Tow truck

[Boomer Express]

As anyone used coil springs to raise rear of truck for towing heavy load?

[Mr_D]

If you need add'l springs then maybe the truck is overloaded. Adding springs doesn't change the weight rating of the vehicle, it just sits level. (more level, more leveler???)

[scenic route]

It's been awhile, but I used air assist rear shocks on a 1/2 ton PU to handle a heavy tongue weight instead of installing coil helper springs. When not towing I'd decrease the psi in the shocks...this way the truck didn't ride like a buckboard. A little easier install and you can adjust the ride height of the truck as well. Bob

[TXiceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D If you need add'l springs then maybe the truck is overloaded. Adding springs doesn't change the weight rating of the vehicle, it just sits level. (more level, more leveler???)

X 2

J
Ken

[Ray,IN]

I suspect he has a 3/4T pickup towing his new 2011, 33' Excel, as a 1T SRW should have the proper ratings. The guys from the Excel forum should be here shortly with better information.
In any case, I would much prefer air bags instead of coil springs.They allow one the capability to "air-down" the bags for an OEM ride when driving empty.

[JIMNLIN]

I've used coil spring overloads that were popular years back. IMO a poor choice for helping with a heavy load. A coil spring overload system has lots of compression and rebound which works the trucks shock even more.
I use Supersprings (leaf spring overload) to help level the rear of my 1500/2500 and 3500 DRW trucks. Some folks even drop by their local truck spring shop and have additional leafs in the main spring pack added.

As was suggested adjustable Ride Rite and Firestone air bags are another great aftermarket option to help with more weight or leveling issues.

Timbrens are also popular with serious truckers and keeping the truck level.

Just make sure your present wheels and tires are up to the capacity needed.

[RustyJC]

As was mentioned earlier, no aftermarket add-ons are going to increase the vehicle's GVWR or rear GAWR.

Rusty

[173dave]

The air bags work good, but they have to fit properly. It is best to buy them installed so if they don't fit, they will have to fix them or take them back. I have a set of them in my shop that did not fit well on my E 450 class c.

[gcsprayjr]

Air springs and bags give you adjustability, however you have air lines a compressor, and controller to mount and maintain. I have a set of Air Lift's on an 08 Crown Victoria that we use as a travel car, when we have a cooler and luggage in the trunk. Super springs are a great product for leaf spring vehicles when needing to level out the load of a heavy trailer or camper. They are progressive, meaning that when the truck is unloaded the springs are not bearing much if any weight, and as you load the vehicle and the springs flatten out and become more stiff in the process. As an earlier poster mentioned, adding a leaf or two in the original spring stack is a good solution for many people. Back in the 70's we were towing a 30 foot Airstream with a 76 Chrysler Newport. The car had leaf springs in the rear, but were soft and spongy. With the 440 CI engine and a 3:55 gear the thing pulled better than many pickups and SUV's do today. I went to a wrecking yard, bought a set of springs out of the same model car, and used the factory overload set to double up the overloads on my car. The rear suspension was like a 1/2 ton truck, and the car handled the trailer like it was on rails.

[TXiceman]

The Excel web site list the dry hitch weigh as 2700 to 2800# for the 33' units with an unloaded weight of a bit under 14,000#. The GVWR on these units is 17,500#, so fully loaded you can expect a pin weight of around 3500#.

http://www.excelrvs.com/assets/files...12-catalog.pdf

I know a lot will argue that you will never reach the GVWR, but most of these folks would be surprised if they visited the local truck scales.

This trailer is way more than I would care to tow with a SRW truck and as noted, adding springs, air bags or what ever, you will NEVER increase the rating on the truck.

Ken

[173dave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman The Excel web site list the dry hitch weigh as 2700 to 2800# for the 33' units with an unloaded weight of a bit under 14,000#. The GVWR on these units is 17,500#, so fully loaded you can expect a pin weight of around 3500#. http://www.excelrvs.com/assets/files...12-catalog.pdf I know a lot will argue that you will never reach the GVWR, but most of these folks would be surprised if they visited the local truck scales. This trailer is way more than I would care to tow with a SRW truck and as noted, adding springs, air bags or what ever, you will NEVER increase the rating on the truck. Ken

You can add springs, etc. and still be within the recommended ratings of the vehicle. Most are just trying to level out so their headlights are not pointing at the moon. For towing a TT always use a load leveler hitch. It distributes the weight to all the tires on the tow rig.

[wandering1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D If you need add'l springs then maybe the truck is overloaded. Adding springs doesn't change the weight rating of the vehicle, it just sits level. (more level, more leveler???)

Ditto

[AirLift]

As others have mentioned adding really any additional assistance such as air bags or adding a leaf doesn't imply that you can tow more. You would need to upgrade everything from brakes, tires and even the frame in order to accomplish that.

Assuming you understand that, air bags could be a great option for you if would like to simply level your ride or tow more comfortably. If you could tell us what vehicle you are looking to improve, I could provide a link to the appropriate air bag kit. You could look over the install manual and see what all would be involved with adding air versus one of the other routes.

[wa8yxm]

I used air lift air bags.. Worked very well (Air Lift is the name of the company. JC Whitny is an authorized dealer,, The Air Lift company however is in Lansing. MI)