Full Load... Suspension??
All Star
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
RE: Full Load... Suspension??
What do you need to do to beef up the axle? From the way I understand it putting better springs on will make the body level but what about all of the stress on the axle. I would think that the most important part to beef up would be the bearings. Is there anyway to put in a stronger bearing?
All Star
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 994
Likes: 0
From: Belle Plaine, Minnesota
RE: Full Load... Suspension??
Iceman_ch,
I also have a 2001 1500 ext cab short box and I routinely load the bed of the truck with 2000 lbs and a little more. I also pull a 7800 lb + fifth wheel camper a couple times per month without issue. You're not doing this everyday so beefing up the rear axle is actually not needed. There are sturdier axles and bearings (Summit Racing even sells them) but for your application you probably do not need them. Do yourself a big favor though and replace the rear end lube with a high quality 75w140 synthetic lubricant. This will help your rear gears immensely.
As far as making a level ride, I recently purchased the Hellwig LP-35 overload springs and install kit. These are adjustable so you could as I did, find a happy medium where the additional load carrying capacity is obtained and still have at least a satisfactory ride when empty.
A level truck distributes the weight between the front and rear tires much more efficiently than an unlevel truck. If your truck is sagging in the back you are actually lifting on the front. The helper springs prevent the sag and actually push some of the load from the back axle to the front.
I also have a 2001 1500 ext cab short box and I routinely load the bed of the truck with 2000 lbs and a little more. I also pull a 7800 lb + fifth wheel camper a couple times per month without issue. You're not doing this everyday so beefing up the rear axle is actually not needed. There are sturdier axles and bearings (Summit Racing even sells them) but for your application you probably do not need them. Do yourself a big favor though and replace the rear end lube with a high quality 75w140 synthetic lubricant. This will help your rear gears immensely.
As far as making a level ride, I recently purchased the Hellwig LP-35 overload springs and install kit. These are adjustable so you could as I did, find a happy medium where the additional load carrying capacity is obtained and still have at least a satisfactory ride when empty.
A level truck distributes the weight between the front and rear tires much more efficiently than an unlevel truck. If your truck is sagging in the back you are actually lifting on the front. The helper springs prevent the sag and actually push some of the load from the back axle to the front.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
Likes: 10
From: Gainesville, Ga.
RE: Full Load... Suspension??
i've got these and like em. they replace the factory bump stops and act as a helper spring. when truck is unloaded, there is about a 1 in gap between rubber spring and frame, so you get a normal spring ride. when you load it up, you get a 1 in sag and then the rubber spring kicks in. the only thing you have to worry about after that is tires and brakes.
https://dodgeforum.com/m_717587/tm.htm
http://timbren.com/
https://dodgeforum.com/m_717587/tm.htm
http://timbren.com/
Record Breaker
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 0
From: Gaylord, MI
RE: Full Load... Suspension??
ORIGINAL: fcm42000
1500 lbs on bump stops? socha have you ever loaded your truck down? i had 1600 pounds in the bed and pulled a 69 dodge dart from los angeles to south texas. i didnt hit the bump stops once and i hit 80 a couple of times on a beat up highway, just the jerk from the crappy tow dolly. some parts stores sell leaf springs try to locate some for a 3/4 ton. that should work.
1500 lbs on bump stops? socha have you ever loaded your truck down? i had 1600 pounds in the bed and pulled a 69 dodge dart from los angeles to south texas. i didnt hit the bump stops once and i hit 80 a couple of times on a beat up highway, just the jerk from the crappy tow dolly. some parts stores sell leaf springs try to locate some for a 3/4 ton. that should work.
ORIGINAL: Silver_Dodge
3/4 ton leafs are wider, so they will not work on a 1500.
3/4 ton leafs are wider, so they will not work on a 1500.
The only problem would be shackles and spring plates. Both easy fixes, get the spring plates and shackles from the 3/4 ton and I bet they would bolt in with little to no fab needed. As for the spring perches, they might hang over each side 1/4 of an inch which won't effect anything at all.From your pics though Silver it seems like the helper springs actually help more then I thought. Are they full AAL's or just the helper springs that bolt on the back of the leaf. A pic of the setup would be cool. Seems like the helpers work pretty good but if you have a junk yard with a 3/4 ton truck and very basic fab skills you could get the 3/4 ton springs. Just an alternative route, they both work good. Then you'd be getting a "free" 2" or so lift
