Hi, have done a search but can't find what I am looking for. I have a pretty heavy boat and the grand cherokee sags a fair bit in the rear. I am looking to get some sniffer springs that can be compatible with the self levelling suspension. I Am in wa, anyone got any ideas on where I can find something?
Wilkinson Suspension in Bayswater, or go direct to King Springs. Consider that if you increase the spring rate, the OEM shock absorbers will possibly have insufficient damping to control them. You'd probably also find the ride quality too harsh when the trailer isn't in tow.
As Snuke has suggested, check your trailer ball weight... it's possible that your trailer isn't balanced optimally. It's also possible that it's hell big! Maybe shoot us some more info?
Not sure on the tow ball weight. Boat itself is 7.5m Ali. Including the trailer it is 9.5m long and comes in just under 3.5t. When I put the boat on it sags heaps, and when I start moving the suspension "pumps up" and makes it less extreme but still noticeable. Sorry that's all the info I have.
It sounds like you’re exceeding the down ball limit by a massive amount. Someone with some actual knowledge about towing and suspension etc.. will know what that actually means. Does putting in stiffer springs alleviate the down ball weight issue, or is this also chassis related?
I'm not sure where that was directed, however it's obvious you can't legally exceed the manufacturer's limits. There wasn't much information at hand... a worn spring can't do the work it could originally and would need replacement. I checked Jarrid's other posts and his Grand is quite new... and diesel. We don't know the passenger and luggage load, so it's not exactly clear cut yet. The ball weight could be fine and the rear axle grossly overloaded.
I wouldn't like to rely on the self levelling suspension at high loads myself, due to suspension 101 "the springs carry the weight" and the anecdotal problems with SLS shock mounts. That said, it is supposed to manage it...
If there is so much sag it is noticible, somethings not right, be the weight on the ball, or as you suggest the load in the car, something is being exceeeeeeeeded.
Pretty much nothing in the car and rear is higher than front without the boat on. Car is my2014 and a year old. Might have to check the weight on the ball...below is shot as weight is put on and after it has "pumped up". Boat is large but under 3.5t and towed easily.
Yeah nice research. Not quite the same boat but very similar. Trailer is a westerberg trailer and when the photo was taken it probably had about 100l in it. Seen a way to check the tow ball weight with bathroom scales so will have a look when I can. I don't have a weight distributing hitch.
Jarrid, i notice your receiver hitch is positioned on the high side with the tow ball located at the highest setting. What if you rotated the receiver hitch 180 degrees and then bolted the tow ball pointing upwards it would be at a lower position to what your current setup is which could lessen the available ball weight as your trailer weight would be more equal on the tandem axles (or biased towards the forward axle) instead of rearing on the rearward axle (causing more weight on the tow ball).
Ps I have read that info re the wdh. When I bought the car I got it because it could tow 3.5t. I then got the dealer to supply a tow bar that could tow 3.5t (I think they called it heavy duty or something similar). The tow ball itself says 3.5t on it but the car manual says you need a wdh. I didn't know that until after purchase (about nine months after in fact)
Also, pretty sure I have the same tow ball system as shown earlier in the thread, its a Mopar one manufactured by best bar. Why doesn't it have a big * on it stating anything about the wdh? It has a note about tongue weight but nothing about the 3.5 really being 2.2 unless you have a wdh
Does anyone know if I can upgrade the tow ball to a wdh without having to start from scratch?
OK i have done a bit more research into the WDH. i thought it was a full replacement tow bar system but it appears as though it is just an add on. in terms of how it works, am i right in saying that it uses the struts to effectively increase the lever arm from the axles to where the weight of the trailer acts? i don't quite get it...
Yeah, one end of the springs is attached to the hitch on the vehicle, the other end attaches to the trailer via chains, as the spring goes across the tow bar joint the tension forces the joint upwards.
Had a look at the trailer yesterday and come up with another problem. Can't see where I would attach the chains on here, it is about 1m of straight and I have a jockey wheel on one side and a spare in the other
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