Forum Discussion
jefe_4x4
Sep 11, 2013Explorer
Monica and Rick,
Welcome to the forum. For the most part, we are a friendly, helpful band. in retrospect, I see you joined two years ago so you already know this. The usual protocol is to run whatcha brung and see what happens, taking a weekend away from hazards like traffic and people to feel out the new digs. Nothing like personal experience to trend you in a good direction. What would be 'safe' or 'adequate' for me may not apply to you. Your driving style will change, no doubt. Also, your tolerance to 'small' will be tested. We are used to camping in a tiny box, and it is our refuge from the woes of the world. These are my views on suspension:
1. Air bags have a lot of 'recoil' that you must calibrate (with pressure) and get used to.
2. Big, dumb old leaf springs are tried and true. We have two sets of one-ton secondaries (aka: overloads) on the rear axle and Stable Loads to make them engage at a lower loading weight. No recoil. It is about right for our 1745 pound wet camper.
3. Anti-sway bars, front and rear are a must for highway driving.
Another thing is your tire rating. Even on a dualie, you want E rated tires all around with at least a 3500 pound load rating. Tires are usually the weakest link in the suspension/drivetrain chain.
regards, as always, jefe
Welcome to the forum. For the most part, we are a friendly, helpful band. in retrospect, I see you joined two years ago so you already know this. The usual protocol is to run whatcha brung and see what happens, taking a weekend away from hazards like traffic and people to feel out the new digs. Nothing like personal experience to trend you in a good direction. What would be 'safe' or 'adequate' for me may not apply to you. Your driving style will change, no doubt. Also, your tolerance to 'small' will be tested. We are used to camping in a tiny box, and it is our refuge from the woes of the world. These are my views on suspension:
1. Air bags have a lot of 'recoil' that you must calibrate (with pressure) and get used to.
2. Big, dumb old leaf springs are tried and true. We have two sets of one-ton secondaries (aka: overloads) on the rear axle and Stable Loads to make them engage at a lower loading weight. No recoil. It is about right for our 1745 pound wet camper.
3. Anti-sway bars, front and rear are a must for highway driving.
Another thing is your tire rating. Even on a dualie, you want E rated tires all around with at least a 3500 pound load rating. Tires are usually the weakest link in the suspension/drivetrain chain.
regards, as always, jefe
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