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The exercise of flipping RV axles leveled our rig back out and increased the bed to 5W space.
Just pulling out of a filling station or some other driveway was a nervous situation because the tail of the truck always went right up tight against the floor of the fifth wheel. That was one of the reasons I put the flatbed on the old '98. But, liking the way this new 3500 dually looks, I wanted to try and improve the way it goes together. So I decided to just do an RV axle flip. So just before we took off on the first long haul with the new tow vehicle, I had Jolley Rodger, up in Cheyenne, do the flipping rv axles dance. Now," flipping RV axles " doesn't mean you actually turn the axles over. What actually happens is the springs, which are normally mounted below the axles, are moved to a mounting position on top of the axles.
****I forgot a before pic, but here is what it looks like after**** In addition to doing the " flipping RV axles " thing on our fiver, I had to drop the pin box a couple holes as well. Not a real big deal, except that that thing is HEAVY! I used a saddle stand from my old shop to support the box under the ball socket as I worked it into the new position. Took just a few minutes. No big deal. On our rig we gained approximately 3 1/2 inches of increased space (between the truck bed and the 5W) when I lowered the pin box. Combined with flipping the RV axles, that also sets the rig pretty level when it's hitched up. It had been setting just a trifle high in front.
One thing. It was a little too easy (In my opinion) to pop those pin box bolts loose. I hadn't ever checked them with a wrench. Big fault on my part! I would suggest, as a part of your regular maintenance schedule, that you check, with a torque wrench, the tightness of all your hitch bolts, every month or so, no matter what style of hitch you use. Having those suckers come loose on a rough road, on an otherwise glorious RV Boondocking trip would be a bad thing! ....... "Gee Martha, doesn't that look like our Fifth Wheel rolling across that cornfield all by itself?" That and the hitch is starting to look a little shaby isn't it? Soon as the weather permits I'm going to have to do a little painting to shine it up a mite. It takes a lot of weather out there in front like it is! We pulled a bit over 2,000 miles to Wisconsin and back, in hellatious wind, and some clankity bang rough roads. There was no handling change that I could detect, positive or negative, from the flipped axles. The only change was that I had a lot more leeway breaking over driveway aprons and such with the increased space. It cost a little over $300 for me to get the work done. They had to rework shock mounts and a couple other little things. So while I wouldn't consider it inexpensive, it sure beats the cost of getting a busted bed repaired! Keep the shiny side up, see ya RV Boondocking!
Return from Flipping RV Axles to Goin' RV Boondocking
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