Ground clearance on trailer build

[allyncooper]

I have a 5' x 7' enclosed trailer I'm modding out as a camper/expo trailer. It currently has 14" wheels with 195/75/14 tires and a dropped axle (puts the hub center 4" above centerline of axle) Axle is mounted on top on leaf springs. This gives me about 4" of clearance from the axle u bracket. Obviously I want more than that for intended use.

I plan on changing the axle out to one 2" wider with brakes to accommodate 31/10.5/15 tires to match those on my Ford Ranger. I want off road clearance capability but nothing extreme (no rock crawling, etc.) sticking to established forest service roads. My question is how much clearance is recommended given my stated use. Changing out the axle with a straight (not dropped) axle will pick me up another 4", and with the bigger tires another 2", for about 10" clearance. However if I mount the axle under the leaf springs I can pick up another 4"-5" of clearance for about 14" or 15" clearance. Another factor is I have a hitch carrier I can install on the back of the trailer, so with that and trailer tongue I'm actually about 13' total length on the setup when I have the carrier on. (I'm thinking I might want higher because of this).

So open for recommendations based on similar experiences of what I need for clearance given my setup and intended use. TIA

 

[rlyoung112]

How much clearance is the vehicle towing it going to have?

I'm willing to bet it's less than 15".

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[Stumpalump]

Don't go too high and plate the areas under the rear that will drag. A good height matches what the front or tounge will be set at. Set that up first and you will know how high you need to be without over doing it. The front does dig in on up hills. A good skid for the front and rear is a receiver hitch that the tongue slides into. A removable tounge lets you put the tounge on the rear for emergency extractions when things go wrong.

 

[allyncooper]

Thanks for the replies.

My Ranger has stock tires on it ( 235/75/15 ) right now. I have cranked the torsion bars and installed coil over trailer shocks in the rear, so I think it lifted it about 2". I don't want to do anything else get more clearance except I may be considering 33" tires instead of 31". Right now I have about 10" clearance on the Ranger I think, so I might land up with 12" after tire change. I see your point in asking - does it make sense to have higher ground clearance on the trailer than on the tow vehicle?

Good advice on a removable tongue but that's not in the budget (at least right now).

 

[allyncooper]

Well nix the idea of 33" tires. Virtually nothing availble in that size for what I want. Definately be using 31".