Leaf-Spring Shackles

[Jandsa]

I am trying to get a smoother ride with my 2500 Silverado diesel truck when towing a 30' 5ver and am considering purchasing leaf spring shackles by Sulastic. There was an article on these shackles in the April Issue of Trailer Life.

Has any of you purchased these shackles? If so, recommend? comments?
Thank you!

[youngone]

rhagfo wrote:

Jandsa wrote:
I am trying to get a smoother ride with my 2500 Silverado diesel truck when towing a 30' 5ver and am considering purchasing leaf spring shackles by Sulastic. There was an article on these shackles in the April Issue of Trailer Life.

Has any of you purchased these shackles? If so, recommend? comments?
Thank you!

Jandsa wrote:
youngone, Did putting in air bags help with the ride when the truck is empty. We installed a Hensley air ride hitch a while ago and that made a big difference when towing. We use the truck a lot after setting up camper and it rides pretty rough. I thought about going with air bags but with a 28ft sitting level the truck barley sags so I don't have a weight problem. Thanks

Well which is it, smoother ride towing or empty or both??

The rubber shackles might help with the empty, ride, but seeing how you invested $2,500 or so on an air ride hitch why are you still working on a smooth tow?

If the Air hitch didn't fix your problems, look at the stuff you should have first.

#1. You state above the 30' or 28' not sure now, sits level when towing, so that is issue #1 solved.

#2. Pin weight,get your pin weight to at least 20 percent, 22 would likely be better. I always try to tow with our fresh water tank full, it is forward of the axles, and adds weight to the pin.

#3. SHOCKS! the 5er will ride much smoother with shocks on both axles, Lippert makes a kit that works great on that Copper Canyon of yours.

I will assume you have replaced the OEM shocks on your Chevy 2500.

I pull a Rear Kitchen Copper Canyon 293FWSLS 32' GVWR is 12,360# we pull at just over 11,000#, and it rides pretty smooth. We don't have bags, have a standard pin box, TV and 5er are very near level, TV just a little high in the back, 5er ever so slightly nose high.

If you want it to ride like a Cadillac, take your Hensley Air Ride hitch, and install in a 2015 or newer RAM 2500 or 3500 with the Air Ride rear springs.

When I'm empty I keep my bags at 10 lbs. It does ride a little better but I will say it's a 2500 and the ride will always be stiffer compared to a half ton. I really had the bags put on for the 5th wheel. I run 40 lbs in my bags when I'm towing the 5th wheel. If I hook up before I add air in the bags my truck will stay level.

[rhagfo]

Jandsa wrote:
I am trying to get a smoother ride with my 2500 Silverado diesel truck when towing a 30' 5ver and am considering purchasing leaf spring shackles by Sulastic. There was an article on these shackles in the April Issue of Trailer Life.

Has any of you purchased these shackles? If so, recommend? comments?
Thank you!

Jandsa wrote:
youngone, Did putting in air bags help with the ride when the truck is empty. We installed a Hensley air ride hitch a while ago and that made a big difference when towing. We use the truck a lot after setting up camper and it rides pretty rough. I thought about going with air bags but with a 28ft sitting level the truck barley sags so I don't have a weight problem. Thanks

Well which is it, smoother ride towing or empty or both??

The rubber shackles might help with the empty, ride, but seeing how you invested $2,500 or so on an air ride hitch why are you still working on a smooth tow?

If the Air hitch didn't fix your problems, look at the stuff you should have first.

#1. You state above the 30' or 28' not sure now, sits level when towing, so that is issue #1 solved.

#2. Pin weight,get your pin weight to at least 20 percent, 22 would likely be better. I always try to tow with our fresh water tank full, it is forward of the axles, and adds weight to the pin.

#3. SHOCKS! the 5er will ride much smoother with shocks on both axles, Lippert makes a kit that works great on that Copper Canyon of yours.

I will assume you have replaced the OEM shocks on your Chevy 2500.

I pull a Rear Kitchen Copper Canyon 293FWSLS 32' GVWR is 12,360# we pull at just over 11,000#, and it rides pretty smooth. We don't have bags, have a standard pin box, TV and 5er are very near level, TV just a little high in the back, 5er ever so slightly nose high.

If you want it to ride like a Cadillac, take your Hensley Air Ride hitch, and install in a 2015 or newer RAM 2500 or 3500 with the Air Ride rear springs.

[Paul_Clancy]

Air bags remove the bottom out on bump stops and Cushion ride while towing. They do little for unloaded ride and if aired above 15 lbs can make the ride harsher.

[Jandsa]

youngone, Did putting in air bags help with the ride when the truck is empty. We installed a Hensley air ride hitch a while ago and that made a big difference when towing. We use the truck a lot after setting up camper and it rides pretty rough. I thought about going with air bags but with a 28ft sitting level the truck barley sags so I don't have a weight problem. Thanks

[theroes]

I went with airlift air bags, it helped a lot.

