Better shock absorbers for towing?

[tomplum]

I was having this discussion with my BIL. He has a mid 2000s Silverado Duramax 2500. He tows a couple of Genie lifts for work off the frame hitch sometimes long distances at times. SO they get this new RV. I think it is ~ 8000 pounds off the frame hitch. They used to tow an 11,000 pound 5th wheel RV , so that's what my sister is comparing it to.
He's got a couple hundred thousand miles or so and like many, never changed the shocks. It's more of a work truck to him, but to her- get shocks on this thing! Are there better shocks to go with for this application?

 

[Roadworthy]

If he's been running OEM shocks there are definitely better ones out there. Have him check in at Les Schwab or some place that does suspension work. If he can adjust his load for proper tongue weight he should have no problem on the frame hitch, though. Stabilizers can be had to equalize the load as well.

 

[Menagerie-Manor]

I've been equipping my vehicles for towing with Air Shocks for almost 50 years now and they do an excellent job.

 

[tomplum]

I know he runs stabilizers on the RV. Dunno about the heavy work trailer.

 

[Rebeldad1]

has over 200,000 miles on the oe shocks and is ok with them. how can you buy better.

i run factory shocks on my dually plus have air bags incase needed.

I can run with a 10,000 loaded trailer and very seldom air up the air bags. rides just fine.

Point is there are many options to factory shocks but do you really need better? if you ride empty and its ok but loaded with the 5th whell not so good.... you need airbags as well.

 

[MossRoad]

I was having this discussion with my BIL. He has a mid 2000s Silverado Duramax 2500. He tows a couple of Genie lifts for work off the frame hitch sometimes long distances at times. SO they get this new RV. I think it is ~ 8000 pounds off the frame hitch. They used to tow an 11,000 pound 5th wheel RV , so that's what my sister is comparing it to.
He's got a couple hundred thousand miles or so and like many, never changed the shocks. It's more of a work truck to him, but to her- get shocks on this thing! Are there better shocks to go with for this application?

He'd best check which suspension package his truck has. There are several. My 2003 Suburban had several suspension package options. One uses "normal" shocks. One uses an on-board compressor to adjust the shocks. And one, like mine, has self-leveling Nivomat shocks. They have a built in hydraulic pump inside the shock, and it senses the load and pumps them up to the correct level height as you drive a short bit. And, they cost about $500 EACH!

 

[MossRoad]

Nivomat Shock Absorbers: Self-Leveling Monotube Ride Control Units

The Nivomat Shock Absorber is a self-leveling monotube shock absorber developed by Sachs. Nivomat shocks are used by Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Jaguar, Kia, Mitsubishi, Saab, Volvo and other OEMs. The system is also available on the GM Suburban and Tahoe as part of ZW7 Premium Smooth Ride...

www.techshopmag.com

 

[kf4uda]

I tow a travel trailer with my F150. I just changed out the shocks to a set of Bilstein 5100. I am very satisfied with them.

 

[LD1]

IS it truly a shock absorber issue. Shocks arent designed to carry weight, the springs do that. What the shocks do is dampen the spring oscillation when you hit bumps and potholes.

How tongue heavy is he running? Is he bouncing off the bump-stops?

 

[MossRoad]

IS it truly a shock absorber issue. Shocks arent designed to carry weight, the springs do that. What the shocks do is dampen the spring oscillation when you hit bumps and potholes.

How tongue heavy is he running? Is he bouncing off the bump-stops?

From the Nivomat propaganda...

"you can't put regular shocks on a Nivomat vehicle since they are designed-in and supplement the regular springs."

That would imply that they carry a portion of the weight.