I have a 2004 F150 Lariat Subercab and a 14' tandom axle trailer (1200 lbs dry weight). I can only go through the alley behind my house in one direction, otherwise I can't make the angle to park it. The alley entrance isn't an issue, but on my way out I bottom out the trailer jack if I have any weight in the bed or on the front of the trailer. It hit hard the first time I left with my 4 wheeler on the trailer, just grazed the road when I had the trailer empty and about 300lbs of dirt in the bed. In both situations, I had about 2-2.5" of sag in my rear suspension. Does anyone have any sugestions and experience on what I can do to reduce the sag (helper springs, timbrens, airbags, etc)?

 

Pics would help but one thought is a axle flip kit which would raise the entire trailer about 4in. Then you could raise the hitch to match the new trailer height. While that is not excessive sag a weight distribution hitch would get rid of the sag. Lots of the smaller flat bed trailers are really low with a 15in ball height. One thing to look at assuming it is a spring axle trailer is the equalizer between the springs it should be level if loaded correctly if it is not level your carrying too much weight on one axle.

 

is your truck 2 wheel? or lowered? that little of weight shouldnt really cause you to bottom out unless that is a severe angle to the alley

 

My truck is 4 wheel drive, stock height. It does have a 3" drop hitch on it to level the trailer (when empty, the height of the front and rear of the trailer are within 1/4" of eachother). I have pictures, but haven't had enough posts of the forum to do that yet. Here is a link to them https://plus.google.com/u/0/11379294...ts/J4szGBE1jQe

The bottom of my reciever is about 13 3/4" with 200 lbs dirt in the bed, 13" with the trailer, and 12" with the trailer and my atv on it. The jack is at 7". I thought about equilizer bars, but heard they can easily bend the trailer frame if it is "c" channel, which mine is.

 

I'd try a 2" drop. It's fine if the trailer isn't completely level when it's unloaded, you want close to level when loaded.

If you have more than 500# on the tongue, you need WD bars.

Airbags sure wouldn't hurt if you tow with weight in the bed.

 

Sounds like you have a straight crank up jack. Could you go to a swivel jack? This should fix your issue.
Rich

 

Agree, a swivel jack would be best. Should cost less than $50. Also agree a 2" drop would be better. You are not towing that heavy a load with a 1200lb trailer and only a 4 wheeler (6-700lbs) on it, so it should not drop that much. How are you loading it? Try loading the atv over the axle rather than all the way to the front. Should still give enough tongue weight to be safe. No reason you need a WD hitch with less than 2000lb tow weight. That also should not give you a 2" or more drop on the truck. Tongue weight should only be about 200lbs.

 

One thing I see in the pics is most of the trailer is forward of the axles this gives it wheel base to tow better but increases your tongue weight. A swing up jack would be better as stated.

 

I load the 4 wheeler on sideways, there is a gate that drops down. So the atv is infront of the axles. I'll check my options for a swivel jack! The tongue of the trailer is heavy, one (average) person can't lift it alone when it is unloaded.

 

Then you are making the tongue weight too heavy. Tongue weight should be 8 to 15% of total trailer weight. So a loaded trailer that weighs 2000lbs should have a tongue weight of 200lbs. You need to put the ATV over the axle with just a little extra weight forward.

 

one thing not one of you have noticed is, the foot on the jack IS removable. pull the pin, crank the jack up a couple more turns, and whala, got yourself 3 more inches of clearance without costing a dime...

 

It will only get him about 1" extra. A swivel jack rated at 1000lbs (less than $50 and probably less than $40 will pick up almost all of the 7".

One thing I didn't mention before is with loading the ATV the way he is, he is overloading the receiver as far as t5ongue weight is concerned. Empty the trailer probably has around 100lbs tongue weight. By putting the ATV at the front of the receiver, he is adding probably close to 500lbs to the tongue weight. The receiver is only rated to 500lbs without a WD hitch. By loading the ATV properly, he will cut that to around 200lbs and not need a WD hitch. And be a lot safer.