2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Progressive rate coil springs with a truck camper

[JMcCoy]

Has anyone used +3" progressive rate coil springs with a truck camper? Since I am going to be taking my front end apart anyways, I was considering removing my 2" front spacer and adding a Diesel Off Road 3" progressive spring. I really don't care one way or the other about the extra one inch of lift. I am just wondering if the progressive springs will help or hurt my highway ride when loaded with a slide in truck camper. I don't want to add any sway. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[Regcabguy]

I think the overall spring rate is the factor.
I had some Thuren single rate springs installed and even with his custom valved King 2.5's the truck experienced excessive sway and constant steering correction.
I scored some Kore VR coils for cheap and have had them on the truck for three yrs now. They are a very stiff coil on an unladen truck but work perfectly with my popup weight of 2000#.
The leverage and higher center of gravity the camper exerts over the truck is a huge issue. 2000# in the bed doesn't doing much but convert that to a mass up higher and wider and it's a factor.
To me the softer initial rate of a progressive coil would lead to a handling issue with a cabover.
I had Kore's single rate coils on my 2nd gen with the same Northstar and once again they worked well.
I see you've upgraded your front axle and have the Dana 80 in the back. I had a heck of a time stopping my '98.

Also,my friend installed a Hellwig Big Wig 1 5/8" swaybar to his CTD with a 9' cabover. It cut his sway down considerably.
The stock Hellwig on mine helped a bunch too.

 

[JMcCoy]

Thank you for the reply. I know this is probably a difficult question to answer, since one was a 2nd gen and the other is a 3rd. Did you think you prefered the Kore variable rate spings or the single rate springs?

 

[Regcabguy]

Thank you for the reply. I know this is probably a difficult question to answer, since one was a 2nd gen and the other is a 3rd. Did you think you prefered the Kore variable rate spings or the single rate springs?

I don't think it's a factor. The Kore's are just stiff. I had their singles on my 2nd gen and VR's on my '07.
Carli's and Thuren's are softer than stock.
You can find used Kore's in the forum classifieds,especially Cummins Forum and DTX forum as guys with unladen trucks are going to a softer rate 3" spring. Kore can sell you a leveling kit very reasonable,but they kill you on the shipping usually.
If you join either site you can just post a wanted thread.
Don Thuren was kind enough to revalve the King 2.5's I have in order to help his springs work but the handling was still too soft.
The Kore springs are interchangable from '98- 3rd gen.

http://www.koreraceshop.com/collect...e-catalog/products/hp-leveling-kit-diesel-fox
You can get by with his swaybar spacer for awhile but longer swaybar links are better,especially if you are using a steering box brace.