[mapguy]

rhagfo wrote:

kaiserrw wrote:
-------snip-------

Really not the best solution! Usually the issue with less than a smooth ride is something wrong with the set up of the TV or 5er. The Air pin box will reduce the shock you feel in the TV, but the 5er is still bouncing around.

Mentioned before Bilstein's on the TV, and bags if you need to overcome squat.

Then look at the 5er.
#1. Pin weight, while as low as 15 percent is stated to be OK, you will find 20 percent and greater will smooth the ride well. If FW tank is forward of the axle, run with it full.

#2. Is the 5er level when towing? The closer to level the better. Many was to get there 6" of rail clearance is enough, then still way off flip axles, or add sub-frame.

#3. install shocks on the 5er, this will reduce the multi cycle bounce and smooth the ride.

Now if you still feel you want a smother ride get an air pin box, or Mor-ride pin box,

One should not need an Air Pin box on a 28' 5er.

Agree 100%
Quality shocks added to truck.
Set up trailer to ride frame level.
Add shocks or equalizer cushions to trailer -I added Monroe gas trailer
shocks.
Make sure pin is at least 20% of loaded trailer weight.
Yes it can be a lot of effort to resolve the above things but the value achieved is the best trailer ride possible without a bandaid. A cushioned pin box will help ride quality but don't nust blindly add one as many time they actually complicate getting the trailer setup in a frame level stance.

[rhagfo]

kaiserrw wrote:
Jandsa - It depends on what you mean by "smoother ride"; not to sound ignorant on my part. If your truck is hitting the bump stops/overload stop then timbrens, air bags, etc. would help. If your truck is "doing the porpoise" when going over bumps/concrete highway joints/etc, then your better option may be to look at a hitch and/or pinbox that have integrated shocks/air bag.

In 2003 I pulled a new 28' 5er with Chevy 2500HD one time before installing a TrailAir pinbox that made night/day difference. Also installed truck air springs to level the truck, but the pinbox is what gave the "ride" results.

Just a thought. If you already have this equipment, then ..... never mind!

Really not the best solution! Usually the issue with less than a smooth ride is something wrong with the set up of the TV or 5er. The Air pin box will reduce the shock you feel in the TV, but the 5er is still bouncing around.

Mentioned before Bilstein's on the TV, and bags if you need to overcome squat.

Then look at the 5er.
#1. Pin weight, while as low as 15 percent is stated to be OK, you will find 20 percent and greater will smooth the ride well. If FW tank is forward of the axle, run with it full.

#2. Is the 5er level when towing? The closer to level the better. Many was to get there 6" of rail clearance is enough, then still way off flip axles, or add sub-frame.

#3. install shocks on the 5er, this will reduce the multi cycle bounce and smooth the ride.

Now if you still feel you want a smother ride get an air pin box, or Mor-ride pin box,

One should not need an Air Pin box on a 28' 5er.

[kaiserrw]

Jandsa - It depends on what you mean by "smoother ride"; not to sound ignorant on my part. If your truck is hitting the bump stops/overload stop then timbrens, air bags, etc. would help. If your truck is "doing the porpoise" when going over bumps/concrete highway joints/etc, then your better option may be to look at a hitch and/or pinbox that have integrated shocks/air bag.

In 2003 I pulled a new 28' 5er with Chevy 2500HD one time before installing a TrailAir pinbox that made night/day difference. Also installed truck air springs to level the truck, but the pinbox is what gave the "ride" results.

Just a thought. If you already have this equipment, then ..... never mind!

[RollandB]

I agree with replacing shocks. Noticed a big difference to the good when I did it about 4 years ago on mine

[Veebyes]

I have had the Sulastics on my 06 3500 dually for over 5 years now. No difference loaded with the trailer but there is a noticeable difference unloaded going over things like RR tracks & concrete road joints.

[NHIrish]

allimax wrote:
X2 on the Bilsteins. I have had 3 Silverados and replaced OEM with Bilstein on all of them. That's a good place to start. The OEM shocks are not good.

Without doubt, do the Bilsteins. Additionally, I added Timbren springs to the rear. They pretty much accomplish the same thing as air bigs but are a super easy DIY install and cheaper.

[JIMNLIN]

I've never used them on my trucks but my neighbor lady has them on her 3500 DRW flatbed Ram and a 4500 Ram chassis cab both in commercial service.
We have about 7 miles of county roads out here to get to the highway. I've ridden/driven both trucks empty and loaded before and after she had them installed. Nite and day difference at max axle loads or empty truck.

[Paul_Clancy]

Bags do smooth things and make ride height adjustable.

[youngone]

I have a 2013 GMC 2500. I installed AirLift air bags and when I go down the road with my 34' 5th wheel she rides like a Cadillac!