What do you do for your Squat

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PaPa_Brewskey

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Just curious to see what everyone uses to eliminate the horrible horrible squat, when your truck is loaded? My truck sits fine up to about 500 lbs, over that and the squat starts to get ugly. I bought a set of Boss Air Bags, but havn't installed them yet, and was just wondering if that is the right choice, or if there are better options. With my trailer and quad on board I reach 900 lbs and even though theres still a few incheds before the axle hits the trounce bumper, I'd still like to eliminate the squat as much as possible.
 

Purplert

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Airbags!


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yillbs

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+2 for airbags. I get no squat! And if I do, I just air them up more!
 

gofishn

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Tuftruck 1211 Springs.
Can even get springs(1223V) that keep OEM ride yet add 50% weight carrying capacity.
Cheap, permanent and easy to install.
 

GsRAM

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For the bad rear end squat I had I bought a 2500 and now I have minimal squat even with the truck loaded for a camping trip. :dogpile: Just kidding! I'd suggest air bags. Lots of options out there.
 

VernDiesel

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If you have 900 pounds static tongue weight from your trailer first & foremost would be a WDH. The air bags will still be a great compliment & suspension improvement to the WDH. Perhaps even allowing another atv in the bed.

Squat is a visual symptom. Unloading your steer axle IE raising & moving your COG makes your truck less safe to drive. An accident avoidance swerve around would quicker than it should take the truck & rig out of control wreck you and be rollover prone. You can watch this happen on YouTube videos. On top of that with your reduced steer weight your braking traction/power is reduced increasing your required stopping distance.

In addition if your tongue weight is outside the 10 to 15 percent of trailer weight window your trailer will be prone to sway at speed further complicating your ability to control the rig.

Assuming 900 pounds is correct, ideal 12.0 percent tongue weight means your trailer should weigh about 7,500 pounds. Ram recommends use of a WDH above 5,000 pounds trailer weight.

So you did good on an airbag purchase but you would still greatly benefit from a relatively inexpensive WDH purchase for getting your kids n crew to your destination safely.
 
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yillbs

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If you have 900 pounds static tongue weight from your trailer first & foremost would be a WDH. The air bags will still be a great compliment & suspension improvement to the WDH. Perhaps even allowing another atv in the bed.

Squat is a visual symptom. Unloading your steer axle IE raising & moving your COG makes your truck less safe to drive. An accident avoidance swerve around would quicker than it should take the truck & rig out of control wreck you and be rollover prone. You can watch this happen on YouTube videos. On top of that with your reduced steer weight your braking traction/power is reduced increasing your required stopping distance.

In addition if your tongue weight is outside the 10 to 15 percent of trailer weight window your trailer will be prone to sway at speed further complicating your ability to control the rig.

Assuming 900 pounds is correct, ideal 12.0 percent tongue weight means your trailer should weigh about 7,500 pounds. Ram recommends use of a WDH above 5,000 pounds trailer weight.

So you did good on an airbag purchase but you would still greatly benefit from a relatively inexpensive WDH purchase for getting your kids n crew to your destination safely.

This is probably the better of the replies you're going to get. He's spot on. WDH and airbags. That's what I did and I sit level. I also have a 6 inch lift, and my truck tows MUCH better and less bouncy.
 
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PaPa_Brewskey

PaPa_Brewskey

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For the bad rear end squat I had I bought a 2500 and now I have minimal squat even with the truck loaded for a camping trip. :dogpile: Just kidding! I'd suggest air bags. Lots of options out there.

Ya, a 2500 is definitely in the plans for my next truck, it's hard to justify right now. A Power Wagon would be nice, but if I'm going 2500, I'm going Cummins, cuz, why wouldn't I. lol
 

VernDiesel

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Trading for an HD is fine each has pros cons & tradeoffs. That said with WDH & bags 7,500 won’t be any issue. Especially if you have an 8 speed ED or Hemi. 10,000 now that’s a flipping load for the 1500 platform.
 
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TXCOMT

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I bought a Rebel but like the others said, I'd consider airbags if I still had my RCSB and used it like you.

TXCOMT
 

OC455

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Timber Grove ASAMs. One of the better investments for the 1/2 ton Rams. Should be a dealer option.
 

kirkcad

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This is probably the better of the replies you're going to get. He's spot on. WDH and airbags. That's what I did and I sit level. I also have a 6 inch lift, and my truck tows MUCH better and less bouncy.

Completely agree!!!
 

kirkcad

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Just curious to see what everyone uses to eliminate the horrible horrible squat, when your truck is loaded? My truck sits fine up to about 500 lbs, over that and the squat starts to get ugly. I bought a set of Boss Air Bags, but havn't installed them yet, and was just wondering if that is the right choice, or if there are better options. With my trailer and quad on board I reach 900 lbs and even though theres still a few incheds before the axle hits the trounce bumper, I'd still like to eliminate the squat as much as possible.

I totally agree with some of the others here on the wdh.(weight distribution hitch) If you actually have 900 lbs of tongue weight, then you definitely need a wdh.

I have a 3 week old 2018 3500(srw) truck. With a 2360 dry weight camper on it, it squats about 2.25 inches. (Although the front end doesn't come up at all). With an 8k fully loaded 3 horse trailer attached behind the truck and camper, with a tongue weight of around 800 lbs., BUT.....I have a wdh. And with that, the truck only squats maybe another 1/2 inch, with no change in the front end height.

The wdh basically halves the actual tongue weight, when installed. They work GREAT!!!! :)
 

billyw

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I really considered bags, but ended up with springs. I upgraded to 1223Vs which were great but still a little too soft for my liking. Ended up with a custom made pair from a local spring manufacturer. I think they probably compare directly to the 1223s and now I have some extra rake, but it's OK. Truck is still slightly rear high with travel trailer hooked up and a few hundred pounds of stuff in the bed. I like the KISS principle.

On a side note, I'm willing to make a good deal on a lightly used set of TTC-1223v springs!

:)
 

Rick R

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I'm trying to decide whether heavier shocks would resolve the buck and bounce when towing my 22ft travel trailer. I've got a 2015 1500, 5.7 Hemi and I'm towing with an equalizing hitch. The truck's got 110,000 miles and I suppose it has the OEM shocks. I believe I've pulled up the EQ chains as much as I dare because I've noticed some trouble handling in high speed turns. My wife likes the coil spring ride better than our older "09 1500, but the buck and bounce of this truck is annoying.
 
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PaPa_Brewskey

PaPa_Brewskey

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Timber Grove ASAMs. One of the better investments for the 1/2 ton Rams. Should be a dealer option.

Hmm, I hadn't seen these Timer Grove ASMS prior to buying the Boss. The look like they might be a little easier to install, and some of the forum members are saying that one side ( I think Right side) of the Boss end up bring off center on the bottom mounting bracket. I'll have to take a closer look, and might end up going with these instead.
 

VernDiesel

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Rick R, Billstein 4800s would help as would Timbergroves especially together. That said it still begs the question why you would get bounce with such a small trailer especially with having WDH. Do you know your loaded axle weights & TW percentage? Bet you adjust your WDH & load to put those in spec and it solves your issue plus some you are not aware of.

The “buck” is a common complaint of the very ridged square bar equalizer hitch. It redistributes weight well & helps with sway but is harsh on the trailer bucks pops & groans or squeaks. The Husky TLC, Blue Ox Sway Pro & Andersen all seem to do better with ride quietness & perhaps sway control.
 
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