How can I get a better ride on my 93 dually??

[KBalzuweit]

I just bought my 93 dually. It already has air bags on the rear. When towing the ride is rough (very rough compared to my 93 3/4). If you are not on smooth blacktop its like riding a bucking bronco. Its really bad when on a concrete road like I-80. I have tried some different airbag pressures and not much difference. Also have tried different tire pressures. I tow fifth wheel and reg travel trailers that can be anywhere from 5-15k. Even empty tires pressure lowered and no air in the bags, by the end of the day you will be sitting on a pillow. Help please!! My only other idea is go to a sec gen truck, but I really like this one. Look at the pic in my readers rigs.



Thanks, Karl

 

[Bluhaven]

Chedk this out. http://www.keldermanmfg.com/airride.htm:p

 

[Mel Fuelling]

Karl,

My truck looks identical to yours, but I have a cab high topper with contractor's doors to work out of. Its daily working weight is close to 9k.



When I bought it, the front springs seemed soft and saggy, so I put HD Moog coils in it, new Moog ball joints, and Bilstein shocks.

this made the front spring rate similar to the loaded rear, but sat the front up higher, making me realize that the rear needed a little more ride height to sit right. I put air bags on the rear, raising the ride height, but they increased the spring rate too much. Even with the weight I carry, it would just about throw you out of the buggy.



A tdr member that I emailed told me to take leaves out of the rear, which I have done, but it didn't work as well for me as it did for him. I have removed several leaves, trying 5 different combinations, and have mine fairly well balanced out now. However, it still rides a little rough under some road surface conditions.

I believe that much of the problems that I have had in following his advice were because my rear springs had been overloaded before I bought this pickup. I have used a Roadmaster active suspension on the rear to "unsack" the leaves. I should have found a pristine pickup to measure and compare unloaded ride height to.



PM me if you'd like any more details about my search that I haven't gotten into. Incidently, I am using 215-85-16E tires inflated to 72# front, 50# rear. This gives me an even temperature scan across each tread at 75mph.



Mel

 

[cwienenga]

harsh ride

just a thought!

when we were looking for a truck we drove a 2wd dually and it beat us to death. I noted a single spring stack at the rear which is going to be harsh for a one ton rating. when we found the truck we have now it had the split stack w/overload and the ride was acceptable , big difference because the lower stack didn't have to take the full rating. later i installed firestone air bags and removed the overload stack and put on some heavy gas monroe shocks. It's not cushy but you can adjust somewhat.

I'm wondering if your truck didn't have the single stack and the air bags were installed over them. you might have a spring shop look at them. maybe you can find out what the spring makeup was on the overload setup and compare and maybe duplicate it.



cliff

 

[cfarrar]

I am thinking of adding velvet ride shackles on the back to make small bumps less noticeable. I think that I have seen one brand for about $160 for the pair.



I have kicked myself for not bleeding off extra tire pressure when I didn't need it for load carrying. I was running the rear tires at about 50 psi for a long time during which I never hauled anything heavy. I needed it once recently, but dropped it to 35 afterward. The difference was significant. Don't put more air in your tires than you need.



There's an air-ride system for our trucks made by Kelderman, but I am not willing to invest $850 for that.

 

["Mad Max"]

Lighter leafs

Karl,

When I was replaciong the leafs on the front and rear of my dually (it's a 4-door 4x4) I got a new set of (now don't laugh, it rides awesome) 1/2 ton leafs from Skyjacker. I got a set of their 6"-over rear leafs and a set of 4"-over fronts, and I specifically asked for 1/2 ton rate springs. Now, I only tow a 2500 lb car hauler with a 4000lb car on its back, but the truck has never, ever felt like it had too little spring to carry the load, and it has been a very nice ride even when empty.

I'm not too sure how much weight the factory intended for these rigs to actually carry, but it sure seems like they have WAY too much springs in them from the factory. I think that if you went with a new set of 3/4 or 1/2 ton Skyjacker Soft Ride springs you'd be very happy, and the prices aren't too bad. I see it this way - it's all about tongue weight, and if that isn't incredibly high, then you won't need a lot of spring, especially when empty.



Just my thoughts. Pics of the dually are in my readers rigs.



By the way, I'm thinking about getting a set of 1/2 ton springs to go on the back of my 93 CTD - what's in there now rides too stiff as well.

- S