Post maiden voyage, deciding on modifications?

My truck is similar to yours but SRW. I have had a Northstar TC-800 and then a TS-1000 on it without any rear suspension modifications and it performed very well. In fact, it rode MUCH better with weight (i.e. not a hard ride at all.)

No offense to those who have them, but have read about some not so great results with air bags, plus they are more complex of an upgrade with all that is associated with it.

Prior to doing my current rear suspension mods (wedges between the lower overload and spring pack; custom lowered spring perch contacts for the upper overloads) I considered Timbrens. Cannot personally comment on that specific item, but if you are looking for just a "little extra" then it might be worth considering.

You have a lot of truck in a dually for a relatively light weight camper, can't imagine spring fatigue will be an issue... perhaps you might be able to reduce PSI in the rear tires to gain a softer ride?

I would first get it weighed loaded for camping and full of fuel, water and whatever else you would carry when camping including passengers. Get weights by axle. Then go to the Goodyear or Michelin Tire Inflation Charts to see what psi is recommended for that weight for your tire size. It will probably be different for the front vs rear tires. I have a 2013 F350 Dually pulling a Jayco Toy Hauler with a approx. 3500lb pin weight. I run 60 in the front and 65 in the rear tires.

Airbags sound like just the ticket for your situation.
They’re extremely simple.
The extra $300 or so for the onboard air compressor to operate them is totally worth it. I didn’t have it on my first few triucks with bags and now I wouldn’t go without.
The bags let you dial in exactly how much “help” you want, on the fly.
And you can deflate them when you’re not carrying your camper and not have a harsher ride from spring blocks or overload springs.
Spring blocks (“Timbrens”) or overload springs are great if your camper is always on your truck.

If your springs are that compressed it might be worth taking to a spring shop, first. I'd also consider a shock upgrade. If you add airbags, you also might need to extend the bump stops to keep the overloads engaged.

For sure, rough roads will still feel different than smooth ones with the higher tire pressure of the heavy load of a TC.

Timbrens or Sumo springs would be my choice. I have Sumo springs on my F350 with upper Stableloads and have been very pleased.

sbryan@vtbryans.com wrote:
Timbrens or Sumo springs would be my choice. I have Sumo springs on my F350 with upper Stableloads and have been very pleased.

X2. Timbrens or Sumos are perfect for your situation, and unlike airbags, require nothing once installed. Price wise, these two have the advantage over airbags as well.

Air bags have the advantage of being highly progressive and easily adjustable, which springs (steel or rubber) are not.

If you ever run the truck without the camper, I'd use airbags, and adjustable shocks like the Rancho 9000. You just can't make a non-adjustable suspension work well with 2000 lbs on it empty and 6000 lbs on it loaded. If you tune the steel and rubber to work well in one condition, it will work poorly in the other.

DownTheAvenue wrote:

sbryan@vtbryans.com wrote:
Timbrens or Sumo springs would be my choice. I have Sumo springs on my F350 with upper Stableloads and have been very pleased.

X2. Timbrens or Sumos are perfect for your situation, and unlike airbags, require nothing once installed. Price wise, these two have the advantage over airbags as well.

^ This. Only because you said it’s not squatting, swaying etc. these are half the cost of airbags or less and they will prevent the bottoming out you’re experiencing without affecting unloaded ride if you set them up short.
Otherwise if you were looking for added capacity I’d say bags or overload springs.

Something must be wrong here...I've a 2004 dually and the Bigfoot barely brings it down to the overloads, much less bottoming out. That's never happened, and this thing is used off-highway.

"Doesn't squat" and "bottoming out" are mutually exclusive.

I really don't think what you think is going on, is going on. This is just a Northstar 950SC (popup) camper with a base weight of <2000lbs, not a Host triple-slide. My Palomino B-1500 is the same size and weight and it doesn't even get my old dually down on the overloads.

More than likely you are not "bottoming out" but rather "bouncing off the overloads." That's what happens with mine without the trailer hitched. You hit a bump and it just SLAPS you right straight in the butt, sending a shock up your spine.

You could add stableloads to engage the overload springs earlier, but that will just make the ride stiffer and more uncomfortable. Same deal with any suspension enhancement. You're just too light.