Overload Addition

[JWhitcomb]

I am looking for some pros and cons about this idea. I carry a heavy slide in and level the truck with air bags. Doing this keeps the overloads from contacting the stops. What I am thinking of doing is making some caps for the ends of the overloads which will make contact with the stops and put some of the load back on the springs. The caps would be ealily removed if required. Any comments?

 

[Dieselnerd]

Can't you just let some air out of the bags until part of the load is on the overload springs? I would think the truck would still be level. My overloads go down quite a bit with my slide in camper mounted but the truck still rides level.

 

[JWhitcomb]

Nope, unless I keep the bags up near max the truck is down in the butt and at night people really don't like my lights. I learned my lesson when a trucker flashed the brightest light I have ever seen (it was aimed back toward me) when I came up on him. Not sure but I think it could have been seen from space. This is a big camper and I most always have a boat attached also.

 

[Dkevdog]

Maybe I'm not reading this right, but what's wrong with using the air bags to do the job?? Why not just leave well enough alone??



Kev

 

[JWhitcomb]

In order to level the rig I have to carry 80 pounds in the bags certain bumps in the road can cause a very sharp jolt. Trying to even things out a bit.

 

[Crazy Horse]

JWhitcomb, I know how you feel that's one of the things I didn't like about the airbags. Here is an inexpensive alternative. This photo was taken with a Lance 1161, 11'11" camper in the bed of a Dodge 3500. The camper's weight is 4200 lbs with options.

 

[JWhitcomb]

Crazy Horse, so from the looks of it you added three??? leafs. I have a 1121 and am surprised your 1161 seems to weigh a bit less. It is not that I don't really like the air bags, I just don't like to keep them pumped to max. Funny thing is when they are at max my wife comments that it rides better. Then we hit one of those bumps I was talking about and it bottoms out. Without removing the overloads there really is not much travel room with out bottoming out. My next move is to add Rancho 9000 shocks, and I have decided to go ahead with the caps I talked about. Simple to make, install, and remove. Going to make the first set out of alum. just to check it out.

 

[roadranger]

Air Bags con't.

I've got a 4x4 carrying an 810 slide in and towing a trailer... and originally had bags mounted OVER the factory helper springs.



Took the bags off for the following reasons;

1. not enough travel

2. high air pressure to keep from bottoming on bag frame gave hard ride

3. rear of truck rode higher than front, overloading the front axle

4. truck/camper seemed 'tippier' perched up on the airbags



Now the truck/camper sits down on the helpers with the truck riding level front to rear. Handles better with less 'tipping', and took some weight off the front axle. I did re-align the headlights once the truck was riding level.



Definitely get the Rancho 9000 shocks- it's the shocks that prevent a lot of the sway.



Your idea of putting caps on the springs is a good idea. But the airbags themselves mounted above the helpers will still restrict travel. I think your spring caps will work good to keep the truck level without having the airbags mounted.

 

[roadranger]

Originally posted by JWhitcomb

Crazy Horse, so from the looks of it you added three??? leafs.

Looks like Crazy Horse had the helper springs turned up on the ends to hit the pad sooner.

 

[Crazy Horse]

There are 4 leafs in the photo. They completely replace the factory set. When the truck is empty there is the same free space between the frame tab and the springs as the factory spring set.

 

[tarussell]

Four overload springs

Crazy Horse, Do your four overload springs ever kick out ( side to side ) with out any spring clamps on them? I want to add additional overloads to my truck since it is a 2002 and has one thick overload instead of two thinner ones like older Rams had. I have some heavy duty springs that I want to use but no provision for spring clamps. I am just wondering if your extra springs give any trouble. Thanks, Thomas.

 

[pcarlson]

I have the same springs Crazy Horse uses!!! He recommended them to me so I had the shop make mine for me. I ended up taking the bottom leaf out (not weight carrying just a spacer) as it caused the overloads to hit on bumps when empty. Now they don't hit under normal driving. Some potholes they will hit.



I had mine arched alittle higher than stock so they come into play sooner. With my camper, Bigfoot 25C8. 11, loaded weight is about 2800 lbs and I sit level. The trucks main springs are just begining to touch the rubber of the factory main spring. Once the camper is loaded it squats between 1-2 inches. Stability seems improved and normal unloaded ride is unaffected. Plus it cost alot less than airbags.



Crazy Horse can attest to the fact that airbags change your ride even when empty as you have to keep air in them all the time and it makes the rear end ride rough even when empty.



Also my springs don't kick out. The two factory u-bolts do a good job holding them in place.

 

[ARARAR]

airbags and overloads???

Do I understand that some of you have airbags along with your over load leaf springs? I did the install of my airbags and I had to remove the overloads in order to get the proper clearance for the airbags. You shouldn't need overloads if you are going to use air bags. My air bags are rated @5k lbs ea. that's a total of 10k lbs @ 1 psi per 50lbs of weight for each bag. If your using airbags and overloads and aren't getting the results you want it may be because the air bags are already too compressed because of improper clearance to achieve the results or ride you desire. When I am not towing I only keep 5psi in each bag and the only time I notice a rough ride is when I go over them speed bumps at the mall. I never use more than 20psi for any reason.

 

[JWhitcomb]

Arar, yup that is the way I and a few others I know use them. Very limited travel but what happens if one fails with 5K in the bed and no overloads for backup. Not sure I want to find out far from home.