overload springs

[jand38]

I have a 1999 chev. 1/2 pu and when I hook my 16ft trailer up it is not a pretty site so has any one had sucess with some type of overload springs? I do not want to go the air route unless I have to. I only pull the trailer 10 or so times a year but when I do I would like to keep the P/U
level and still be able to use daily.

 

[RollTideRam]

Are you using the bumper or a drop hitch? If a drop hitch, turn it over to raise instead of drop. Have you looked into a weight distributing hitch? Will overload springs affect your unloaded ride? Thats all the questions I can think of. JC

 

[MrJimi]

I use air shocks under my little Chev S-10 and its great and I love them, kinda like a poormans 3/4 ton pick up
$60 and 50 pounds of air !!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I have a 1999 chev. 1/2 pu and when I hook my 16ft trailer up it is not a pretty site so has any one had sucess with some type of overload springs? I do not want to go the air route unless I have to. I only pull the trailer 10 or so times a year but when I do I would like to keep the P/U
level and still be able to use daily.

You may want to try to balance your load on your trailer so there is less tongue weight. Balancing the load should lighten the down pressure on your hitch.

But if you are just simply overweight then you are doing something very dangerous and endangering the lives of people on the roads if you cannot control the loaded weight. So if you are doing that then I sincerly hope you reconsider and not overload your GCWR of your truck. If you knowing do that then I hope the troopers pull you over and you pay a mighty fine, I prefer not to be killed by people who knowingly voilate safety laws. JMO.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Now that we have all that out of the way , a weight distributing hitch sounds like the solution to your situation. If you get a 1000# hitch, it should serve your needs well into the future and not scare the easily scared.

 

[jand38]

Thanks for the replies I was hoping some one had experience with overload springs.
Bob I will make sure I follow your advice now follow mine and never exceeded the speed limit because I do not want my family members injured by some one knowingly voilate safety laws red lights and stop signs apply also OK?
Oh by the way I have pulled a few trailers in my time. MD

 

[HomeBrew2]

Thanks for the replies I was hoping some one had experience with overload springs.
Bob I will make sure I follow your advice now follow mine and never exceeded the speed limit because I do not want my family members injured by some one knowingly voilate safety laws red lights and stop signs apply also OK?
Oh by the way I have pulled a few trailers in my time. MD

Ok, I have limited experience with O/L's. I'm not too impressed with them. I have air bags on my street tow vehicle. I like them a lot! (Not the airbags that the punks use.)
Attached is a pic of the O/L's on my ranch '80 Dog Ramcharger. The factory springs were crap out of the factory just like they are on most everything today. "Preload" is the big deal w/ O/L's ... note the lack of threads on the Ubolts in my pic. I jacked it up and gave it all the preload I could. They're "progressive" O/L's but you have to get a decent start ... I'm not sure they make any that will work right with the mushy springs we get nowdays. Try Helwig for your specicif application. Cheers

 

[RollTideRam]

Another brand is Timbren. JC

 

[workinallthetime]

JAND38
I have had experiene installing what you are talking about on a 99 chev 1/2 ton,4x4,xcab. He wanted them to level out the truck after cranking the torsion bars all the way up. I do not remember what brand they were or anything like that but it took a couple of hours to do with the truck on a lift. As for performance there was a noticeable difference when he was pulling a heavy load, (maybe to heavy) the truck did not squat near as much as did with just factory set up. We also put some new ranchero shocks on at the same time. It seemed to work pretty good amd gave the truck that "log waggon ride" stiff as you know what.
what are you pulling?
how big is your trailer?
is your truck a 4x4?

anyone ever look at the weight of a case or cat backhoe? then look at the average max towing weight of a 1 ton duelly? do the research and you will know who is overloaded. most trucks will pull alot more than rated for the problem is the weight limit is set due to safe stopping distance.
"itll pull it but it wont stop it" EVEN WITH TRAILER BRAKES !!!!

IF you decide to use the over loads let me know and i will give you some pointers for putting them on

i used to pull everything with my denali it has auto ride leveling system, thats cool!!! ive had the trailer tongue close to the ground, i would start it up pump would come on and raise the back end up to set level. now i have a 07 1500 that i tow with it just goes down and does not come back up

 

[Ken]

I Forget the year mid '80's but receiverd a new Dodge caravan with overload springs dealier installed because of the load we hauled. It was not a good idea when unloaded the weight distrubation system would not allow the front brakes to be used and at 50 miles hour and a sudden stop on the street would almost pass the vehicle in front having to take the side of highway to stop. It was a hassel with the dealier to correct so finally had them removed and no longer had the problem.
Air bags for equal load would be better. still light p/u small rotors and little braking surface of tires on surface. sounds like a set up for jack knifing the vehicle.
ken

 

[RMAL]

I have towed 8000 lbs with a tired 1/2 ton cargo van,very SLOWLY only a few times a year.I do this with a weight distribution hitch (400$ at tsc) standard springs.The van sits level front to rear.The system transfers wt. to the front axle helping out the rear axle.

 

[BTDT]

Here is a link for Timbren.

Timbren Suspension Enhancement System

 

[montanaman]

I have to agree with the WD hitch system. The danger is not only in the sagging of the rear of the truck and the headlights blinding on-coming traffic. The problem is the lack of weight on the front end of the truck.

Not sure why you are against air bags but I think they are the best solution to keep a good ride when loaded or empty but that is more for in bed weight or gooseneck and fifth wheel trailers. With a bumper pull, you need to go with a WD setup and get that weight on the front axle for safe steering and stopping.

On another note, the factory hitch on the truck you mentioned is a complete joke and I have seen them fail when used with a weight distributing hitch. The receiver tube will twist when you try to put the torque on it with the torsion bars.

I have a one ton dually and don't use a WD system because my heavy towing is done with a gooseneck trailer but I still replaced the factory hitch with a Putnam XDR. After seeing one of those hitches ripped off the back of a Suburban where the driver was doing everything right with his setup, I wasn't going to chance it.

Ken

 

[tnau664]

Thanks for the replies I was hoping some one had experience with overload springs.

NAPA sells a good coil over axle spring. I have sets on 3 different vehicles. You can tell the 2000 lb is there all the time. No noticable difference in unloaded ride when using the 1500 lb, but gives that extra lift when needed.

Terry

 

[BTDT]

What kind of "experience with overload springs" are you talking about? Are you wanting to know of a place where you can have some installed?

 

[Egon]

One of many site's for helper springs. There are lots of hits on Google.

Heavy Duty Helper Springs  for order at great prices online

I would prefer a weight distribution hitch in combination with air bags. This allows one to adjust weight as well as using the air bags to keep the truck at the same level it ordinarily runs at. Means the steering will be better. When not towing the airbags can be deflated and normal ride and level maintained. The air bags allow you to keep the truck level with varying loads.