Stableloads, What do you think?

kohldad wrote:

. Guess we need to start out with the upper stableloads first eh?

I would. The uppers do a lot more than the lowers.

Kohldad, does your new Ram have upper overloads? The ones I looked at on the dealer lot, the SRW 3500's did not have. Only the dually did.

ticki2 wrote:
I don't think upper stableloads from torklift are available for GM's prier to 2011 .

I had them in my 2007 Chevy dually, but I haven't checked the Torklift site to see if they're available currently.

towpro wrote:
I see you also have a Dodge. it sounds like you switched from Energy Suspension to StableLoads?
did the ES ones finally fail on you? Why did you switch? Would you recommend someone with ES (me) that it was worth switching?
mine get pretty distorted when I am loaded, but my truck fully loaded is like 6300 lbs max (tires limit) and I am running just under 6000 lbs.
your truck will allow you to go way over my numbers.
Dodge 3500 SRW 2wd.

The ES's and SL's were on my 2005 Ford F250 (I even tried a hybrid mix of both). Without going into a long history of my testing various setups, The ES's never failed, but they compressed too much when under load turning a 3" pad into 2". The F250 sits almost level when unloaded compared to the F350 that sits 2" higher in the rear due to a taller axle block. Although I preferred the unloaded ride of the ES's, I had to use my Firestone airbags to take up 1" of sag which then caused more bounce since the overload was not fully engaged. By using the upper and lower SL's, I was able to haul my 4000 lb Arctic Fox with assistance from the bags. Once I added 1000 lbs of weight distributed tongue weight from cargo trailer, I used the bags to get back to unhitched height. With 19.5" wheels, I was typically running 7000-8000 lbs on the rear axle.

My 2015 Ram 5500 is running the stock suspension without any aids and I don't even feel the 8000 lb trailer behind me. Our plan is to go to a 6000 lb mega TC in the future and was this was the reason for replacing the Ford. I pulled the SL's off my Ford before I sold it, so they are avaible to mount on my Ram if I need them in the future. The upper ones will work fine, but the lower ones will not fit the gap so I really should find them a new home.

Ford F250 rear spring pack with camper package:


Ram 5500 rear spring pack:

Sorry I am late to this thread but I have same truck as OP and recommend the upper stableloads. They work great and I am carrying a Lance 1191 without air bags. Install is easy, no drilling required.

Bedlam wrote:

Upper StableLoads will engage your upper overload spring sooner. If you travel smooth roads unloaded, you not feel a ride difference. If you travel roads that require more suspension travel, StableLoads will make a harsher ride (I originally used the Energy Suspension stops for this reason since they were softer).

I see you also have a Dodge. it sounds like you switched from Energy Suspension to StableLoads?
did the ES ones finally fail on you? Why did you switch? Would you recommend someone with ES (me) that it was worth switching?
mine get pretty distorted when I am loaded, but my truck fully loaded is like 6300 lbs max (tires limit) and I am running just under 6000 lbs.
your truck will allow you to go way over my numbers.
Dodge 3500 SRW 2wd.

For those you running OEM or aftermarket stabilizer bars, you will also see this front wheel lift and more frame twist. That's why they make quick releases for the off-roaders. You have to decide what type of terrain you want to cross and get the appropriate camper and truck. Even my short bed Arctic Fox would not be a good choice for Jefe or Whazoo since it sits high and weighs about 2 tons once filled and loaded.

S.L.'s were a good addition to my suspension. But, we need to understand what is in play here. It all has to do with the thickness and flexibility of the spring you are trying to stabilize.
The upper secondary or overload springs are to come into play once the main pack has drooped enough to add the secondaries to the load carrying capacity. Upper S.L.'s just make that happen sooner. However, since the upper leaves are usually thinner, the ride is smoother with a more supple suspension travel.
The lower S.L.'s or equivelent are tied to the much thicker actual overload leaf which has very little give and even less travel. This is why you see a marked improvement in anti-sway with these. The rear axle has almost no suspension travel and no articulation, which allows a front wheel to lift off the ground when off road traveling as the least path of resistance. Notice how Whazoo's lower Stable Loaded rear axle is almost flex-free putting more of the articulation to the front wheels. You can also see the torsioning of the frame with the cab vs. OUTFITTER! overhang which comes into the unyielding rear suspension mix..

So, lower S.L.'s are not cost free in terms of articulation.
My solution was from several angles. One was to add two more upper overload leaves to the factory one leaf.

I needed so more lift, so I added an extra 3" lift, add-a-leaf just above the bottom over load spring: (and some new longer U bolts)

Of course, the S.L. with it's 1/2 inch unloaded clearance:

So, now with 8 leaves the lower overload is just about useless as the suspension would never depress enough to even engage the lower. I'm thinking I should just cut it down to about 8 inches long and use it as a spacer, which is all it's good for now.
So, there can be a little more to the Stable Load upgrade than meets the eye.
jefe

Look at this thread for drilling ideas:

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28146948.cfm

Anyone try drilling for these things? Doesn't look easy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt76V8VVqtM

SlideInDad wrote:
Couple questions, I assume the lowers with the disconnect are designed to not effect unloaded travel, do the uppers effect the rear suspension when unloaded?

I currently have Supersprings for the past 7 years and though they work like a charm when carrying the camper they've made the ride very rough when driving unloaded. I know there's two settings on them and I chose the setting where the roller is always engaged since the other setting was noisy as hell with the constant engagement of the roller on the springs. At this point, after 7 New England winters, all of that is corroded so only what to get the Supersprings off is to cut them off which I'm ready to do. I have air bags as well but would like to engage the overloads sooner so I'm not 100% on the bags with my heavy camper. Should I just get lowers?

Upper StableLoads will engage your upper overload spring sooner. If you travel smooth roads unloaded, you not feel a ride difference. If you travel roads that require more suspension travel, StableLoads will make a harsher ride (I originally used the Energy Suspension stops for this reason since they were softer).