Rear end sag with load

[Hunter1]

I have a 2003 SRW 3500 and love it except for the fact that the first 2-3-4" when loaded it sags very easily until reaching the blocks and then you can put whatever you want on it.



Anyone have any suggestions on how to solve this? Would 2" kit help this at all and could a 2" lift be put just on the rear?



Thanks for any help



Hunter1

 

[SRadke]

My 2500 has rubber stops. I was under the impression the 3500 SRW's has overload springs that should help this problem. Is this not true?

 

[Prairie Dog]

Yes they do have overloads but the first couple of inches is pretty soft. I think the softness is worth it given the great ride my truck has. I've been watching 5th wheels being pulled by all brands and it doesn't look like the Dodge sags any more under the weight of a heavy trailer than anybody else's truck does.

 

[EB]

If you are concerned about the sag, put a set of air bags on your truck. Cost is $250-$300, air them up when you need them, enjoy the ride when you don't.

 

[SRadke]

I suppose airbags are an option. We had a good discussion about them in the 03 trucks on a thread I started.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=78907



Perhaps this is an option for you?

 

[Hunter1]

Thanks guys for the replies but I don't think air bags are the solution for me.



I have a 27' Travel Trailer with about 800# of hitch weight that has had the axles flipped. To be able to tow it level I need 32" at the hitch.



As it is I have a 10" rise on the hitch which is just 2" too little so I was thinking if I did the 2" lift it would be exact. Is that true or am I overlooking something here?



A 12" lift hitch is not available so that idea is out



The trailer tows really awesome as it is, I just want it exactly level instead of slightly nose down



Thanks again



Hunter1

 

[SRadke]

Are you saying 800 lbs of toung load makes your pickup sag 2-3-4 inches? Perhaps you need taller tires to bring the pickup up a little? Shorter tires on the trailer? Just throwing out the obvious idea here.

 

[wsurf]

Interesting on the hitch height. I have 3500 and the opposite problem. I'm in the process of raising the 5th wheel trailer. I will be adding 1. 5 inch blocks to make it ride level, axle is already flipped to the bottom of the springs. Needless to say I am not happy with a higher CG but I think I will be ok.

 

[ralphr]

rear end sag

I think I read it hear, (maybe do a search), as I understand it,both the 2500's and the 3500's have primary and secondary springs. on the 2500 the primary springs are stiffer than on the 3500's but the 3500's secondary are stiffer than the 2500's.



now that we are all confused, prehaps if you can get some 2500 primary springs it would reduce the "sag"?

 

[Posm]

Hunter1

I am looking forward to un-flipping my goose-neck axles if the truck will settle enough to give me good clearance. You may want the extra clearance with your fiver, but I miss my lower trailer.

 

[SRadke]

No overloads (secondary springs) on the 2500's. I haven't heard of the stiffness diffrence. If this is true perhaps it is worth a try.

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Confused

Hunter1,



I think you might be missing something on the air bags. You mentioned early in this thread that you were concerned about the squat you truck gets because it is soft for the first 2. 5 inches of spring. This is true.



If you add air bags and mount them in the correct location (height), when you air them up, your truck will not squat with a load on. won't that solve your 2" problem?



I put the air bags on my 95 2500. They worked great. When I loaded the truck, I just put in as much air as I wanted to keep it level. It was a life safer on the headlight adjustments too. I would but up to 4,000 lbs in the bed with no change in level and no noticable change in ride.

 

[ray1933]

Air Bags

Bill



Did you put air bags on your 03 ??

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Nope

Not yet. I'm thinking about it. I don't like how the back end squats when I put on my slide-in camper. I tried to adjust the headlights for this and took them all the way down. I still had people flashing their lights at me. It's something I'm considering just to help keep her level.

 

[Shooter]

If you look at your spring pack, you will see that instead of the High Boy blocks used on the previous models that DC is now using spring blanks to raise the body. If you remove one or more of the blanks and install one or more intermediate spring(s) in the main pack you will increase the loaded height without affecting the unloaded height.



JMHO



Why spend hundreds when a spring shop could do it for about a C note

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Interesting

Shooter,



Thanks. I'll check it out. I really hadn't looked at it very closely yet.



I do think most of the sag comes from the softer first couple springs. Once the load drops ~2" she hits the overloads. Then she seems pretty stout. Not much movement after that point. I'll watch closely next time and take some measurements along the way.

 

[Dean Upson]

Bill,



Timbrens could take care of your sagging problem. I use them and the truck rides level towing. Very easy to install and you do not have to drill your frame.



Dean

 

[ray1933]

Rear end sag

I see Timbrens , mentioned. Do they have a web site or where can you buy them other than a high priced RV Dealer??

 

[Dean Upson]

Here's the site for Timbrens: http://www.timbren.com/ and you can get them from: http://www.stuff4trucks.com/. I think you will have to call them for the part (only Ford and Chevy are shown on the site).



Dean

 

[ray1933]

Timbren overloads

Dean, thanks for the info. I will get me a set ordered, the local RV place wants $300. 00 for a set. :--)