What do I need to help my truck out?

[aj2n]

Hey guys I just bought a 2003 Chevy 2500HD and was planning on putting a gooseneck ball in the bed of it. This is my first personal truck and I have known other people that tow horse trailers, cattle trailers, large farm equipment with these 3/4 ton trucks but I've never asked what they've had done if anything to help out with the load so it doesn't hurt the truck.

I was looking into air bag helper springs to maybe sure it up a bit more, but I don't know if they're exactly neccesary or not.

Any kind of input that you guys can throw in would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Aj2n

 

[yooper1]

I have no 1st hand knowledge of these, but a couple of people have recommended them:

Vehicle Suspension Kits - Timbren Suspension Enhancement Systems

 

[tcreeley]

I've got that truck with the tow kit/oil cooler, snow plow package etc.. Just look the truck up on the net and see what came with it stock. Mine is a 6 liter automatic.
I don't think you will need anything extra. Are you going to install the bed hitch yourself? If a dealer is doing it- they can tell you what you need.

It should have an owners manual that explains GVW ratings etc and your side door panel will list your specs. The bed on my truck is a 3/4 ton bed- 1500lb- HD2500 I think all are.

It's a great truck. I'm still driving mine- bought new in 2003. The tow kit includes a button that makes it shift up more slowly to allow the truck transmissions time to catch up with the engine speed before shifting- what you would do driving a manual.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You will just have to load it up and try it. If its too much for the suspension then get some air bags for it or you can go to a junk yard and get some 3500 rear springs and swap them.

Chris

 

[Case485Guy]

This g/n hitch in the link is a good one, plus you do not losse bed space if load the bed up.
Trailer Hitches | B & W Trailer Hitches

How much weight you planning on hauling?, if an auto 1st thing I would look into is upgrading the tranny cooler.

Oh yea forgot to say, if go with Turnover Ball, got to watch loading the truck bed real heavy with the ball upside down, advice from the installer who did mine.Said it would be possible for it to hit the top of the rear diff on a hard bump. I always throw in the tool box when I remove it from the bed

 

[SandburRanch]

Load it the way it was designed to be loaded and put your money into good tires on it and the trailer inflated to the maximum and you'll be good to go.

 

[gengine]

If you load your trailer correctly, you will be just fine. I also very heavily recommend the b&w turnover hitch. I have had several others, and they were always a pain in the butt. On my father in laws f250, we installed air bags because the slide in camper is heavy on the rear end. He bought the camper last fall. For the 10 years he's owned the truck before that, pulling gooseneck and fifth wheel trailers, he has never needed the extra help. I think you will have a nice rig just the way it is, with the hitch of course.

 

[Egon]

Air bags can be adjusted so the truck can remain level and all the steering geometry is within specifications.:thumbsup:

 

[bearcreek paul]

You should have no problems with it stock.I have a 2000 2500 hd and it is used for towing 8000 lb bumper pull trailer and have no problems.As long as you don't overload it you should be good.

 

[hosspuller]

I'll be contrary ... You can overload your truck. Maybe not with the lawn mower you bought at Home Depot, but a tractor and 100 bags of cement !! Helper springs and such do nothing for the axles, tires and wheels. There is a sticker on the door jamb. It will tell the max axle weights. Exceed them and something expensive is at risk Maybe your and somebody else's life is at risk too.