Posted 2006-01-05 11:11 AM (#34954) Subject: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Veteran
Posts: 198 Location: Iowa
Just got a 2000 Ram 2500 3/4 ton 4x4, and am starting to look at 3H goosenecks. I think I have heard a few people say some of the 4x4 truck beds are quite high, and this makes it tough to get a gooseneck level...rides up too high in the front. The solution seems to be flipping the axles on the trailer or going with bigger tires. Anyone pull a gooseneck with a 2000 Ram 2500 4x4? Do you have any height problems, or any problems with the trailer riding too high in the nose? Thanks for any input.
Posted 2006-01-05 12:21 PM (#34960 - in reply to #34954) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Flooper... Look for the newer trailers. They have been designed for the extra height. Flipping the trailer axles only works for conventional spring axles. Lots of horse trailers have torsion suspensions. Then one has to block the axles. (insert a block between axle and trailer) Bigger tires doesn't help much vs the cost.
Your Last question... pulling a trailer nose high is bad especially for torsion axle trailers. It puts most of the weight on the last axle.
Posted 2006-01-05 12:39 PM (#34965 - in reply to #34961) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Mr. trailer could address the Featherlight's model year...
My 2000 Sundowner had to be blocked for the 2001 Chevy dually's height. The truck doesn't squat much under load. Your 2500 might squat enough that you won't have the problem.
You might just hook up to the prospective trailer. Look for at least 7 inches between the truck rail and neck-over. I've come close to a crunch at 8 inches.
Posted 2006-01-05 7:16 PM (#34985 - in reply to #34954) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Regular
Posts: 53
Featherlite raised their trailers in the '99 model year. If you order a new trailer you can also work with most manufacturer's to get the trailer raised a little too. Best advice to is back your truck under a trailer you're interested in and hook on to make sure you have the clearance that makes YOU happy.
Posted 2006-01-05 9:01 PM (#34991 - in reply to #34954) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1011 Location: Oregon
I have the xact same truck you are talking about. Bought it brand new in 1999. Then bought a 2000 Charmac 3H slant with a 4' shortwall. Had no problems with clearance. Then I went up a size in tires (33" or 34" I think) on my truck. I had about 7 or 8" of clearance. We did put a small ding on the tailgate and on the gooseneck when making a U turn on a dirt, potholey road. No big deal, I was barely noticable. I did go back down to the stock size tires. I currently have an 2002 4H Charmac with an 8' shortwall. With the stock size tires I have about 10-11" of clearance and I ride level. I have also pulled gooseneck flatbeds (don't know the brand) with about the same amount of clearance. My friend has a 1999 Dodge truck 2500 4x4 and he pulls a 1996-1998 (don't remember the exact year) 4H Charmac with a 6' shortwall, and he still has at least 7-8" of clearance and the trailer is level. Now, if I hooked up to another brand of trailer, I don't know if I would still have the same clearance.
Posted 2006-01-08 1:39 PM (#35120 - in reply to #34954) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
If I'm not mistaken there is a TSB from Dodge on taking the BLOCKS from under the rear springs of the truck and eaither saving them to reuse or moving them ABOVE the rear springs.It evens the truck out more.Drops rear about 2 inches.I might still do this to my 03 3500 Dually.Lots of info on this on http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/ and on www.turbodieselregiester.com You'll have to do a search but this has been done and discussed many times.The DTR site is free.The TDR site is a pay site.
Posted 2006-01-08 4:10 PM (#35127 - in reply to #34954) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Veteran
Posts: 198 Location: Iowa
Thanks everyone for the great input. I think the best thing will be to back the truck under whatever trailer I'm interested in and see how the fit is. Thanks again.
Posted 2006-01-09 9:34 AM (#35165 - in reply to #35127) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1011 Location: Oregon
Originally written by Flooper on 2006-01-08 1:10 PM
Thanks everyone for the great input. I think the best thing will be to back the truck under whatever trailer I'm interested in and see how the fit is. Thanks again.
That IS the best thing to do. Hook it up to your hitch an have the dealership adjust it so it will ride level. Then look at your clearance. Some people can get away with 6 inches of clearance. Me, it need at least 9 inches because of the terrain I travel including getting out of my driveway.
Posted 2006-02-02 10:34 PM (#36478 - in reply to #36461) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Regular
Posts: 70 Location: Spanaway,Wa
I had to block the axles on my 93' sooner. It had dexter tortional axles. If you look at the pads where the axles meet the frame you should find they are only attatched by small welds. Carefully measure and take note of where they attatch then cut the welds loose. Install heavy wall box tubing of whatever size you think you may need between the axle and frame. Make sure the axles are in the same spot they were originally and re-attatch with good welds. Granted I'm a mechanic but it only took about a day to finish. About $50 in parts.
Posted 2006-02-03 7:39 AM (#36482 - in reply to #36461) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by TOTALLOSS on 2006-02-02 3:38 PM
hosspuller. did the sunder have torsion axles?i need to block my axles ,but dextr axle says not to .how is it done?
My Sundowner has a steel frame with an aluminum skin. The Dexter torflex (Torsion) axles were bolted on. I used square tubing 3x3 inches by 1/4 wall. The longer bolts and nuts used were 5in x 5/8 grade 8 (don't use any grade less) The original bolts were grade 5. I also used Loctite red retaining compound. No split lockwashers for me on critical applications.
Sundowner does not recommend more than 3 inches of lift.
Posted 2006-02-04 5:50 PM (#36558 - in reply to #34954) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
I think most of the newer gooseneck trailers have compensated for the super-high 4X4s by raising the gooseneck area floor. The good part is that they fit over the new trucks, the bad part is that you lose some height in the gooseneck. If you're not claustrophobic, it's not a problem. In my case (2001 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 with a 1992 Featherlite) I had to raise the trailer in addition to lowering the truck in order to ride level. Dodge did the lowering for free, but I had fork over the $ for the trailer axle blocks. Good luck!
Posted 2006-02-05 6:28 AM (#36573 - in reply to #34954) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Expert
Posts: 2689
I think the whole truck height "issue" is way overblown.
There is adjustment at the coupler, an inch or two change there makes a VERY small difference to the trailer's attitude ("up hill" angle). I think there are worse things to worry about, e.g. putting helwigs, supersprings, overload springs or air bags on the truck could affect that angle as much, possibly more - I'll watch out for that (-:
I've seen some that looked WAY too high, but I've never seen anyone at the side of the road with a blown rear trailer tire as a result.
I think there isn't a problem if your tires don't show a temperature difference - and if they do you could fix that by inflating them for the load they're carrying (see other threads (-: on this)
Yes, you COULD run different pressures in the front vs rear tires.
If it isn't a BIG load difference the risk of overloading an axle is also minimal.
Posted 2006-02-05 10:48 AM (#36578 - in reply to #34954) Subject: RE: Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Well to get 7 inches (or so) of clearance my trailer is JACKED way up.It affects trailer braking as the fronts will lock and rears don't of course.I also have gone out west like this and had both rear tires sling the tread off.The differance in heat is noticable BY HAND from front trailer tires to rears. I still have to use caution on lots of dips and railroad track crossings to keep from hitting bed or tailgate.I pull a 1995 CM RANGER(3 horse steel goosenect with oversize dressing room and tow with a 2003 Dodge dually 4x4.Had a MINOR clearance problem with a 1993 Dodge W250(Diesel 4x4) The BIGGEST issue is SOME trailers the gooseneck structure has support beams under them.Some alum also.The more exspensive trailers DO NOT.With a HEAVY horse in front its better.I would really like another two inchs or more of clerance.
Any height problems with 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck?
