Rear Springs upgrade

[Swims43]

Okay so I've got a 2013 1500 with bilstein 5100s all around. Leveled up front at 2.8. I've recently added a bed rack with a roof top tent and some stuff attached on the sides. Everything is roughly 375 lbs give or take 50 lbs maybe. Not exactly sure, just guessing. My rear for the most part either sits level with the front or about .5 inches less with Everything on it, depending where I park. However, the ride now is a little more bouncy and has some more body roll with the extra weight. I'm trying to take care of that and get a little but more load capacity. I've looked at Icon springs, general springs, and tufteuck but not getting s lot of information from them through email. I'd like the truck to still sit level with all the stuff in the bed, and eliminate that bouncy ride and body roll if possible.

Any advice would be appreciated. Like which shocks would really give me that roughly 1 inch lift in the rear with a little extra load capacity but will still be comfortable for daily driving and the occasional off road? Love to hear what you all have to day. Here's the truck for reference.

 

[tron67j]

Your truck is doing what it should do under load, settle. Your springs may be worn, could replace to solve that but you add stiffer springs to reduce the leveling and it will be like riding on a rock when unloaded.

 

[Jas34]

Personally, I wouldn't have raised the front. The rear is higher so when it settles with a load it levels out. It's a truck, after all.

You're only talking 375 lbs and a half inch of sag (if I'm understanding your post correctly).Not sure what you would do to take that out if you wanted. Maybe air bags would help? I do have a set of Timbrens on mine that help when I'm towing. They help with any body roll and stiffen things up when loaded. They do have an inch or so clearance, so if you're only sagged a half inch they would't be engaged and might just bang over larger bumps and make things uncomfortable. For heavier loads, they're great.

 

[chopperman1]

The body roll is amplified because of how high the weight is. Nature of the beast.

 

[2003F350]

Best thing I can suggest is look into a stiffer rear sway bar for the body roll (not sure if one is available - I don't generally do much to 1500s) and maybe stiffer shocks, but I don't know that I'd want to put any stiffer springs in it - it'll ride pretty rough empty since most of the springs out there are considerably stiffer because they're made for people who want to run heavy all the time.

If anything I'd consider lowering the front down some - you've brought it up almost 3 inches, that's QUITE a bit. I think the most I've ever raised the front of a truck was 2 inches. Most people leave at least a little rake in the truck when they 'level' it, specifically so it doesn't look squatted when they put just a little weight in the bed.

 

[18CrewDually]

Hellwig sway bars front/rear and rear airbags.
Sway bars to level the sway and air bags to level the rear when loaded. This way you won't lose the comfort of the ride when unloaded which you might if you go with a stiffer spring. Plus you'd keep your level ride height when unloaded just by deflating the bags.

 

[Swims43]

I was mistaken. My front is set at 2.1. But either way, I'm looking to sway bars, new body bushings, because I can see mine are pretty worn. Also maybe lowering the front to 1.4 and changing the springs all around.

 

[nylonguy]

I use CargoMaxx springs and love them and restored the read I got 70% stronger capacity springs

2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500 Rear Coils | 2WD / 4WD | +70% Capacity | Variable Rate

Year: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Make: Dodge Model: Ram 1500 Part #: 351-893XHD Type: XHD - Designed to carry 70% more at stock load height Position: Rear Drive: 2WD, 4WD Rate: Variable Rate Cross Reference: 929-928 Remarks: Designed to carry 70% more load at...

www.hdcoilsprings.com

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Your springs shouldn't be bad being a 2020, unless the truck has lived a hard and loaded life to date.
Having 5100's all around and being at 2.1" raised in the front you'll still have some forward rake.
Were it me, I'd get a good set of air bags for the rear and a new rear sway bar, and call it a day.

