Trailer set up question.

J

justgotaboat

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Jun 18, 2009
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31427
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after a number of issues with our old venture trailer we recently purchased a new loadritw roller trailer. It has dual torsion axels, surge brakes and 8000 pound capacity. So far I am liking it a lot! It's built much better than the venture. Handles and tows great! It's for our 2001 245 SeaRay weekender. And is pulled by a 2009 Chevy Silverado z71 crew can short bed.

Question is.... I know trailers should be level when hooked up to the truck. And just at a glance the trailer looks level. The truck does not squat too badly. Everything looks good. however if I measure from the frame to the ground near the tongue it's 13" and near the stern is 18". Is this close enough to call it good? Or should I try and get a different ball with more of a “drop" to get it even closer to level. I believe the ball I have on there now is 2" drop going up so it raises the tongue 2". If I go any higher I'm nervous about my tailgate contacting the tongue when I open it.

Am I overthinking this? If it looks close enough and drives fine then why worry? Or should I try and level it out a little more?

Any thoughts or opinions would be great! Thanks!!

(Sorry for the multiple edits/reposts.... tried to add something and ended up deleting it all I think.... don't know what I did)
 
Off level isn't good with a spring trailer but it CRITICAL on Torsion. Within limits, springs have a rocker that will let them share the load even off level. If a Torsion trailer is Low in Front, it will overload the Front Axle. You could be well within load rating and still find yourself blowing front tires.
Boat loaded, tow vehicle loaded, level ground: If trailer frame is level also, or same front/rear heights as you mention, you are good. Otherwise you need a lift or drop drawbar.

I have a 21-ft EzLoader for the 215EC. Towing, I could see the 0veroload of the front tires in the mirror. Noticed a big yellow label near the hitch/actuator specifying a height at the hitch.

You are NOT Overthinking. You are RiGHT Thinking.
 
I assume your tongue weight is as specified for boat (when loaded) + trailer. . ..
 
Although I never actually measured it (don’t know how to physically measure it.) The tongue weight appears to be good. The truck squats some but not overly excessive.
 
"if I measure from the frame to the ground near the tongue it’s 13” and near the stern is 18”. Is this close enough to call it good? Or should I try and get a different ball with more of a “drop” to get it even closer to level."

Your tongue is already too low. A drop hitch will only make it worse.

I put airbags on my truck and know just how much PSI I need to get the trailer perfectly level. In your current configuration you are placing more weight on the front tires than the rears.
 
I can't edit my previous post and did not read far enough obviously before posting... I see you are using the drop inverted.

Airbags will fix you up.
 
Okay here's my take, my similar roller trailer, shore-land'r, has a DROP TONGUE. I put a 2' level on the tongue and purchased the drop hitch required to give a good bubble on the tongue. Try this and see how out of level it really is.
 
So if it is that critical to not overload the axel that I need to be level, what happens when I launch or retrieve or pull of or into my driveway. There is a point where the angel changes and the front or rear axel (depending on the situation) will take more load than the other. Is that just a short term overload and not an issue?

The launch ramp we typically use if the trailer is empty then one axel will float if there is no weight on the trailer. Am I hurting the trailer? How would you avoid that? Not everything is perfectly level. Roads and driveways have elevation changes etc.
 
I moved the axels on our trailer when I pulled a 250 sundancer behind an F250. It made a huge difference and got the tongue weight on target. Keep the transom on the last roller and slide the axels. I used a tape measure and checked and rechecked.
 
I checked with a bubble level when we returned today. Our driveway is flat and level and in most places the bubble level showed level.
 
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