overload shocks or helper springs??

If it were me, I'd take the truck and TT to a scale and weigh it all up. Find out what your actual payload capacity and tongue weight is. I think it's better to know your weights and capacities before guessing at adding springs or anything else. What if it turned out you are over on payload capacity? (It's possible you are over to some degree, esp. if the 6500 lbs is dry wt.) Also, knowing your actual tongue wt. will allow you to confirm if the spring bars are correctly sized. Too small may mean you won't be able to transfer weight between the 3 axle sets properly. Could that be one reason the rear of the truck is a bit low?

I added Bilstein HD on our current and last truck. They are impressive and a major improvement on handling.

op says wrote:
But I don't see where the timbrens will do anything about lifting the truck.

Lifting the truck ??
IMO a better term may be taking the sag out of the rear of a truck when weight is added or fully loaded. Airbags/Timbrens/Supersprings/add a leaf to the spring pack/etc will keep the rear suspension from sagging to much.

You want a stock ride so you don't need any product that lifts the suspension when the trailer isn't hooked up or the truck is loaded.

Are your bars set up right as others have mentioned ??

I'm a rookie here and just picked up my first TT This week. I have the 2012 ram 1500 4X4. with the WDH farther back than the receiver, the truck really sagged. Then they used the electric jack on TT to raise TT and truck higher than normal to set the bars on the WDH. After they raised the jack, the truck sat like stock. No sag at all and pulled great I would think as long as your setup doesn't go over the recommended weight for your truck, you'll be ok. They told me I didn't need a sway bar with my rig but I'm going to get one just for peace of mind.
Good luck and enjoy your new rig.

Firestone Airbags are a good option too

On my old 97 F150 I added these to it back in 2001 and they made a huge difference in hauling heavy stuff in the bed and towing my TT...



They were Hellwig overload springs and didn't raise the ride height like an 'add a leaf' will, but really helped with the 'sag' when loading heavy in the bed..

When dropping my #650 tongue weight trailer, it would only drop a couple of inches, so when I set the WD hitch, it didn't have to also compensate for another 2 inches of drop the truck would have had without the overloads...

Just my experience with them... LOVED THEM for the 13 years I owned the truck... :)

Mitch

JIMNLIN wrote:
Forget the shocks with a coil spring. I wouldn't recommend them for a truck. Shock mounts were not designed to carry weigh.

There are much better aftermarket load carrying products out here made for carrying a load than a shock.

I would put new HD shocks on the truck tho ... without the coil springs around them. And just one type rear spring helpers. You sure won't need to types.

Okay, I'm just re-reading everybodys comments on this. No coil springs on the shocks, got it. I have a mechanic telling my this is the best solution ... I never felt good about it ... so I did this forum. So, I've learned I should do HD shocks, maybe monomax, And add a spring leaf or Timbrens. But I don't see where the timbrens will do anything about lifting the truck. I think the idea of lifting the truck is not what I want anyways. It's a two wheel drive, not four wheel drive, so it naturally sits lower, but its a normal lower, if that makes sense. See, this is the mechanic telling me to lift the rear end of the truck so the trailer won't push it down to far, but my truck is rated for the trailer I'll be towing, whether it's 2whl or 4whl is rated and equipped for towing this trailer, from everything I can find on that subject, including the truck dealership. So I think I'm left with HD shocks, either an extra leaf or helper springs or timbrens ... and maybe finding a different mechanic or at least a good suspension shop. Am I on the right track now??
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/load-support-helper-springs?gclid=CKn_37rYnb0CFYeUfgoduJUAdw

Forget the shocks with a coil spring. I wouldn't recommend them for a truck. Shock mounts were not designed to carry weigh.

There are much better aftermarket load carrying products out here made for carrying a load than a shock.

I would put new HD shocks on the truck tho ... without the coil springs around them. And just one type rear spring helpers. You sure won't need to types.

When preparing my van for towing I took it to a spring shop. For about $150 they installed new shackles, and added a leaf to the spring pack. It made a huge difference in ride height and stiffness. I have done the same to several vehicles and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

TerryandKim wrote:
Hello, 1999 GMC 1500 Sierra 8400lb towing capacity. Towing 2010 Jayflight 6500lbs. The truck is a 2wh drive so sits a bit low, currently stock shocks on it. I'd like to give just a smidge of lift and get a little more stability for the truck. So new shocks, yes, but should I get an overload shocks with coil springs on them or go for the helper springs?? I know it's a pretty general question, hoping someone has some experience that can point me in the right direction. I'm a newbie for towing a trailer. Thanks.

Okay, Thanks everyone! I do already have a weight distributing hitch that will be installed when I pick up the trailer next month. I'm going to replace the stock shocks with HD shocks that have coil springs (monomax?)and get some timbrens. What a great forum, Terry

.

With NO trailer connected, load up the pickup's rear - as if going on a normal camping trip. Does pickup rear have too much sag? If yes, then simply install Timbren SES units - under the pickup's rear suspension. If wondering, Timbren SES units are rubber blocks that don't contain air (no worry about air leaks). And, they can be adjusted using shims. Simply install them and leave them.

If wondering, I had Timbren SES units within my previous TV (which had Leaf springs) and loved them. I also have Timbren SES units under my current TV (that uses coil springs) and love them as well. My future TV will also have Timbrens SES units. That's how much I love their product.

Now.... Connect Trailer to "averaged" loaded TV. Does rear of TV go down too much? If yes, then install WDS (Weight Distribution System) with properly sized bars on the Trailer's tongue. And, ensure its WDS bars are properly sized as well. WDS is to remove TV's rear sag from connected Trailer's tongue weight.

And yes, a Tow Vehicle can have both Timbren SES units (for TV's rear cargo weight) and WDS (for Trailer's tongue weight) as well. If properly adjusted, both work great together..


Add-A-Leaf raises rear of vehicle 1-2". When this happens, headlight aim is off and steering / wheel alignment is off as well. Besides this, add-a-leaf is a steel solution. Steel creates upward rebound effect (aka: Road Hop) and to eliminate this side effect, HD shocks must be installed. In the end, one pays more for final add-a-leaf solution. If wondering, one of my previous TV's had +1 leaf installed. Based on its Lessons Learned, I'd never do that solution again.

If one feels their TV's rear suspension needs upgrading (because of factory's soft rear suspension), do investigate Timbren SES units and/or air bags - which are rubber based. Rubber means none to little road hop side effect as well.

Shocks are made to reduce "ease" of up/down movement. They don't provide lift. Only install HD shocks (like HD Blinstien) if one's TV has more than 3 bounce. To view 3 bounce test, surf U-Tube clips.

If wanting more lift or reduce "depth" from weight, do investigate Timbren SES units and/or Air Bags. To reduce rear sag when trailer is connected, install properly sized properly adjusted Weight Distribution System.

Hope this helps.