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Upgrade shocks

d1h
Nomad III
Nomad III

Would upgrading my stock shocks to the ACDelco Gold (Professional) Premium Gas Charged Shocks help with the towing experience of my travel trailer? I'm towing with a 2018 Silverado LTZ Z71 6.2L with the standard tow package. Sometimes I have a really bouncy ride on some of the horrible condition interstates I've traveled.

10 REPLIES 10

StirCrazy
Navigator
Navigator

are they the factory shocks?  if so then ya its time to start looking at something better, but I would skip the ACDelco and do a real upgrade to somthing like Billstiens.  I went from 8 year old shocks to the billstiens on my f350 and it was like a different vehicle, best money I ever spent suspension wise.  

2014 F350 6.7 Platinum
2016 Cougar 330RBK
1991 Slumberqueen WS100

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator

Yeah, better shocks are never really a complete waste of money IMO. Although there are many who would not notice the seat of the pants improvements. 
Depends how observant the driver and occupants are. 
Similar to noticing the condition the OP is likely experiencing is hard not to notice in virtually any heavy duty pickup. Especially solid axle trucks. Or anything towing a trailer with any tongue weight to speak of. 

2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

MORSNOW
Navigator II
Navigator II

You're probably experiencing a porposing effect, I'd throw on a set of Timbren's on the rear.  They are just replacement bump stops that are made to be used as a rubber spring.  

2014 Wolf Creek 850SB
2012 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD 7,220# Truck/10,400# Camper Fully Loaded

I agree, 99% likely itโ€™s porpoising, and most likely only on concrete highways. 
d1h is going to have to provide more info before determining whether something like Timbrens would help or do nothing at all. 
in order for them to help with concrete panel joint โ€œharmonicโ€ type porpoising he would have to have the rear suspension basically sitting hard on the Timbrens. Enough to help counteract the very small undulations. 
But not knowing how much weight heโ€™s carrying vs distributing makes it anyoneโ€™s guess. 
Now if heโ€™s carrying enough weight to produce some significant rear suspension travel over bumps (this doesnโ€™t happen with just pavement joints on an otherwise smooth road) , then absolutely adding something to stiffen up the rear suspension is appropriate. 
JMO and as often on here, weโ€™re shooting in the dark with minimal info provided, trying to help someone remedy an issue. 

2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

I think what you are describing is probably what is going on. Newly paved surfaces are no problem. Patched areas and dips in the road surface is where the front end bounce happens. My truck has no rear end sag with my weight distribution hitch which is shown here. That's why I thought new upgrade from OEM shocks may help with the front end bounce. 

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator

What youโ€™re probably talking about is the bouncing from contraction joints on concrete. 
The repetitive harmonic front end bounce. 
Not much you can do about it. A lot of weight transfer on a wdh will help but is the wrong answer the rest of the time. 
if this isnโ€™t what you mean and the shocks are blown, different story, replace them. If you donโ€™t know the difference, does it bounce when empty?  
But good shocks help in general.  OE shocks are soft. Not a bad purchase regardless.  

2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

bid_time
Nomad II
Nomad II

Seems to me that there is not enough information given to make an informed diagnosis. If the shocks were bad, wouldnโ€™t the ride be bouncy โ€œall the timeโ€ rather then โ€œsometimesโ€? Ratings of truck, size and weight of trailer, type of hitch, setup of hatch could all be likely problems. JMHO

I agree that more info is needed but if the shocks aren't completely gone and driving on nice smooth asphalt, it might not be noticeable but get on Portland cement concrete, if the joints are hamonic with the wheel base, it is often bad even with good shocks.

But really, info regarding the whole rig and how it's set up, it critical to avoid slapping band aides that won't do anything n the truck.

Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

JIMNLIN
Explorer
Explorer

The 6.2 gasser comes in a 1500 truck.

         I went with a Husky centerline WD hitch....Sumo springs....which stopped my truck/trailer pogo stickin'/trailer push type ride.....on a 2016 1500 chevy crew cab 4wd 5.3 6 speed tranny pulling a 10k trailer with 1200 lbs on the trucks rear axle.......OEM factory shocks.

 IMO it won't hurt anything to try the new shocks to cure your ride problem.

"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

We will work on this new 1500 Crew Cab after mounting and balancing of the new tires from 4Wheelonline this week. It's good to hear the Husky centerline hitch is also recommended here.