Need suspension upgrade for towing

[jeff95]

I tow a 7x14 enclosed trailer @7500 lbs +- full time. My truck the 04. 5 is rarely driven without the trailer and I put about 500 miles a week on them. There is alot of weight on the hitch, more than there should be I'm sure. The rear of my truck is starting to squat when unloaded. I need air bags, helper springs or something to stiffen up the rear end. In addition, I am ready to put new tires and wheels on the truck so I may want a small lift. 2"-3" is what I am thinking. I want to move up to 35" tires and want them to stick out 1" or so. I am open to all suggestions. I know there are tons of threads on Kore and other suspension kits. I don't do any offroading so travel is not a concern. I want a comfortable ride and adequate support.

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

 

[jelag]

I tow a 22K lb goose neck trailer with 3500 duallys that are 4x4, we have 3 of these trucks, a 04, 04. 5, 05

We have put a 2 x 2 x 3 " long spacer on the frame, in between the rubber snubber and the frame so the helper springs pick up the frame sooner than normal and with 3000 or 3500 lbs of tongue weight we always hated the sag.....

We installed air bags, that are run off the air compressor of the pac brake, that we can adjust as we change the load in the trailer... . this has allowed us to keep the truck level for 2 reasons. . the truck handles better level and at night we can see the road... ...

The 04 has 240K miles and pulls 97% of the time the other 2 slightly less... This has worked very well for us... .

I assume that from the message above that you pulling a bumper pull... . but I suggest that you consider the same changes... . we've been more than happy with them... .

 

[Lorenz]

We've put together a bumpstop that replaces the OEM overload bumpstops on the frame. They are removable with the ignition key so you can put them on when loaded and pull them when unloaded. It sounds like the same thing jelag is doing.

I'll post pics this week.

Edavid is running them. Maybe he can chime in?

 

[y-knot]

I'm not a engineer... . but who wants to run on the bump stops??? You are effectively loosing your rear suspension, that sounds simply stupid to me. Why not put on a set of air bags and a compressor and do it right, the ride will be a helll of a lot better.

 

[Bob4x4]

Maybe something like this would fill the bill

#ad




Bob

 

[jeff95]

Bob,

Tell me more about your set-up.

 

[Lorenz]

but who wants to run on the bump stops??? You are effectively loosing your rear suspension, that sounds simply stupid to me.

I don't think your getting the idea. The bumpstop are mounted so the OVERLOADS on a 3500 are engage at ride hight. Thus, increasing your spring rate right off the bat. If you notice the overloads on a 3500 don't engage until your into the travel 2-3". We're deleting the 2-3" and making the overloads support the load at the unlaiden ride hight. As soon as the truck starts to squat the overloads kick in.

Your right, riding on bumpstops that hit the AXLE at ride hight would be "stupid".

 

[TowPro]

I'm not a engineer... . but who wants to run on the bump stops??? You are effectively loosing your rear suspension, that sounds simply stupid to me. Why not put on a set of air bags and a compressor and do it right, the ride will be a helll of a lot better.

I run Polly bump stops on the overload spring perches that are 2 5/8". I leave them on all the time. My truck does not have to drop 3" to hit the overload springs anymore. It rides the same empty, but stays level towing my 5th wheel. In addition, it stops the banging that goes on if you load is just light enough so you are hitting the overload spring onto the spring perch.

Some say air bags limit your travel, but the overload bump stops do not. Not that I need suspension travel on my 2wd. Off road to me is my stone driveway

 

[Bob4x4]

Bob,

Tell me more about your set-up.

The system is designed and sold by Carli suspension,uses 3" King shocks all around. custom rate springs front and rear,the rear are a 2 stage spring to allow the first bit of travel use a lower rate till the second stage comes into play. The airbags allow full 10" of travel,so off roading will not hurt them or limit my travel. It really is nice being able to change the rear to take what ever you have to throw at it. I am sure Carli can explain it much better than I have here.



Bob





'

 

[jeff95]

After looking at the Kore, Lorenz and Carli setups, I have come to the conclusion that they are more than I am looking for. I don't want to spend $2000-$4000 for a suspension upgrade just to tow my trailer. It looks like I might need a 3" lift in the front with air bags in the rear. I am totally lost hear. Someone please chime in with a workable setup.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[NIsaacs]

Don't put on a leveling kit or raise the front unless you want larger tires. The bumper pull trailer hitch weight will lift the front to match the rear ride height. For example nine hundred pounds of bumper hitch weight will remove about three hundred pounds of weight off the front. Like others have said, if you have over loads, use something to close up the space when you are loaded.



PS. If you don't have the factory overloads, I would go with a set of Firestone air bags. You don't even need an expensive air compressor, just set the pressure empty at about 20-30 lbs and the weight of the load will automatically raise the psi in the bags. Do not connect the two air lines together, keep them separate so the air can't flow back and forth.





"NICK"

 

[Bob4x4]

Save your money till you can afford a high quality system,don't scrimp on such a major safety item .



Bob

 

[TowPro]

After looking at the Kore, Lorenz and Carli setups, I have come to the conclusion that they are more than I am looking for. I don't want to spend $2000-$4000 for a suspension upgrade just to tow my trailer. It looks like I might need a 3" lift in the front with air bags in the rear. I am totally lost hear. Someone please chime in with a workable setup.
Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff, if you don't have helper springs, your only answer is air bags. I don't feel shock mounts were designed to be weight carrying points. I have seen mounts broken off by using air shocks. I agree with Nick about running independent lines, this can help with sway some.

 

[RonCar]

I ran some Timbrens for a while on my old 2500 and my Tundra before that. They are great if you don't want to hassle with airbags. As far as leveling kits go, I ran a Revtek 2 inch leveling kit on my 2500 for about 40k and not one issue, just be sure to change shocks, I ran the Bilstien 5100's and liked them alot. gOOd luCk!

 

[Lorenz]

Buildups

Check out Dave's truck along with Adams truck. 2 different Systems, 1 dually, 1 stnd cab SRW, they both tow/carry pretty heavy, and they're both leveled.

It looks like I might need a 3" lift in the front with air bags in the rear.

Two solutions that I advocate are the 3500 Overload Bumps and/or Air Bags. I run standard Firestone air bags on my truck, Bob's running a long travel Air Bag System. Your solution will work.

You don't need to dive in at the $2k mark. There are other solutions that are much cheaper.

 

[BILLVO]

We've put together a bumpstop that replaces the OEM overload bumpstops on the frame. They are removable with the ignition key so you can put them on when loaded and pull them when unloaded. It sounds like the same thing jelag is doing.



I'll post pics this week.



Edavid is running them. Maybe he can chime in?

Are they available for the second gen 2500 4X4 yet?

I see in pictures on your web page that you have thicker bump stops for the overload spring under the main pack. My 02 has the upper and lower overloads and bump stops. I assume the lower bump stop contacts the main pack first then the upper are second to contact the frame mounted stops?



PM me some availability and pricing for my 02.



Thanks



Bill

 

[Lorenz]

Are they available for the second gen 2500 4X4 yet?

Bill

I haven't played with the 2nd gen. Send me some pictures through email.



Sean

 

[MC-1]

Does anyone have any experience with the Air Lift Road Tamer 39000 series. It eliminates the factory rear springs and replaces them with a full rear air suspension. They claim the unloaded ride will be improved as well. Best price I have found is $1800 and they are local.