Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

  • Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

Load Leveling for aluminum enclosed?

skicopper

Active member
Premium Member
Anyone find a load leveling system that will work for an aluminum enclosed inline? I pull my 30 ft Lightning behind my Tahoe. The frame of the trailer splits so far back that load leveling bars won't reach that far. And if I move the brackets up closer to the tounge they won't fit due to the small angle that the frame meets the tongue at. Not to mention the jack is completely in the way. My friend has a 30 ft Stealth which is almost identical, and has the same problem.

Anyone who has looked at load leveling for a long aluminum enclosed will probably know exactly what I'm talking about. I can put up some pics of the tongue later if needed.
 
Just looking to help level out the ride? Could do a set of bags on the tahoe, or load leveling shocksw/coilovers.
 
I had a similar situation on a dump trailer with a long straight tongue. I had a fab co. Put a cross bar on it, it also had to fit with the jack coming through it. No real problem. If I wasn't so computer retarded I would take a pic and post it but I bet you get the drift.
 
81a88cbe82ab50c108ad0da544435b26.jpg
983342d7be68ab6ee3bbfbf8b15fa10e.jpg

Not sure if this is going to make more or less sense posting these. But you can see there is no room for the typical brackets that would bolt together from each side of the frame


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Contact Andersen hitch systems in Idaho. They have a system that uses chains and brackets.
 
Please forgive my crude drawing, but I've been told from all of the local RV and trailer dealers that this is what is wrong with my trailer.

6b4fb49f5c6f8f05afcd9f1d17fc97f3.jpg


My goal is two things with a load leveling kit, level the rear of my tahoe, and also stabilize the trailer when traveling across Nebraska on I-80 when it's windy. The tahoe has a short wheelbase and it's not that heavy so it tends to sway a little bit if there's a strong cross wind


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Excellent, I will look them up tomorrow! I'll report back my findings!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
What is the distance from the ball to that pad that ties both frame rails together? Looks very similar as my trailer dilemma I described. A cross bar attached to that pad, attach the clamps to it and your off and running.
 
You may also want to check w/your trailer manufacture to see if the tongue is rated for a load distribution hitch setup. Some trailers with tongues like yours are not rated for them.
 
Looks like a nice setup, and it looks like it would fit, but yes I'll have to check with Lightning trailers to see if the frame can handle it
767be72e0deeb091c41a95d241e55749.jpg




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Found this guy on dootalk, he had the same problem so he built a steel frame over the aluminum to connect his weight dist. Interesting...
e52711fc93c1c97beb7ae9d203be9722.jpg
66595b81801e59fdd8b736bfd3a1f276.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm probably going to get burned on this But...
Ever thought about moving a heavier sled to the back. This might be a case of the load is not balanced.
Rear tire air pressure? I'd add extra ten pounds to what ever the mfgr spec is. Adding air is practically free and easy to try before spending any money. Or before buying your next tires take a minute and feel the side wall on them. Some side walls feel like a soft balloon and others are hard as a rock. Soft side walls will ride nice when unloaded and sway more. Harder side walls lumber wagon and less sway.
 
The biggest thing for sway is to make sure the alignment on the trailer is correct. And just cause it is new doesn't mean the alignment isn't off. The next is to make sure the trailer sits level when it is hooked to the tow rig. How the tow rig sits is not as important as the trailer. That is a fairly large trailer to be pulling with a Tahoe but I'm sure you already know that. Tires on the tow rig should be 10 ply and have max air in too. That will help with sway.
 
Many aluminum trailers are not rated for load distribution hitches. Lightning trailers are very nice light trailers but I am quite sure they are in the group not rated for distribution hitches.

Most people that have towed with a diesel truck find that to be a great towing experience. Some of that is the power but a lot of it is also a 3/4 or 1 ton truck and the heavier high pressure tires. You can make towing with a light vehicle better by maxing air pressure in the tow vehicle or putting heavy duty higher air pressure tires. Trailer sway can also be reduced by making the fully loaded trailer ride level to slightly uphill to move the pivot point of the trailer toward the rear axle of the trailer.
 
Many aluminum trailers are not rated for load distribution hitches. Lightning trailers are very nice light trailers but I am quite sure they are in the group not rated for distribution hitches.

Most people that have towed with a diesel truck find that to be a great towing experience. Some of that is the power but a lot of it is also a 3/4 or 1 ton truck with heavier running gear and the heavier high pressure tires. You can make towing with a light vehicle better by maxing air pressure in the tow vehicle or putting on heavy duty higher air pressure tires. Trailer sway can also be reduced by making the fully loaded trailer ride level to slightly uphill to move the pivot point of the trailer toward the rear axle of the trailer.
 
It's been my experience that weight distributing hitches don't work well on sled trailers and with the proper positioning of the payload they are not needed. Taking weight off your drive tires causes traction issues. It also makes the vehicle much more subseptible to jack knifing. The only time I saw someone in Idaho using this style hitch he was stuck in the parking lot. We removed his weight loading bars and off he went. If the back end of your tow vehicle settles substantially while you have the proper payload positions and tongue weight then you probably have a tow vehicle issue. Air bags and good heavy duty shocks work great and on top of that a simple hitch sway control bar works pretty good also if needed.
 
I had a supercab f250 never sagged with steel enclosed trailer on, now with same trailer my crew cab f250 sags like 2" with my legend I just got this last spring I got has same sag. So I decided that airbags were the best option for me for either trailers I pull with small air lift compressor and bags for with a gooseneck it costed me 580 with 100 rebate so 480 and works on all trailers I pull if was me I would look in to bags
 
I had a supercab f250 never sagged with steel enclosed trailer on, now with same trailer my crew cab f250 sags like 2" with my legend I just got this last spring I got has same sag. So I decided that airbags were the best option for me for either trailers I pull with small air lift compressor and bags for with a gooseneck it costed me 580 with 100 rebate so 480 and works on all trailers I pull if was me I would look in to bags

And a nice thing about air bags is your headlights stayed aimed correctly if you use the bags to return to stock height when your trailer is hooked up.
 
Premium Features



Back
Top