I have a 2005 1500 Hemi, w/ Tow Package & 3.92 rear diff. I have a HEAVY Steel Parker performance car trailer (3500lbs empty) that i use to haul myclassic car to auto shows. The car and trailer drop my truck to the axel. the body literally rides on the rubber stops. Currently i don't have the money to pay for a min $40,000 2500 so i'm stuck with improving the 1500 to take the load. I've looked at helper springs and airbags, but am unsure as to what route to take OR if their is any important details that i don't know about. Any help would be great.

Thank You
-R

 

Rancho makes add a leaf systems, probubly the easiest way to go and the cheapest, somewhere in the 150.00$ range

 

Heres a link for an air bag kit, around 450 bones

http://www.performancepartswholesale...&make_code=

 

Heres a link for mechanical helper springs. one of them is rated at 3500 lb, the weight of your trailer!

http://www.performancepartswholesale...&make_code=

 

I'd probably go the other route, and have a spring added/mofied spring pack, with new U-bolts. This increases the truck's ability to carry weight safely. I'm not saying airbags aren't safe, only that I have no experience with them, and if a bag fails, you're carrying a lot on the back to have at stake.

However, if your truck is squating THAT much under the tongue weight of the trailer, you may want to look at legality issues with possibly carrying too much weight, or exceeding the weight rating (GVWR) of your truck.

 

Your right Old Man Mopar, the only thing I have against add a leafs if the unsprung ride quality. It will hop like a rabbit with just an extra leaf. The one I linked for him is a true overload and will add no unsprung tension on the suspension while empty. I like the airbags for the same reason.

 

I hear that.........airbags wouldn't do that and they're adjustable. (psi)

I had an F-250 that rode so hard it was tooth jarring. It rode like a Cadillac with my 1700lbs tool box in the back, though....

 

Thanks for the links, and iwill probabilygo with adding the leaf spring. I looked at the "legality" issue... the problem is not the weight of the trailer per'se. The car is only 3000lbs for a total (rounded up numbers) 6,500lbs. well under the 9,000 rated. the problem is it is a tandem axel trailer and the car sits 60% in fron of the axels, so the majority of the weight is put on the ball. I've backed the car up as much a possible, but it is not a short car. By dodge's standards i'm well with-in the towing capacity, the toungue weight is rated up to 5,000 pounds on the call IV hitch. I know the Hemi has plenty of power to pull the load, my only real problem is finding a way to help support the excess weight on the rear suspension. So i'm looking at Leaf spring ad on's. I've talked to the dealer service department and even had them look at it. They said that it is fully with/in the limits and will not void any warranty by pulling it that way. I just don't feel safe doing it. The would not give me aftermarket options, but were MORE than willing to show me the 2007 Cummings. Back to topic. I just need the extra springs to sit up about 2" loaded. I hope spending the 500 will do that.

If anyone has any more ideas, please let me know. I'm not dead set on springs, and I am not pulling again for a few months so i have time to fix thisissue.

TheTtrailer Details: http://www.performancetrailer.com/trCH7700FMJ.htm

Thank You
-R

 

Go figure............[:@]

 

Also, if i add the springs do i need to upgrade the shocks as well? if so is their anythign ELSE i need to upgrade to make it safe and more usable?