Has anyone had their PU lifted............

[Russinator]

Has anyone had their PU lifted? Here's why I'm asking: The other day we were on our way to San Diego for a PU camping trip. We stopped in San Clemente for lunch at Baker's Square. As we were leaving the parking lot, I was watching in the mirror, where I saw the rear stabilizer hit the street - no damage was done but next time that might not be the case. I'm thinking of putting a lift kit on the Niagara - if that's possible. If the PU was higher, I would think it would be harder to damage it from this type of thing. Thanks in advance - Russ and Donna

[tlhdoc]

Some people have flipped their axle, which gives it a little more height.

[mike4947]

Well not flipped, but having the springs be under the axle rather than over it.
A very common mod. Dexter even makes a DIY bolt on kit for it that's very inexpensive.
WHat you have to watch for is:
#1 you will need a new drawbar to accommidate the new trailer height.
#2 the stabilzers will be need about 4 inches more travel, you might have to carry blocks.
#3 the door step will be apx 4 inches higher as well. A friend "flipped his axle" and his wife b*tched so much, even with a seperate box step, he had to put the axle back. The old, if momma ain't happy, nobodies happy. LOL
 
Another smaller option for a slight lift is if the spring eye has two mounting positions, changing it can add about an inch of lift without really effecting anything else.

[MtnCamper]

Also how much too high is your hitch? If it's level you should be ok. Without the lift.

[hoppy]

I was just about to ask the same question of the PU being level to the TV. You mentioned that the rear stabilizers were very close to the ground. How were the fronts in relation to the ground?

  This may be the real problem, and could be remedied with a different receiver hitch.

[Russinator]

That's a good point. I've only eye balled it in the past. But, I think it sits pretty level the way it is. I will hook it up and measure the front and rear in the morning. My TV is a Ford E350 van that sits higher than normal, it's a 4x4 with a 4" lift and over sized tires. Thanks to all who wrote with thier suggestions. I'm new to PUs but I've been pulling boats around for the past 35 years. To see my TV go here: http://www.therussinator.com/MoabUtah/P5070082.html

[Dee4j]

That's a good point. I've only eye balled it in the past. But, I think it sits pretty level the way it is. I will hook it up and measure the front and rear in the morning. My TV is a Ford E350 van that sits higher than normal, it's a 4x4 with a 4" lift and over sized tires. Thanks to all who wrote with thier suggestions. I'm new to PUs but I've been pulling boats around for the past 35 years. To see my TV go here: http://www.therussinator.com/MoabUtah/P5070082.html

I had the same problem with my niagara well to find out (when selling it) it wasn't level. I needed the receiver that goes out and then drops a couple of inches (looking at it sideways it would looks like an "L")

[Russinator]

This morning I did hook the PU to my TV and checked to see if it was level - it was. I know I told you all that I was going to do it yesterday but I ran out of time. In addition I measured the bottom of all 4 stabilizers from the ground to the bottom of the sand pad. That was 12" on all four sand pads. I know some of you did this mod yourselves [saying that it was easy] but I'm not very good at that type of thing.

[Russinator]

I just got home with the Niagara after having it's axle flipped. I can't tell any difference in the way it tows. No difference in the visibility when towing the PU. Although, there should be because it's 4-1/2 inches higher than it used to be. Maybe that's because our TV is pretty high itself. I took some pictures - if you'd like to see them go to this web site. The picture I took of the axle and springs didn't come out very good - too dark. I'll hook up a light later and take better shots underneath the PU. I'm very happy that I did this mod. I think the danger of knocking off the stabilizer and/or damaging the stabilizer is now much less.

http://www.therussinator.com/AxleFlip/