Air bags/shocks and the anticipated ride.
I have a 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 HD diesel and a 35' 2016 Forest River Rockwood 5th wheel. I've been pulling 5th wheels since 2013 when I bought my new GMC. My ride is pretty good but do experience a lit...
Forum Discussion
I think in order to get the best advice, you need a quick explanation terms that describe automotive suspension.
1. "Shocks" are cylindrical tubes filled with a mix of oil and gasses and serve to dampen (slow down) the bouncing of the springs. Without shocks, your truck would bounce like a diving board with a person on the end of it. Shocks do NOT support weight.
2. "Springs" are the things that carry the weight. They can be a leaf spring type (like your truck has), or a coil spring like a Ram 1500 or 2500 has. They can also be a torsion (twist) type spring.
Airbags are SPRINGS. They do nothing to dampen the springs oscillation. They carry weight. Aftermarket shocks can help some with the up and down motion over bumps as they resist movement of the springs (compression), but the vast majority of load carrying is done by the SPRINGS.
If you are concerned with the amount of suspension droop when not moving, that is a spring issue. If you are concerned with the amount of rear end droop when driving over bumps, or a continuance of the suspension cycling after the bump, that can be helped somewhat by getting a new set of quality shocks.
For additional rear spring rate (stiffer when loaded), there are many aftermarket solutions out there for that. Timbrens (airless airbags), Roadmaster Active Suspension, Airbags, Additional leaf springs can be added, etc.
1. "Shocks" are cylindrical tubes filled with a mix of oil and gasses and serve to dampen (slow down) the bouncing of the springs. Without shocks, your truck would bounce like a diving board with a person on the end of it. Shocks do NOT support weight.
2. "Springs" are the things that carry the weight. They can be a leaf spring type (like your truck has), or a coil spring like a Ram 1500 or 2500 has. They can also be a torsion (twist) type spring.
Airbags are SPRINGS. They do nothing to dampen the springs oscillation. They carry weight. Aftermarket shocks can help some with the up and down motion over bumps as they resist movement of the springs (compression), but the vast majority of load carrying is done by the SPRINGS.
If you are concerned with the amount of suspension droop when not moving, that is a spring issue. If you are concerned with the amount of rear end droop when driving over bumps, or a continuance of the suspension cycling after the bump, that can be helped somewhat by getting a new set of quality shocks.
For additional rear spring rate (stiffer when loaded), there are many aftermarket solutions out there for that. Timbrens (airless airbags), Roadmaster Active Suspension, Airbags, Additional leaf springs can be added, etc.