 

[sequoia464]

I use CargoMaxx springs and love them and restored the read I got 70% stronger capacity springs

2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500 Rear Coils | 2WD / 4WD | +70% Capacity | Variable Rate

Year: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Make: Dodge Model: Ram 1500 Part #: 351-893XHD Type: XHD - Designed to carry 70% more at stock load height Position: Rear Drive: 2WD, 4WD Rate: Variable Rate Cross Reference: 929-928 Remarks: Designed to carry 70% more load at...

www.hdcoilsprings.com

I recently went to the Cargomaxx XHD variable rate springs - previously I had TuffTruck 1211 springs that were not stiff enough any longer. I'm very pleased with the Cargomaxx units.
Mine came from Rock Auto .. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=11674365&cc=3435444&pt=7512&jsn=1343
They are called out as Dayton units, but were shipped in a Cargomaxx box.

 

[mtofell]

Your springs shouldn't be bad being a 2020

I think OP said the truck is a 2013 but springs probably still shouldn't be worn. However, 1500 Rams of that era had exceptionally low payload and soft springs. Lots of good advice here and many ways to skin the cat. Sway bars and some basic airbags (thinking the 1000s that go inside the coils) should make a world of difference.

Edit - I now see a 2020 is his signature so who knows.... same advice probably still applies.

 

[vetteyog]

I recently went to the Cargomaxx XHD variable rate springs - previously I had TuffTruck 1211 springs that were not stiff enough any longer. I'm very pleased with the Cargomaxx units.
Mine came from Rock Auto .. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=11674365&cc=3435444&pt=7512&jsn=1343
They are called out as Dayton units, but were shipped in a Cargomaxx box.

I'm thinking of getting these, for my 2012 1500. Planning on towing a roughly 6500lb RV. How much did the ride height in the rear change?

 

[Dan Topp]

I use CargoMaxx springs and love them and restored the read I got 70% stronger capacity springs

2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500 Rear Coils | 2WD / 4WD | +70% Capacity | Variable Rate

Year: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Make: Dodge Model: Ram 1500 Part #: 351-893XHD Type: XHD - Designed to carry 70% more at stock load height Position: Rear Drive: 2WD, 4WD Rate: Variable Rate Cross Reference: 929-928 Remarks: Designed to carry 70% more load at...

www.hdcoilsprings.com

That is so easy with the ram I did 70+ generals but probably should of tried +30% first.It was a little taller.

 

[Dan Topp]

I'm thinking of getting these, for my 2012 1500. Planning on towing a roughly 6500lb RV. How much did the ride height in the rear change?

This is stock next to +70s . On the truck it’s definitely taller but it’s on a 4” lift already. It will support more then the truck should.This load made the bumper come about 1” from axle

 

[62Blazer]

This is stock next to +70s . On the truck it’s definitely taller but it’s on a 4” lift already. It will support more then the truck should.This load made the bumper come about 1” from axleView attachment 549746

Just as a note, the height difference of two springs sitting on a bench is not always a good indicator of how a truck will sit. When you install a set of springs on a truck they will compress a certain amount just by the weight of the empty truck (that's why if you jack up a truck by the bumper or frame you have to raise it up a good bit before the tires actually come off the ground). A heavier rated spring will compress less under the same weight. So if two springs were the exact same height when sitting on a bench, but one was a heavier spring rate, that heavier rate spring will not compress as much for normal ride height. For example the lighter spring may compress 3" under the weight of the truck, but the heavier spring only compresses 2" under the weight of the truck. In that case even though the springs were the exact same height unloaded sitting the bench, the heavier spring will make the truck sit 1" higher at normal ride height.

 

[Dan Topp]

Just as a note, the height difference of two springs sitting on a bench is not always a good indicator of how a truck will sit. When you install a set of springs on a truck they will compress a certain amount just by the weight of the empty truck (that's why if you jack up a truck by the bumper or frame you have to raise it up a good bit before the tires actually come off the ground). A heavier rated spring will compress less under the same weight. So if two springs were the exact same height when sitting on a bench, but one was a heavier spring rate, that heavier rate spring will not compress as much for normal ride height. For example the lighter spring may compress 3" under the weight of the truck, but the heavier spring only compresses 2" under the weight of the truck. In that case even though the springs were the exact same height unloaded sitting the bench, the heavier spring will make the truck sit 1" higher at normal ride height.

I can say that the general springs I installed on my 4” lifted truck did raise it even higher. The school pic was stock rear and the parking lot was after.The mustang pic is before lift.