Talked with a RV shop and they recommended after the new perchs are put on to add some reenforcements by welding additional bar stock to the axle and the perches as he had seen some axles bend from the stress with the springs on top of them.

Another suggestion I have had is to get strap metal and make extensions to the current spring and shock hangers, bolt and weld them in place. This way you can control how high you lift your trailer. Sounds like the adjustable set ups I have read about on some trailers being put out there with the idea that different TVs are different heights. This keeps the axles on top of the springs and I like that idea.

 

I'm having trouble figuring out how moving the springs to the top of the axle will add more stress to the axle. Can you elaborate a little on this?

 

Not really, just to me seems like a leverage issue. The u-bolts holding the axle to the springs gives the axle a little more potential to flex. But at the same time increasing the distance between the frame and the axle would probably have about the same effect. No knowledge of engineering so my ideas may just be smoke in the wind. I guess a lot of people do it and the one the guy told me about is probably like a Cummins engine throwing a rod at 1500 RPM with no load other than moving the truck down the road. Could happen but extremely unlikely, like getting hit by a meteor.

 

 

Just wannted to give an update. The conversion works great. Pulls straight. Looks a lot better behind the tall truck. Thanks for all the input.

PS I do have one heck of a nasty blood blister on my little finger out of the deal. Air ratchets are more powerful than I thought.