factory overload springs

[JSchlachta]

does anyone have factory overload springs on their truck? came by soem on a 1980 1 ton at the locat scrap yard. was thinking of putting them on my 1992 w-250. what kind of load is needed to use the overload springs. Also has anyone used the overload springs or an air bag overload? either one the other or both. I am looking to add an aux fuel tank to the bed when cash permits.



Jim

 

[Niki]

My W350 SRW has them, as far as load, my guess would be very large...

 

[BHiggins]

I have them on my '92 W350 dually. Two weeks ago I had about 2200 lbs of oak firewood loaded on the truck and the springs just barely touched in the back (for some reason the rear of the helpers engage before the front of the springs will touch). I think I would have to go to 2500+ lbs to really get them to touch. The previous owner had one of the largest slide in campers I've ever seen and he said the springs helped him alot with the camper load.

 

[tugboatphil]

Jim,



I'm surprised that you are having to add them. It was my belief that all W models had them. My D350 does not. The holes are in the frame, but look like they were never used.



That said, after Hurricane Isabel, I hauled a load of freshly downed oak from Richmond to home. I had it stacked above the frame rails, as I have rail tool boxes. I stopped loading when my mudflaps were an inch off the pavement. Sure was a smooth ride home!



I went back 4 more days in a row with my stepdad's 97 W3500 and a 14 ft dump trailer. I will be using up the last of that wood this winter. People had those trees cut into firewood sized lengths. All I had to do was haul and split. One man's disaster is another man's salvage yard.

 

[JSchlachta]

I am thinking that they may have came standard with the 350. The one that I came by at the salvage yard has a GVW of 10,000 lbs. Someone has taken the rear end already and the drivers spring pack is still all there. 7 leaves and the overload, the passanger has only 5 of the leaves and the overload. They look to be the same springs in my 250 minus the overloads. I picked up 50 bags of mulch on a palet a few weeks back (between 1500 and 2000 lbs) and the springs came down about 2 inches. with the 2 1/2" skyjacker springs in the front with no load the back sits about 3/4" lower than the front. with the 50 bags of mulch it sat down about 2 1/2" lower than the front. I have a slide in camper that weighs 1400 lbs and idealy I would like to have the truck level fully loaded and not have the rear end up too high when not loaded. Right now it looks like the air bag overloads would give me the most flexability. other options are add a leafs from skyjacker wither r1120 or r225 which should give 2" of lift, or have a spring shop add a leaf and rearch the springs. What are your opinions guys?



Jim

 

[Niki]

Just for reference my W350 SRW has the same amount of leaves(7) as my W250 CC, the 250 doesn't have the overloads

 

[Bluebird]

Auxiliary Springs...

My underhoold tag/sticker reads: auxiliary springs. I thought this was an overload spring :-laf I have five leaves and an extra on the bottom, (last- one before the axle). Heaviest load was towing a Chebby S-10 pickup. I've never seen my bed move down , maybe a 1000lbs in the back of the truck at one time or another

Patrick

 

[Philip]

My W350 does not have overloads. It shows 10,100 GVW on the door tag. It takes 1,000 lbs to drop the bed 1".



If I ever need overloads. I would go for a set of air bags. With over loads you can get them slapping the mounts on heavy bumps. This causes noise and rougher ride. With air bags you don't have this problem. Lower the air to 5 PSI which is the lowest they say to run and you don't have the overload contact problem.

 

[MTownsend]

my 72 w300 has them and it takes hanging a full size truck on the back to make it even touch them on both sides. A full size car will only get it to rest on the rear stop.