need help with extra wieght

[calla1231]

I deliver magazines once a month and I carry about 20 boxes at a time in the back of my escort wagon and they wiegh about 35 lbs. a piece. What can I do to the struts or coils or whatever to help the back end with the extra wieght?

[Mr3GTP]

If my math is correct, that's 700 lbs of cargo. You could start with stiffer coils, they should be available. I don't think the rubber 'spring helper' devices they sell at autozone would cut it, but that's just me, Mister Overkill. Tires with a higher weight rating (load range) would be a good idea as well. Keep in mind that you are still overloading the brakes, bearings, and the other parts of the suspension (arms, bushings, spindles) so you're still risking a failure. I'd pack the bearings in a good moly-based grease, and install premium brake pads & shoes, like the 'Carbon Metallic' type I have on my '88 Tempo. Stops me better than the 4-wheel discs on my '01 GTP (no kidding), best safety investment I've ever made. If you think good brakes are expensive, consider this; What would a crash cost, especially an "at-fault-because--you-couldn't-stop" type of crash where someone was injured or killed.

Steve

[OverBoardProject]

With that much weight I would get a class 1 trailer hitch, and a light weight covered trailer.
The towing specs on my Topaz is 1,000lbs and your is probably the same.
Get trailer brakes added and your laughing

As an added bonus you can tow most tent trailers then for a nice trip this summer