1500 Rear Suspension Conversion?

[Dennis Jarrell]

I was curious if anyone has considered converting a 4th gen back to leaf springs. I have TLC airbags now and while it helps keeping the truck up, it does very little to keep the truck stable when towing heavy loads.

 

[B-Shot]

What tire are you using? Have you changed the rear sway bar? IDK about a leaf spring swap. I imagine it could be done.

 

[audio1der]

As mentioned above,if you have the 20" tires you are handicapped to begin with.
I would think trading it in for a Tundra/GM/Ford would be a better choice than jury-rigging a leaf setup.

 

[14hemiexpress]

If your rolling with the stock good years get better tires with a stiffer sidewall. The tires are the big weak link in these trucks if that doesn't work add a weight distribution hitch, if still having issues add the sway control in and lastly if it's still has issues you need a bigger truck.

 

[MitchPeder7]

Yeah, what 14hemieexpress said, plus add air springs.


Sent while I'm killing time at work

 

[BoldAdventure]

What kind of heavy loads, I mean how heavy we talking? WD/Anti-sway hitch?

I mean geez, I can think of 20 different variables that could be causing your sway before I'd start thinking about leaf springs.

 

[Dennis Jarrell]

I do think I'm asking a lot of my 1500. My 28ft trailer weighs 5800 dry, my bike is 825, and the loading ramp is around 300. And to make matters worse, I have a 12in hitch extension because the tailgate needs to be down. I have airbags, WDH with 1400# bars. Its the sway and porpoising that is the issue. After reading some more posts, it looks like better tires and shocks might get me by.

Thanks.

 

[smurfs_of_war]

I do think I'm asking a lot of my 1500. My 28ft trailer weighs 5800 dry, my bike is 825, and the loading ramp is around 300. And to make matters worse, I have a 12in hitch extension because the tailgate needs to be down. I have airbags, WDH with 1400# bars. Its the sway and porpoising that is the issue. After reading some more posts, it looks like better tires and shocks might get me by.

Thanks.

Is the bike going in the bed or is it a toy hauler? Sorry if that sounds like a dumb question but you didn't specify. I am kind of assuming in the bed because you need the tailgate down.

Replace your coils, shocks and rubber for sure. I know I kind of trumpet the replacement coils over airbags, but you are way into 2500 territory with that load once you add passengers, so you don't want to risk having a bag go south on you when you are travelling. Normally bags would be a great addition to any load bearing 1500 but damn... that's some weight there. I think I would want to make sure nothing could possible go wrong on that- or at least as little as possible. The coils, rubber and shocks will really help with the porpoising- you'd be pretty amazed.

Your WDH bars might actually be a little *too* heavy too. They may be too stiff causing the trailer to spring back up. Too much is just as bad as too little.

 

[Andy578]

I do think I'm asking a lot of my 1500. My 28ft trailer weighs 5800 dry, my bike is 825, and the loading ramp is around 300. And to make matters worse, I have a 12in hitch extension because the tailgate needs to be down. I have airbags, WDH with 1400# bars. Its the sway and porpoising that is the issue. After reading some more posts, it looks like better tires and shocks might get me by.

Thanks.

the extension is probably the issue, it'll seriously impact your tongue limit and change the way the trailer handles

 

[Dennis Jarrell]

I have the TLC bags (the compressor just took a crap) and yes, the bike is in the bed. I have a set of 100# bars also and it was worse. I'm near tire purchase so I was thinking of the Michelin LT 20". Might be better to bite the bullet and go to a 2500.

Thanks.

 

[dsent]

Dennis

My .02 would be move the motorcycle to the rear of the trailer,moving 825# that far past trailer axles would certainly lighten tongue weight on truck.

Close tail gate,use regular length receiver shank,10k wd hitch with sway control, the Michelins LTX 20" get it all adjusted correctly.

While the above will work to keep you in the 1500, a 2500 6.4 would make you sleep better.
If you went 2500 6.7 cummins you would count sheep while enjoying deep rem sleep and you would enjoy the driving portion of the trip of getting to were you are going instead of arriving exhausted from white knuckle moments of the trip.

 

[BoldAdventure]

Agreed, you are asking a lot of your 1500 if you've got a trailer plus 800lb bike and 300lb ramps in the bed. Get a 2500 or is it a toy hauler as asked earlier? Never got that cleared up?

 

[Dennis Jarrell]

It is not a toy hauler. Just a standard 28' travel trailer with a large slide that is 5600# dry. The truck is a quad cab 6.4' box. My bike is 825# plus the loading ramp is probably close to 300#. I have to run the tail gate down so I added the hitch extension. that's why I went with the 1400# bars. It really isn't that bad, I just don't like the sway and push from semis.

I think we all agree this is asking too much of the truck but it is close.

Thanks all.

 

[BoldAdventure]

Yeah but your trailers tongue weight gets transfered to your trucks payload. 825+300 already equals 1125lbs, I'm sure with the trailer's tongue plus whatever else you are way over payload and possibly coming close to axle ratings.

 

[TRCM]

Put the bike on the back of the camper, and the loading ramp will no longer be needed.

I tow a 6000 lb dry weight camper with my 1500, stock, no bags at all, and it does just fine.

 

[swanny297]

You are way over your payload - and are enough over to actually jeopardize the safety of your vehicle - you also exceed the GVWR of your axles. Your trailer has a tongue weight of 600-850lbs, your bike and ramps are 1125lbs - you have almost exceeded the 2230lbs of payload on a 2500

 

[Buddy]

What everyone has said, easier to go to the dealer and see the $$ for a trade on a 2500.

 

[Birddog]

No one has given you these options I'm about to mention. I too was caught up in your dilemma about a year ago. I had an 11 month old 1500 and a trailer that was scary to pull. I ended up getting a new 2500 but I found out about a company that makes a product called the Automated Safety Hitch. It is really designed for fifth wheel towing but they MAY make a product for standard tow balls, you'd have to call and ask. Here are a couple of links for you to check it out. Basically, they make a trailer that would hold all of your tow weight instead of your truck holding it and this product is NOT considered double trailer towing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B_O2DASH5Q
http://www.automatedsafetyhitch.com/

Option 2 is to go out and trade your trailer for a toy hauler. The bike would come out of your bed and be behind your trailer axle which in turn takes weight off your truck.

Either way may be a less expensive option than buying a new truck. Just food for thought.

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[smurfs_of_war]

^^ sounds like a trailer toad or similar. Missed the links

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