Rear add-a-leafs

[sparks57]

How much does a rear add-a-leaf lift the back end?



Is there much of an advantage of an add-a-leaf over a lift block?



Could air-bags serve the same purpose?

 

[JSchlachta]

depends on the curve of the add-a-leaf. air bags would give you a more adjustable system that could change with different loads where the add a leafs would be there all the time and may make the ride a little bumpy.

 

[sparks57]

Hmmmm... Interesting. So about an inch or so?



So airbags can provide some rear lift empty? Like between an inch and two inches?

 

[y-knot]

Good grife, if you have the choice go with the air bags. They will get you 2-3 inches of lift, and they actually improve ride quality. The add a leaf, are bone awlfull, the only thin they have going for them is they are cheap. Should have named them, add a as*, cause you will need one.

 

[skobylenski]

Yeah, the add-a-leafs are awful. I have a total of 7 leaves on each side, plus 4 overloads. I don't know the stock number of springs, but all I can say is that this truck might outdo some 3500's for rear end sag when loaded down. The ride, however, is a chiropractor special. I'm not looking forward to driving I90 to 80 to get to school and back at breaks. 1400 miles is a long way in this truck - heck 400 is a long way.



The payload is amazing, though. I've had 2100lbs. of 1 1/2" ledge stone in the back, and it just about leveled it out, didn't even sag below level in the back. One of my pics in the readers rigs shows the height, sort of.



Personally, if funds were there, I'd have airbags faster than you could believe.

 

[Philip]

If you can afford it. Go with the air bags. Get the in cab controls to go with them. It makes it a lot nicer when you can adjust from inside the cab.



A friend of mine has bags on a Ford F150. We dropped a complete 460 with a C6 on the flat bed. It dropped 6". We put 15 lbs of air in the bags and it was level.



These are the best way to increase payload with no ride penalty.

 

[sparks57]

Which manufacturer do you guys recommend for airbags?

 

[phillips5]

I agree go with air bags if the money is there. However if the money is not there. Go with lift blocks and some longer bolts. I have 2 inch lift blocks in my 90 been there for 400000 miles also have a stack of over loads but wish they were air bags. These were an expencive overload kit the heavest I could get from Toledo spring. I think air bags are cheeper.

 

[Midnite]

How do airbags do in cold weather? Anyone have any problems with temps in the 0 to -10 deg. F range?



Mike

 

[RGT]

I run them front and rear on my plow truck, for a couple of years, and have not had any problems,

 

[sparks57]

The only manufacturer of these things I have found was in JC whitney, and it was Firestone... I just hope there airbags don't work as well as some of there tires... .

 

[RGT]

I got mine from a local truck and tire dealer, they were listed as firestone in his book but when he called to order they told them they had been replaced with the AIR RIDE ones that I got, they look the same as what Whitneys sells, cost about the same with no shipping charge, and I gave a local guy some business.....