Trailmanor lift kit (how high?)

does the installed lift kit cause any sway while traveling?????

[Denny_A]

Originally Posted by bill s

does the installed lift kit cause any sway while traveling?????

None! IMHO, Anyway.

Denny_A

So far the lift kit is proving to be worth the cost/effort. No dragging encountered since its installation and the trailer pulls true as it did before installation (no sway at all).

What is cost of the lift kit before installation labor?

Originally Posted by caremd99

What is cost of the lift kit before installation labor?

Sorry it took so long to reply... I found the paperwork today in my tow vehicle so I can tell you what my cost was.
As mentioned above, on my 2004 model 2619 the axle was welded on and the dealer who did the installation said he would have to charge me more to install it. He mentioned maybe a hundred dollars labor. However when we picked it up and got the bill we were pleasantly surprised with the following totals.

2-1/2" lift kit = $68.00
Labor (1/2 hr) = $32.50
pound of flesh for the great state of California = $5.02

total $105.52 (and so far worth every penny of it!)

[G-V_Driver]

I asked about the lift kit on the 2003 model we bought. Was told the 15" tires have obviated the need for the lift kit, and that The Car Show, which previously ordered all their units with the lift kit has found they are no longer necessary. Our experience during our recent trip seems to confirm this idea. No dragging or scraping in spite of some fairly abrupt grade changes.

Anybody have any comments regarding this theory? We had a lift kit on the 1998 model, and it seems like the unit was an inch or so higher (as I remember from stepping up on the bottom step.)

Wayne

Reading the comments here..the lift kit should be standrad part of the trailer...it seems that this problem will be there whenever the trailer hits a dip ...I suppose another way for the manufactures to save a few bucks ...but it is a flaw in design and should not be a separate item...

[mjlaupp]

Pat255,

There is no "flaw in the design". The original design of the Trail Manor was a low profile hard side RV to allow towing behind the full size sedans and station wagons of the 60's. They only had 4-6" of ground clearance so the TM needed no more. Today most are pulling the TMs with SUVs, mini vans and small trucks. They expect the TM to have the same ground clearance as their tow vehicle. So TM added the optional lift kit for those who needed it. I understand that the axle design has been changed this year so that the lift kit is no longer needed. However, some owners may have trouble fitting the TM through their garage door opening. The TM factory may take the next step and go to one of the newer low profile AC units at 9-10" high. All of this is a trade off so you can get the TM to fit your needs. So don't start hollering "design flaw" until you have examined all of the reasons, history and options behind the TM design.

Mike

[kempert]

Mike -

Thanks! You hit the nail square on the head. My TM functioned as it was designed without any problems. I only added a lift kit after I bought the Tundra and started camping in areas where most people would not want to go. If the TM was garaged (as many are), my priorities would be different. The lift kit is just an option that TM has made available to those of us who desire to use it. It is not a necessity.

I just added a 2" lift kit to my 07 2619. I pick it up from the dealer today and hopefully it will raise the hitch height to about 23-24" and eliminate the back jacks from scraping on my steep driveway.