Tips on leveling my 5th wheel with a air safe hitch - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tips on leveling my 5th wheel with a air safe hitch

heyjohnm · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lonny,

We have a AirSafe hitch also, and from what you're saying, you have excellent bedrail clearance. With the trailer hitched, checking the air on the hitch, you should adjust the air so the hitch rides in the green zone on the indicator decal. If at that point you are getting a measurement that is only 1/2" high on your trailer front end it sounds like you are excellent there also. (most bolt hole adjustments on either hitch or pin are at least 1", so it would be difficult to adjust it any closer than you already are) How level are the bedrails on your truck? If your truck is riding level also, you're in great shape.

John

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lonney:

I agree that if the front of the 5er is only ½” high then that is probably just fine. Many would love to have it that close and have proper / safe bed rail clearance. However, if you really have 9” of bed rail clearance you might consider going down one bolt hole on the hitch and see where that comes out trailer level wise. 9” is more than needed. 8” is really good.

As John said, you need to make sure the truck bed rails are riding level as well in all this process with the 5er hitched. Naturally you want the truck and the trailer to both be level. I’m kind of surprised you have this kind of bed rail clearance, 9”, with the trailer only ½” high in the front.

heyjohnm · RV-Dreams Family Member

OK, so Bill's comments reinforced a thought I also had in that with 9" bedrail clearance you only are 1/2" high. I was also surprised. Is the 1/2" difference measured from the nose of the trailer level vs as hiched to ground (or how was the measurement made)?

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for your reply; When I stand back the truck looks level; no sagging; I was concerned about the movement of the trailer coming closer to the bedrails because of the air ride; I'm in the green on the shocks; I have 70# in the air ride; I measured from the bottom of the trailer frame back to front. When I started I was one bolt down on the hitch and about 1 1/2" down on the front of the trailer and 8" on the bed rail so that is where we are now. So the trailer is dry weight right now; when we load the trailer I wonder if the trailer will change it's angle (oh boy) with your help I will eventually get this down to a science LOL!! Thank you all for all your help.

Lonney

heyjohnm · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, Lonnie, It seems like you are good to go ! I worried a bit about the apparent movement of the air hitch ...but it actually is not that much movement from the static position perhaps an inch +/- in up and down movement. It just looks like a lot when you see it in the rearview mirror! The stops on the hitch keep it from going much more than that. You can confirm that by hitching up and letting the air out until you hit the stops then measure your bedrail clearance. The beauty of the hitch is that you could switch trailers with substantially different tongue weight and as long as the bags are inflated to the green zone on the indicator decal you're good to tow! Kind'a like a Sleep Number Bed ... for my 3700# pin weight my number is 80-85#!

John