Hijackers and Weight distribution hitches

[robotworks]

Hi,
I have installed a set of Gabriel Hijackers on my 98 Yukon and set them up for 150 PSI. I did this when I was using a normal tongue hitch system. I have since gone to a weight distribution hitch (8000 lbs) and read that when setting it up, you should decrease the air in the shocks to the minimum (25 psi). I didn't. I am towing an approximately 5000 lb trailer.
Truck rides level, handles great (the reason for going to weight distribution), no sway, no issues as far as I know. Just need to hear from the experts here what I am violating running 150 PSI shocks with a WD hitch system.
Thanks,
tim in san jose

[robotworks]

BenK wrote:
Watch them...blew mine out on my 1970 FJ40 while up in the Idaho Panhandle

What normally was a 3-4 hour trek back to pavement turned into a +3 day ordeal of constantly stuffing logs between the rear axle tube and frame as they came off or pulverized to sawdust. Held in there with bailing wire (why my 4x4 tool box has tons of stuff).

In my 20's and still in college working three part time jobs +odd jobs...so thought I knew EVERYTHING. Dick Cepek told me: "kid, they will blow out out there while 4x4'ing"...put in a proper lift kit (which back then, were not very good)...just about everything Dick warned me...became true...miss that guy a lot

Thanks for the advice. This Yukon never sees 4WD territory. The only time I have used it was in an early November snowstorm up in Yosemite. And yes, in our 20's, we knew everything.

[BenK]

Watch them...blew mine out on my 1970 FJ40 while up in the Idaho Panhandle

What normally was a 3-4 hour trek back to pavement turned into a +3 day ordeal of constantly stuffing logs between the rear axle tube and frame as they came off or pulverized to sawdust. Held in there with bailing wire (why my 4x4 tool box has tons of stuff).

In my 20's and still in college working three part time jobs +odd jobs...so thought I knew EVERYTHING. Dick Cepek told me: "kid, they will blow out out there while 4x4'ing"...put in a proper lift kit (which back then, were not very good)...just about everything Dick warned me...became true...miss that guy a lot

[RinconVTR]

You set up the WDH with 150psi in the bags? Seems odd. That much pressure in the bags would not typically result in rear end sag that the WDH uses to tranfer weight back to the front end.

No rear end drop before the WDH is applied, the result is little to no weight transfer.

But if you're comfortable with it on the road...that's really all that matters in this case.

[robotworks]

Hannibal wrote:
Can't argue with success! Which hitch did you get?

Curt 800 Tw Round Bar Wd. I wasn't comfortable with the 600lb one. Best $275.00 I spent so far.

[robotworks]

Lynnmor wrote:
Are the shock mounts made to carry the weight and loads of the vehicle plus the weight added from the trailer?

Good question.

Yukon was designed for max 5500 lbs towing (tongue hitch). The Shadow Cruiser weighs in at 4340 dry weight. The tongue weight is 560. So we were right at the edge with a tongue hitch setup. I put the Hijackers in not to increase the weight capabilities but to help even out the back front ride height. And it did to a point. The steering was still a little squirmy. That is why I invested in the WDH. It handles extremely well now, the height difference between unhitched and hitched is less than 1/2 inch both front and back center line of the wheel wells. i was just wondering if I was violating something in keeping the pressre at 150PSI in the Hijackers with the WDH. The max tongue weight with WDH is 825 so I am well below that, max trailer weight is 5500 lbs so as long as I keep the GF from going overboard on luggage, we should be good with that too.
thanks,
t

[Lynnmor]

Are the shock mounts made to carry the weight and loads of the vehicle plus the weight added from the trailer?

[drsteve]

If it works, go with it. I used to tow with a 3/4 ton GMC conversion van (heavy) that had air shocks when I bought it. It was OK, but always seemed a little bouncy. I changed to a heavy duty coil over shock, and it was much better. I do think the air shocks prevented the WD from transferring as much weight as it normally would.

[Hannibal]

Can't argue with success! Which hitch did you get?