Lift kit

I am considering adding a lift kit to my 3124KB due to clearance going up hill to storage barn and the occasional boondock camping considerations. 2" or 4"? 4" seems to make more sense if I am going to do it. Any trailering problems or other considerations? I know I will have to raise hitch ball...probably go to Reese adjustable.
Fdxflyer
2007 3124KB
1999 F150 4x

I added a lift kit to our 2518 and it works great. I don't know about a 4 inch lift. The kit gives you 2.5. Right off the bat I'd say that a 4 inch lift would make for one doozey of a step down from the front door. I guess a step stool could remedy that. Might make you less wind resistant. 2.5 inches has not changed anything for us towing wise except I used to be able to see the top of the TM in the mirror...now I can't. But the tires are quite visible now.

Cheri

[commodor47]

Fdxflyer,

Check the posts in this thread:

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...?t=5042&page=3

I believe you already have the advantage if a 2.5 lift with the new axle design. If so, adding a 2.5 lift kit would raise your unit 5 inches higher than our unit.

Thanks for the info. The dealer says the lift kit is 2" although there was initial info that indicated 2.5. The step down is a concern.
Fdxflyer

2bcs1jrt Did you install the lift kit your self? I was told I would have to break the weld ,install the kit, and reweld. I have a 91 26 foot. I think that the original parts guy at trailmanor,Jimmy, told me it was a bolt on kit.This kit came with 4 bolts and 2 steel square tubes and NO instructions.It almost looks like they sent me the wrong kit.

No worries,are you need to do is un-bolt ,jack up an slide in the 2" tube . It comes with longer bolts,tighten as tight as you can ,done deal. I can give better instructions at a later date or you can do a search here
Kind regards,
Cowboy Cody

[Bill]

Race38 -

The history of the lift kit is a little murky in my mind, but I think the following is more or less right. Corrections from other members are solicited.

As I recall, the axle was bolted to the frame, and the lift kit was not offered by the factory, before about 2002. Some aftermarket lifts were available.

Between about 2002 and 2005, a lift kit could be added by the factory on special request. The lift kit was an unacknowledged option at build time, and was bolted in by the factory when ordered.

Starting in about 2006, the axle was welded to the frame, and the lift was a standard welded-in feature. The lift was optional but commonly ordered, especially for TMs delivered in the west. Due to its popularity, the lift quickly became standard equipment, and the option became NO LIFT KIT.

Starting in late 2006 or 2007, the lift was removed as an option, but the standard axle had a higher resting angle, which in effect provided the same amount of lift. At this point, the higher-angle welded-in axle became standard, and NO LIFT KIT ceased to be an option.

I'm sure there are errors in the dates here. But the bottom line is that in the early days, such as 1991, the axle was bolted to the frame. Adding a lift is a matter of unbolting the frame from the axle, raising the frame, inserting the lift tubes, and rebolting with longer bolts.

Bill

Here are before and after pictures of my 2003 TM (22 1/2 degree Dexter axle???) with the lift kit installation. As you can see, the shell and fender skirt now comes down to right below the top of the wheel. In some recent "For Sale" pictures for a 2007 2619 with a lift kit, the bottom of the fender skirt is shown as an inch or 2 above the top of the wheel (although the jacks are down, which could acount for some of the difference). I wonder if that TM had the new 45 degree Dexter axle, and then also had a lift kit?? Ought to be able to take that puppy about any where !!!

The lift kit on my older TM seems to be about the right fit. Plenty of clearances when going over storm water dips, getting in and out of some dry-camping places in the National Forests around here, and still tows great without any noticable sway, but still not a doozie of a 1st step getting into the TM.

Chap

[mjlaupp]

race38,
Does your TM have the rubber torsion suspension axle or is it a leaf spring suspension. I ask this because the older models had a leaf spring suspension and I don't know when the changeover was made. The "square tube and bolt" lift kit is for the rubber torsion suspension only. If you have the older leaf spring suspension then a lift block and longer u-bolts from any auto shop will do the trick.
Mike

Let me preface this by saying that I know absolutely nothing about the axel/suspension of our 2008. Before purchasing (and we ordered it from the factory so that would not have affected the answer) we asked about a lift kit or larger wheels. I was told that these would affect the suspension of the trailer and make it very harsh, which would beat it to death over time. I was also told that this is the position of the factory. Needless to say we wound up with a stock trailer!