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Pickup Truck Squat
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1573 Posts
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September 25, 2010 - 10:09 pm
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I have a 1999 Dodge Dakota Pickup truck (V8 - 5.2L) with a towing capacity of 5500. I am towing a 2008 SeaPine that runs abour 3200 lbs when full loaded. When hooked up, the pickup bed squats quite a bit - almost 3 inches.

Any suggestions?  Please keep in mind that I am not a auto mechanically included, (Other stuff OK, but not car work).

Martini Glass The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything that they have!
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172 Posts
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September 26, 2010 - 8:26 pm
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Take a look at these sites , http://www.monroe.com/products.....shocks.asp    http://www.suspensionconnection.com
The Firestone air suspension worked real well.
Ive'd used one or the other over the years successfully.

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666 Posts
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September 27, 2010 - 8:15 am
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Phil,

I've used both the air shocks and air bags and prefer the air bags. The air shocks always made me wonder how much the shock mounts could support, since their main purpose was not to support weight but merely stop the bounce. When you are using them to lift the truck, that's an entirely different purpose than their design.
Anyhow, I have never heard of a shock mount failing because of an air shock, but the air bags simply gave me more piece of mind.

Good luck.

Lou

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72 Posts
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September 27, 2010 - 3:53 pm
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I have a husky WDH from my previous Starcraft pop-up that I no longer use/need.  Let me know if anyone could use it.  We will be at Pine Grove in November.  I could bring it along.

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666 Posts
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September 27, 2010 - 4:19 pm
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Mick,

If it isn't a single bar wdh, it probably won't work with a Coleman due to the side mounted tongue jack.

lou

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11 Posts
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November 2, 2010 - 3:33 pm
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I had been having a HARD time finding the source of a suspension rattle until all of a sudden it completely changed it characteristics.
Rattled off or on brakes, and only when rear axle crossed anything that caused suspension movement. Went to PepBoys where the mechanic and I got a good ook. The lower anchored leaf was sheared in two aft of the axle and rattling on the axle.
Went to a loca junkyard, spent $95 ($100 - 10% Mil disc + tax) and got a PAIR of replacement leaf springs from a 96 Ranger that had not only thicker nleaves, but had an extra leaf above the helper.
$195 + $42 for shocks and my Ranger rides EXTREMELY well. I haven't had a chance to tow a PU yet, but I'm sure it will be an even better driving experience that it was previously.

[IMG]http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/47834/2720618150106670828S500x500Q85.jpg[/img]

[IMG]http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/45034/2283780790106670828S500x500Q85.jpg[/img]

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253 Posts
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7
January 12, 2011 - 10:38 pm
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Has anyone tried timbrens yet?
I was planning on going that route with our trailblazer.

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175 Posts
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January 14, 2011 - 1:26 pm
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My neighbor uses these for for his shortbed full sized Chevy pick-up and claims it not only made a difference for the squats but for sway, too.

http://www.roadmastersprings.c.....tworks.php

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131 Posts
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9
February 15, 2011 - 2:39 am
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I had good luck with our 2000 Silverado Stepside using Hellwig Progressive Helpers.
They actually did not even change the unloaded ride all that much which I thought they would, just made it a small amount stiffer. No squat after installing these. The bad side is they make you think your 1/2 ton is now a 3/4 or 1 ton truck and if your not careful you'll overload. That is why, among other reasons we just bought a 2500HD.
http://www.hellwigproducts.com.....ro-series/

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333 Posts
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February 15, 2011 - 10:47 pm
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I'm going to add a set of Timbrens to my Tundra sometime this spring:

http://www.etrailer.com/Vehicl.....0081014543

The guy at the local truck-n-trailer store said they're great and didn't try to upsell me. For $300 installed, it's hard to beat the price, too.

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253 Posts
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February 16, 2011 - 10:44 am
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$300 installed sounds fair.
You have to use jack stands, remove both rear wheels, remove the bump stop, and then install the timbrem.
Repeat process

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70 Posts
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12
February 16, 2011 - 7:11 pm
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I'll add my vote for helper springs too...

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