Winnie Drop Clearance Problem

[Ptmarx]

Hi all, we just picked up our 2018 WD170S and have been camping a few days. I did a search on Winnie Drop problems and came across this thread. I was curious about the clearance issue. My problem is the entry step height. Apparently W has solved the clearance issue by raising the camper. My jacks are a good 12"-13" above ground. It also looks like there are 2 more mounting holes for the axle, so the camper could go up another couple of inches.
However, this puts the door threshold almost 24" above ground, with a single step. It is about a 13" drop coming out the door. Very uncomfortable going in or out. I will be installing a double step soon. I was curious if others had this issue, but it looks like the earlier models have the opposite problem.

[Annieoakley]

Yours will be an easier fix. I did raise the rear stableizers but nothing to do about the low sewer drain. Iv just had to be careful. Even so, I love the camper and am about to head out for 6 weeks in Colorado.

[spo-vegas]

Originally Posted by Ptmarx

Hi all, we just picked up our 2018 WD170S and have been camping a few days. I did a search on Winnie Drop problems and came across this thread. I was curious about the clearance issue. My problem is the entry step height. Apparently W has solved the clearance issue by raising the camper. My jacks are a good 12"-13" above ground. It also looks like there are 2 more mounting holes for the axle, so the camper could go up another couple of inches.
However, this puts the door threshold almost 24" above ground, with a single step. It is about a 13" drop coming out the door. Very uncomfortable going in or out. I will be installing a double step soon. I was curious if others had this issue, but it looks like the earlier models have the opposite problem.

Wow, Ptmarx, that's amazing info. So glad Winnebago has decided to increase the ground clearance on the Drop. Just last night, I was out lamenting all the scrapes and gouges on the apron of my driveway that I spent around $4500 on a couple of years ago. I think that a lot of the Drop demographic look at it as a lightweight trailer that inherently has a moderate amount of offroad capability, and have been disappointed to learn that it has essentially zero offroad, or even urban, capability. (Raising my hand, here.)

My front jacks are down right now, but I went out and looked at them and estimated that they are 8-9" above ground, when retracted.

I also measured the distance from ground to trailer floor at 22". The first step is 9" and the second is 13". It hasn't bothered us, but I totally get your beef, as the "standard residential" tread rise is just over 8". Adding another step seems to me like the right solution for you.

[Ptmarx]

Spo-vegas,
It sounds like your ground to floor is the same as ours, so maybe they didn't raise it. I do know the jacks are up higher though. I'll have to take another look and see how they are mounted. Maybe that's the difference.
Our step is just the opposite. From the camper to the first step is around 13". That is an uncomfortable drop coming out the door, especially if you are carrying something.

[spo-vegas]

Originally Posted by Ptmarx

Spo-vegas,
It sounds like your ground to floor is the same as ours, so maybe they didn't raise it. I do know the jacks are up higher though. I'll have to take another look and see how they are mounted. Maybe that's the difference.
Our step is just the opposite. From the camper to the first step is around 13". That is an uncomfortable drop coming out the door, especially if you are carrying something.

Sorry, Ptmarx, my reply was not clear. "First step" on our trailer is from ground to step (9"), and then 13" from the step to the trailer floor. So we're saying the same thing. I just told my story backwards.

Also, my Drop definitely does not have any adjustability between the axle and trailer. I've been under it, and there is exactly one mounting position. So I'm really intrigued with your report that there are a couple of alternate mounting locations for the axle that would potentially raise the elevation of the trailer body with respect to the ground.

[Ptmarx]

I want to send some pictures of the jack clearance on our 170S. How do you attach pictures?

[spo-vegas]

Originally Posted by Ptmarx

I want to send some pictures of the jack clearance on our 170S. How do you attach pictures?

Create a reply and then click on the manage attachments button in the 'Additional Options' section.

[Ptmarx]

Thanks spo-vegas. I think I finally figured it out. It is a little different on the IPad.
I finally got around to taking some pictures of the jack clearance on the 2018 170S. The camper is not exactly level so the front is at 12" and the rears were 13". It sounds like this is quite a bit higher than the earlier years. I'm not sure what they did different to get the extra clearance. Maybe someone can look at the pictures and see something.

[Ptmarx]

[spo-vegas]

Thanks, Ptmarx.

This is really interesting and I would love to get to the bottom of this apparent clearance change. (Someone from Winnebago's Marketing Department could chime in and save us a bunch of detective work, while at the same time putting a positive "listening to our customers" spin on the response - just sayin' Winnebago. )

I'll take some more measurements and pictures and reply tomorrow.

[spo-vegas]

The pics below should hopefully be self-explanatory. The trailer is almost perfectly level, and the concrete slopes upward, from rear to front of the trailer, so the true distance from the front jack to the ground is probably more like 11" than 10", and the true distance from the rear jack to the ground is probably more like 15" than 16" (not that the rear jack measurement means anything to anyone with an OEM setup, since I have modified mine). Ground to first step distance is just over 9", and distance from step to entry threshold is about 12-1/2".

[spo-vegas]

After processing all the info here, I'm pretty sure that nothing has changed, as far as ground clearance, between the 2016 and 2018 models. Suspension is via torsion, or "twisting" of the axle, so there are no spring or shock mechanisms that offer any opportunity for increased clearance, via modification. The axle is mounted extremely close to the frame, per the attached pics. The mounting holes that don't have bolts in them are not adjustability features. Chassis-to-axle mounting distance is intended to be "it is what it is".

With that said, I do have a relatively simple concept in mind for raising the chassis a couple inches off the axle. Time will tell if I possess the initiative to implement it.

[Ptmarx]

I finally got around to taking some pictures of the axle on the 2018 WD170S. It is definitely a little different setup. It would be nice to know if the extra holes can be used to raise the trailer.
It also looks like the tire to fender clearance is greater on the 2018. Does the 2016 have 14 or 15 inch tires? Mine are 14".
I also added the double step which makes entry and exit a lot more comfortable.

[Annieoakley]

I love the steps. Going to be my next project.