When I put on my plow, it is very easy for my front suspension to bottom out over small bumps in the road. I have a 2001 stock 1500 4x4. It snows maybe 1/3 of the year so the plow is not on that often. I drive mainly on paved and dirt roads. I was thinking about putting on springs from a 2500 but was told that it might stiffen the ride to much when the plow is not on.
So i want to put 2" leveling blocks between the top of the front springs and the mount to give the suspension 2 more inches of travel before bottoming out on the frame. Trouble is, I cant find shocks that fit. i called Bilstein, Skyjacker, and Rancho...none of them sell a shock for my truck with the stock collapsed length and 2" more extension. The stock collapsed length is 13.84" and the stock extended length is 22.63".
Anyone try doing this before...not sure why they sell 2" leveling blocks but don't make shocks to accommodate.
Thanks

 

The stock shocks will work. Although, with your situation, I wouldnt put a spacer in. The spacer will raise your truck by 2'', thats all it will do. You will still bottom out becuase the spring has the same stiffness and travel that it had before the spacer. I would look for 2'' lift springs or find some Off-Road edition springs.

 

well how big is your plow? gys run cummins coils in the front all the time. it will indeed ride stiff. the leveling kit just uses a coil spacer on top of the coil and stock shocks as far as i know. but your plow is prob tooo heavy for the front of your truck

 

A spring sway is very simple and even easier a few months after the first time when everything isn't corroded. I would run the 2500 springs in the winter and swap them in the spring if you want the ride comfort back. You could also try new springs. Your old ones may have sagged and that is why you bottom out with the plow on.

 

But if i raise it 2" at the top of the spring, the frame bump stops will be 2" farther apart and the spring will need to collapse 2 more inches than it does now before it bottoms out the frame.

I guess i could use a stock shock if it extends far enough?

The plow is minute mount...probably oversized for my truck.

I would rather not have to swap out the springs twice a year if i could find a more permanent fix.

 

You want your axle to bottom out on the stops. It is not a comfortable feeling to have your coils bottoming out nor is it safe.

 

Replace your bump stops with a set of Timbrems....

Stock ride without the plow and no hammering your axles with the plow on.

http://www.timbren.com/aeon-spring-typical-uses.htm

^

 

Thanks, the Timbren system may work well...but $200 for springy bump stops...something to think about

 

Just from the conversation I'm having about the '01 Ram I picked up...

The coil springs in the off-road edition ram are the same size as a regular 1500 but have a stronger spring rate then the stock springs, might be worth your while looking for these as it seems they fall somewhere between what you have now and running 2500 springs.

 

So after too much research and inconsistent answers...the stock shocks and 2" extended shocks will both work with the 2" coil spacer.

I called three suspension manufacturers and five spacer manufacturers. Different companies had different answers...even different people in the same company would have different answers.

So i am going to put on the 2" coil spacer and stock length shocks. Now i need to decide if i want the adjustable Ranch 9000 or Bilstein.