Trailer Hitch Dragging Ground

[paultracy3]

anyone ever have problems with the hitch dragging thru dipps in the road or backing up on a slight incline . my hitch and reciever is very low to the ground compared to other coaches

[rheavn]

Paul,
Mine is pretty low too. If I go through a dip I have learned to slow down & air up. I've also learned to air up prior to backing up an incline.

[Richard and Rhonda]

Yep, mine too. Air up.

PT, I watched you on the speed channel last night hustling that Bentley through the slalom. Do you pull that with the Newell? Just kidding.

[RussWhite]

Another me too chiming in. I intend to check ride hieght sometime, but have not gotten around to it yet. It seems very low, and the advice to air up is good, but you have to have the time to do that. It can take several minutes even on high idle. I am kind of hoping ride height could be raised a little, but I don't know what issue that might bring on. Fortunately the hitch looks quite substantial and if I drag a little I am hoping nothing more than a little paint on the hitch is harmed.

[paultracy3]

Yep, mine too. Air up.

PT, I watched you on the speed channel last night hustling that Bentley through the slalom. Do you pull that with the Newell? Just kidding.

my problem is on one of the roads i run quite often is in the desert on hyw 93 going to blythe . its 2lane and has alot of sharp dips in it for water runoff . i pull a big 30ft stacker and it drags the reciever hard thru them . i was hoping to try anfd get more ride height somehow .

[Ron Skeen]

You can raise the rear ride height by adjustiing the control located over the drive alxe on both sides. You could probably raise the height by at least 2 inches.

[paultracy3]

You can raise the rear ride height by adjustiing the control located over the drive alxe on both sides. You could probably raise the height by at least 2 inches.

IS IT IN THE WHEEL WELLS OR UNDER THE BUS

[rheavn]

Paul,
The air ride control valve & linkage is located by looking over the rear drive duals. I had to raise the coach to see it and gain access. I then loosened the adjusting sleeve with a 1/4" nut driver, made my adjustment and then lowered coach back down and checked coach ride height. 12" on outer tubing just in front of rear wheelwell. Front is also 12" measured at outer tubing just behind wheelwell.

Hope this helps.......................

[prairieschooner]

What if you simply modified the Hitch?
The ride Height should be a fixed dimension where intended to not overextend anything, I am not familiar with the newer coaches though.

[Ron Skeen]

I think that you need to make the rod going down longer. After you loosened the adjusting sleeve slide the sleeve up on the rod to make longer. You can measure the coach and then make adjustment and measure again to see which way the rod need to go. I made a tool out of 5' long 1x3 alum tubing which I cut a slot that fitted around the rod and I could force the sleeve up or down by prying on top of the wheel (up or finder flare (down). Hope this helps.

[Richard and Rhonda]

Paul,

Good answers, the device is located behind the drive wheels at the top of the wheel well. Unless you have ape arms you cannot reach it by hand. You cannot see it unless you use the air bags to raise the rear all the way.

I too, use two special tools. One a home made long reach nut driver that tightens or loosens the holding clamp, and the second a pry bar to move it up or down the rod. DON"T put yourself in the space between the tire and the coach while fooling with the height adjustment. That has the possibility of ruining your whole day.

You move the attachment on the rod in the direction you want the coach to move. In other words, if you want to raise the coach, raise the clamp on the bar. Mine is already at the top part of the bar, so I couldn't raise it much higher if I wanted.

There are two issues with doing this. One, it will put more weight on the front tires. Second it will definitely throw the alignment (camber and toe in) of the tags out of kilter.

[paultracy3]

Paul,

Good answers, the device is located behind the drive wheels at the top of the wheel well. Unless you have ape arms you cannot reach it by hand. You cannot see it unless you use the air bags to raise the rear all the way.

I too, use two special tools. One a home made long reach nut driver that tightens or loosens the holding clamp, and the second a pry bar to move it up or down the rod. DON"T put yourself in the space between the tire and the coach while fooling with the height adjustment. That has the possibility of ruining your whole day.

You move the attachment on the rod in the direction you want the coach to move. In other words, if you want to raise the coach, raise the clamp on the bar. Mine is already at the top part of the bar, so I couldn't raise it much higher if I wanted.

There are two issues with doing this. One, it will put more weight on the front tires. Second it will definitely throw the alignment (camber and toe in) of the tags out of kilter.
thats good info . i am looking to get about 2in higher

[GORDON HUMMEL]

Paul,

While I understand the problems of draging the rear end on Newell, we all have experienced it @ on time or anther, I would check with Newell about rasing it 2" over stock. In addition to Richards comments, you will also be raising the roll center a substancial ammout! This much would be like raising an Indy car 1/32" which would be a massive change.

Is it the actual newell receiver that is draging or the part you slide into it? Mine has skid plates that drag first & protect the receiver hitch & fiberglass.

My 2 cents

[tuga]

I scraped coming off of a ferry in Alaska. Also had a few scrapes in driveways with deep dips.

It's a pain in the rear!

[paultracy3]

i am running a airsafe class vii airbag reciever . i just dont like it dragging the ground cuz it was expensive

[HoosierDaddy]

Yep, Raise it a little...I'd be thinking 1/4" steel skid plate bolted on under hitch if you travel that same road often. Better to replace the plate than the hitch.

[Summersgal]

Paul

Here was Jeff's answer to raising the hitch, to allow the blue ox to be more inline with the truck. The bottom of the receiver still drags every now and then, but this would save dragging the airsafe class vii.

Pam

[folivier]

Nice idea Pam, I've seen different styles of these risers. Some are even adjustable. Just need to make sure the one he gets doesn't lower his hitch rating.
Merry Christmas everyone!

[Summersgal]

Forrest
Thanks!
With all the welds that Jeff has on it I think it will be fine! LOL We have seen a few different ideas also.
And I know once when we were at Newell that had told us that the main hitch couldn't be raised, had something to do with the level and so on. More than I know enough about to say anymore!! LOL I just drive! Typical woman!! :-)

Merry Christmas to all!

[express1]

Thought everyone had that type of jackup plate hitch....We need one to get even with the Ford Flex... It also move the tow car back about a foot allowing the opening of engine bay door.

[prairieschooner]

me too that's what I meant with raising the hitch. That seems like such an easy fix.

[paultracy3]

[QUOTE=Summersgal;10548]Paul

Here was Jeff's answer to raising the hitch, to allow the blue ox to be more inline with the truck. The bottom of the receiver still drags every now and then, but this would save dragging the airsafe class vii.

Pam[/QUOTEi have one ov those for towing a jeep . but i am not sure i would trust that to pull a 30ft stacker trailer loaded . would you ?

[HoosierDaddy]

When you raise the hitch ball the side-to-side load on the hitch reciever is increased. I see no problem when hooking a tow-bar however it would concern me considering the size of the trailer. If the objective is to raise the TRAILER tongue only, I would explore the possibility of lowering the ball reciever on the trailer thus maintaining the hitch ball as close to the centerline of the hitch reciever as possible.
It appears in the pic you submitted that the whole rig is fairly level. Keep in mind that if you raise the tongue at all you risk dragging the tail of the trailer. Then you will need to raise the trailer at the axles to achieve a level trailer, then over-all height may be an issue.......Just keeps gettin' more complicated.
I'm still thinkin replaceable skid plates....! B-)