Forum Discussion

Blanco1's avatar
Blanco1
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015

Rear end spring capacities under your camper & towing?

I was talking to one shop & they told me they think I should add a couple leafs to my rear axles current springs. ( FYI This was not in any way a truck or suspension shop, but rather a hot rod type restoration sorta place )

& then going to a big truck suspension shop & they said it might be fine the way it sits or maybe not, & what I should do is is load it all up at the heaviest I plan to go ( That would be with my Pre-Runner Bronco on the open car trailer ) & then go get it all weighed & then return to them with the numbers.

This shop don't seem to care if they get my Biz or not so I'm thinking I can trust them.

They are telling me if they add a couple leafs to each side they will charge me around $1,000.00

Of course these pictures are without the camper on it as it sit right now, The camper is going back on soon.



Truck Campers

10 Replies

  • Oldtymeflyr's avatar
    Oldtymeflyr
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2015
    I agree with the spring shop. Put the camper on and hook up the trailer. Go for a ride with the minimum about of air in the airbags and see how it is.

    We used to have a 4000# Lance on a GMC CC Dually 4x4 with stock suspension and pulled an 8000# Sea Ray with no additional springs or airbags. It was a tough stable truck and worked very well but rode like a lumber truck.

    After the first ride if its sagging in the back add air to the airbags until the truck is just about to come off the overload springs. You want the truck on the overloads for side to side stability. Take another ride, if its level and stable side to side you are good to go. If you have a lot of sway then its on to the heaviest sway bar you can get.

    Airbags have their place and can work very well, if properly used.

    Good luck.

    Rick
  • Blanco1's avatar
    Blanco1
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2015
    Funny you mention the Stable loads, I actually already have a set of the lower Stable loads sitting in a box at my house.
    Just been having trouble finding shop to help me with them.

    But I'm VERY excited to try them out & hope this makes a good difference.

    I've not pulled the trailer yet, Only my Boat. ( Total weight about 1,800 lbs ) I love how the lower Stable loads seem to be an easy set into & out of mode.
  • billtex's avatar
    billtex
    Explorer II
    Jun 08, 2015
    You already have top and bottom overloads. I would not add any leafs. Get the stable loads...or find some way to engage the overloads sooner.
    Keep the airbags for side2side.
  • Fastbrit's avatar
    Fastbrit
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2015
    towpro wrote:
    wcjeep wrote:



    Definitely check out Stableloads. $100 - $400 depending on which version you opt to purchase. Airbags would be the last option. Airbags can unload the suspension. The Airbags may try to carry the load instead of the suspension.


    he might already have air bags. there is something showing on first and 2nd photo behind the tire that might be an air bag. I had a 98 and I don't recall seeing that.


    Yes, from the 2 first pictures he already have the bags.
    On my Dodge 97, I only have timbrens
  • tad94564's avatar
    tad94564
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2015
    That appears to be the heavy duty rear suspension.

    Your options are:

    1) stable loads
    2) replace/supplement the overload spring set with more springs.

    At least get the full setup weighed, you'd be suprised on just how heavy the whole thing can be.
  • towpro's avatar
    towpro
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2015
    wcjeep wrote:



    Definitely check out Stableloads. $100 - $400 depending on which version you opt to purchase. Airbags would be the last option. Airbags can unload the suspension. The Airbags may try to carry the load instead of the suspension.


    he might already have air bags. there is something showing on first and 2nd photo behind the tire that might be an air bag. I had a 98 and I don't recall seeing that.
  • wcjeep's avatar
    wcjeep
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2015
    towpro wrote:
    What does your manual show the max loads are for your truck? I can't amagen you don't already have enough spring, the only thing is the truck must drop a couple inches for the top springs to start working.
    But upper stable loads (torklift) will fix that.




    Definitely check out Stableloads. $100 - $400 depending on which version you opt to purchase. Airbags would be the last option. Airbags can unload the suspension. The Airbags may try to carry the load instead of the suspension.
  • towpro's avatar
    towpro
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2015
    What does your manual show the max loads are for your truck? I can't amagen you don't already have enough spring, the only thing is the truck must drop a couple inches for the top springs to start working.
    But upper stable loads (torklift) will fix that.

  • twodownzero's avatar
    twodownzero
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2015
    I wouldn't add leaves; I'd replace both springs totally once you weigh the rig fully loaded. The reason the spring shop didn't want to be aggressive about your business is that without the weight from that ticket, they're unlikely to be able to build something that will be a good it and make you happy about it.
  • Artum_Snowbird's avatar
    Artum_Snowbird
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2015
    Everything just depends on how the truck sits onto it's springs when you are fully loaded. Airbags only level the truck, but if the springs are bent flat, it is too much for the springs. If they are not.. then are you within your tires and overall combined weight capacities?

    Your towed vehicle will add a lot of weight to the rear end of the truck, and in 1997 even dual rear wheel pickups were not as highly rated as now. How big is the Lance, and what kind of hitching apparatus are you using?

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