Truck: 2008 Dakota Quad Cab SLT - V-8 tow cap 5750 pounds
Trailer 2016 Cherokee Grey Wolf 19rr - 4200 lbs dry/ 570 lbs hitch weight


This combo works great for me, I got the ramped toy hauler so I could have room for my 2 large dogs when camping - not for toy hauling. Fully loaded for a 4 day trip the trailer scaled at 4400 pounds.

My challenge is that hitch/tongue weight and how much it drags the back end of the truck down - I use a WD hitch and I have a tower with the ball all the way at the top - unloaded the ball is at 26 inches from the street. Loaded up I clear my chains from dragging - barely and I have to be sloooow on speed bumps to avoid banging the hitch. Every other aspect of the ride is super great - it pulls easily without ever feeling out matched - it runs level and there is no sway - I do not even feel the ride unless I hit 80 mph on a windy freeway - and I don't in general ever go over 60 so it works great.

How worried do I need to be about that road clearance - my wife sweats whenever I take it out, convinced that is a huge problem and I have googled like a maniac to find anything and all I really find is stuff about lifting it for fun, and since I camp like 10 times a year and the rest of time the truck is my Sunday errand vehicle and I just do not want to do that.

I already have airbags - they smooth everything out great but they add to that drop - if it is a real problem, what are my best paths forward to mitigating it?

Thanks
Trisha

 

I was going to suggest both the WD hitch and airbags, but you already have both. Swapping in new leaf springs might help. Have you measured the squat? How high is the top of the wheel well unloaded vs loaded?

 

Inflate the air bags until the rear comes up to where it should be.