Forum Discussion

FireGuard's avatar
FireGuard
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2014

Will Stable Loads help my set up?

I have air bags and on board compressor as well as the Energy Suspension extended bump stops for my 981. The bump stops engage sooner but seem pretty soft so I'm not sure if they're helping much. When I inflate the airbags to level the truck where I want it, it rocks too much.
I ordered the Helwig Big Wig sway bar today and was wondering if also adding the Stable Loads would help much. They seem like a good design and would make a solid engagement with the overload springs.
If anyone is using any of these mods, what's your opinion and experience.
After looking at the Stable Load website, it looks the the uppers would replace my Energy Susp stops. Are these solid and don't compress because the Energy stops have cut outs and compress quite a bit.
Also, how well do the bottom stops work?

17 Replies

  • Air bags are great as they are adjustable...and that is what you need to do.
    Sounds like too much psi.
    With air bags lesss=more!
    Start with enough psi so you are just on the overloads and level side2side.
    Too much psi=rocking.

    Our last TC we ran 20/45
    Our new EC we are running 10/15

    Bill
  • FireGuard wrote:
    Not towing trailer just the camper.
    It's the left/right motion when I have too much air in the bags which keeps the overloads from engaging enough. With only 20 lbs or so in the bags, the truck sits lower than I like.
    I think if I get the overloads to engage sooner it will cure both issues.

    While I don't have your dodge, I have an F350. I started out with just Helwig, Stable loads and Rancho RS 9000 shocks. The truck did very well, and as the truck weighed empty 7800, I am typically around 10,500 loaded with a family if 6 and all our gear. I did not add the air bags till I got my super hitch for towing a small boat or an ATV trailer with two Honda TRX500's. I inky inflate the air bags till the overload springs Are just engaging the stable loads. It means the truck still sits a bit tail down, but I think that is more because I installed a 2.5" leveling kit to the truck, so it sits level unloaded....
    I am not completely familiar with Dodges overload configuration, but with Fords separate overload springs and pads, the Stable loads are an absolute win for me.
    Garry in Kodiak, Ak
  • I`m not a fan of air bags , if your leafs in combination wont support the load , adding air to lift just adds rocking, if you add air just to the point of the bumpstops still being engaged , with or without longer bumpstops its still going to rock , maybe less
    If your truck is the one in your profile 03 Dodge DRW the air bags are in board of the leafs and are going to make the air bags from what Ive heard a little less eftctive
    I had a 03 Dodge 4x4 DRW W/ a 10` Okanagan that weighed 4500 lbs loaded , I put supersprings on it ,loaded it didnt rock at all,http://www.generalspringkc.com/SuperSprings_s/2076.htm road great , unloaded it road a little harsher than stock .
    I have a Dodge 2500 I just ripped the air bags off, because it rocked even with the overload bumps in full contact , couldnt put more than 10lbs in and it rocked , going to add leafs
    The supersprings go on top of the factory overloads , and the bumpstops wont ever make contact again
    Your air bags might still give you some ability to adjust a load thats heavier on one side than the other
  • Stable loads are certainly an inexpensive solution and everything I have read by users of them has been very positive. The quick disconnect ones go on the bottom overload springs which are the more sturdy overload springs. Torklift does not recommend combining the upper stable load bumpers with the lower quick disconnect stable loads, but doesn't say it can't be done.

    I would look very closely at their site and verify which version of the quick disconnect that they support for the model year of your Dodge. There are two versions of the quick disconnect, one version requires drilling of the overload spring for installation. I had to do that for my 1999 F250. More recent models tend to have the overload spring already drilled, but Dodge may be an exception so check their site carefully.

    Jim
  • If you are talking about replacing the bump stops, they are thicker. I don't have the comparison to try out.
  • Not towing trailer just the camper.
    It's the left/right motion when I have too much air in the bags which keeps the overloads from engaging enough. With only 20 lbs or so in the bags, the truck sits lower than I like.
    I think if I get the overloads to engage sooner it will cure both issues.
  • Is it rocking front to back of tow vehicle or the trailer rocks. If trailer the load is in wrong position as it should be 60% in front of the trailer axle(s) center when level. Rocking tow vehicle may need front suspension stiffened or just more air in front tires due to total weight on front end being over design specifications.