Lift a trailer?

[Jeff]

Slight oversight in the trailer I bought...  14" wheels vice 15".

While it's only an inch, it makes a critical difference when hooked up behind the RV.  Having 12' of overhang between the rear axle of the RV and the rear end of it creates a pretty long 'lever', so now with the trailer being yet another inch lower, she'll drag at the slightest incline I hit with the RV (driveway, etc). 

I haven't actually tried to put a 15" wheel on it, but setting one next to the puny 14" tires is a HUGE difference.  My guess is that I'd be rubbing wheel wells pretty quick.

So I'm not sure if I'd just do better to sell this and buy a new/other 6x12 with 15" wheels or to try and 'lift' this one an inch and toss new wheels on.

Thoughts?

[gpz11]

Well, I'd say first is borrow a 15" tire from someone and try it. If it it's the fender, why not just raise the fender?

Seems a lot easier than buying another trailer. Unless you want another trailer....

On my little trailer that came with 14's, I was able to put a 15" spare tire on it. On the side of 65, in the pouring rain coming back from Barber.

[bambam]

why not just buy another ball mount for the hitch... they should be less than $50 in any amount of drop or rise that you need.

[Jeff]

why not just buy another ball mount for the hitch... they should be less than $50 in any amount of drop or rise that you need.

Maybe I didn't clearly explain the problem.

I have the trailer level with a drop hitch now, the problem is that the trailer clearance is VERY low, and the overhang creates a huge long lever so any slight rise by the front wheels of the RV (say, a driveway) equates to a magnified drop in the rear.  With very little clearance to begin with, it drags quite easily.

Let's try this.

Trailer - x= hitch - RV

__________ x ______________________________
     O                              O                       O

Now, if this above scenario was traveling left to right on your screen and hit an incline with the front wheels, the pivot point (X) drops to the point of where it drags.  Wasn't a problem with my previous trailer (often) which had 15" wheels on it, but the new trailer and smaller wheels required an additional drop at the hitch to get it level which ate up clearance...

[spyderchick]

Stop buying new toys. ;)

[Jeff]

hey, this is a USED piece to replace the old trailer.  :-) and after booking the trip to Mexico, I had to stop buying... 

2 cars, finished basement, gym grade elliptical, new laptop and a few other bits & pieces later I have finally snapped back to "Racing Broke".  LOL.

[Garywc]

going from a 14" to a 15" is only 1/2" difference in height not 1" unless the profile of the tire is is that much lager it probably wont make much of a difference.
or you may be able to get a taller 14" tire

what is going to hit the jack on the trailer? if so can you get a different jack that pivots when toeing?

also your trailer doesn't have to be level if its a single axle trailer like you show in your digram( which is a good digram by the way)

[HAWK]

Hey Jeff, is the trailer leaf spring or torsion axle? Torsion axle mount a piece of 2"X2" 1/4" wall square tube between the torsion housing and the trailer, leaf spring have someone weld a plate to the spring hangers to lower the hangers away from the trailer (both (three?)  ends of the springs so you don't screw up the handling characteristics of the trailer)

Both methods give you more clearance than the 15" tires with less cost.

[spyderchick]

hey, this is a USED piece to replace the old trailer.  :-) and after booking the trip to Mexico, I had to stop buying... 

2 cars, finished basement, gym grade elliptical, new laptop and a few other bits & pieces later I have finally snapped back to "Racing Broke".  LOL.

and the CC you rode in on. 


take me to Mexico with you, please?

[bambam]

 ok sorry i'm kinda slow sometimes and the picture helps.     i agree with gary though a 15" tire that has the same sizes wont gain you much.   205/75/14 =  205/75/15  as far as overall diameter is concerned. what you need is to go to a taller 245/75/14 for example.

[Jeff]

It's a leaf-spring suspension.  I was looking this morning and yes, a small weld job would provide a lot of clearance.

I think I'll try the 15" tire I have from my old trailer spare to see how that works.  I like the 15" tire anyhow, it's a bit more robust.

I also think the trailer is just a different design which is a couple inches lower than the big Pace was. 

As far as what's dragging, the jack will drag, but now with the new drop-hitch, I'm sure the bottom of the ball will drag as well.

And Alexa, come come now...  If I were spending that money on leather work you wouldn't give me the big red bird now would you?! 

[HAWK]

Deducing from one of your other posts this is a single axle trailer so all you would need to do is weld in some verticle plates to allow you to lower the pivot bolts and a spacer for the free end of the springs. Much cheaper and more effective than 15" vs 14" tires.