need to look at the 235/80/16, 235/85/16 or the 255/85/16

based on your existing tire size they are 28.3 inches in diameter
the 235/80/16 are 30.8 gain 1.25"
the 235/85/16 are 31.7 gain 1.7"
the 255/85/16 are 33.1 gain 2.4"
the height gain will be half the difference of the diameter difference
ie 30.8-28.3= 2.5/2=1.25 inch added height

you will need to check your axle spacing center of axle to center of axle and decide for yourself what is enough tire spacing between the tires. My trailer has 33 inch axle spacing so I could no way use the 255/85/16 tires as they would touch each other but the other two sizes would work.

You also want to check the clearance between the top of the tire and the underneath side of the trailer, take that measurement and for the sake of discussion lets say it is 6 inches now minus the increased height 6-1.25= 4.75 inches. If that is enough space for the trailer suspension to cycle without the tires hitting the underside of the trailer you are good. Trailer suspensions don't move too much only a few inches I believe but that will depend on the trailer and type of suspension used.

[joelc]

With my 5er they flipped the axle at the factory. I have a Carriage Cameo and a 2006 Dually Lariet.

[Old-Biscuit]

Going to a 16" rim/tire set up might give you 1" more in height overall

Adding an LCI Correct Track alignment kit results in roughly 2" increase in height

Need more then that.........flipping axles if spring pack are currently UNDER the trailer axles----gain 3" in height
Spring pack on top of axle or need more then sub-frame is the only way to achieve that.


So how much more height EXACTLY do you need to tow level?
Have you already made adjustments to hitch & pin box?
Lower hitch/raise pin box and still have bed rail clearance??