Towing

[Cam7]

Have a 1990 Silverado 350 2WD auto. Need help for Towing Travel Trailer, as Beefing up the rear suspension. Should I go to Air Shocks. Coil Over or extra leaf Springs. Not sure which way to go.

[jumpingjack66]

Cam7, I will tell you what i have discovered on this subject over the years. First, air shocks are the quik easy fix for sagging while hooked to a trailer, but driving the vehicle without the trailer then becomes hazerdous with air shocks. When air shocks are not under a load, no matter ow little air you keep in them they effectivly prevent your suspension from articulating as it was desiged causing a unsafe handling condition particularily on whet roads(I spun two three sixties on an interstate in arizona in a thunderstorm), it stiffens the suspension and does not allow it to flex when turning or changing lanes causing loss of control. Secound, I am a firm beliver in monroe or gabrial load levelers ( coil over shocks) but they may not give you the lift you need by themselves. The other things you can do to suppliment coil over shocks is to either go to a junk yard and find some three quater ton springs witch should bolt right on, buy some aftermarket springs with the proper arc you need, have your old set or a junk yard set rearked( this is actually a cheaper way to go in cirtain parts of the country). Finally, using a load destibuting hich system by reese or some other well known hich maker is also a excellent and safe idea but you may still need some coil over shocks to compensate for the old age of your leaf springs. Hope this helps....JJ

[jeep_cj4x4]

My brother-in-law has an 86 chevy that he uses to tow a 5th-wheel tailer. He installed "air bags" and swears by them. In a good way.

[jumpingjack66]

air bags and air shocks are two different animals with different characteristics

[Cam7]

Originally Posted by jumpingjack66

Cam7, I will tell you what i have discovered on this subject over the years. First, air shocks are the quik easy fix for sagging while hooked to a trailer, but driving the vehicle without the trailer then becomes hazerdous with air shocks. When air shocks are not under a load, no matter ow little air you keep in them they effectivly prevent your suspension from articulating as it was desiged causing a unsafe handling condition particularily on whet roads(I spun two three sixties on an interstate in arizona in a thunderstorm), it stiffens the suspension and does not allow it to flex when turning or changing lanes causing loss of control. Secound, I am a firm beliver in monroe or gabrial load levelers ( coil over shocks) but they may not give you the lift you need by themselves. The other things you can do to suppliment coil over shocks is to either go to a junk yard and find some three quater ton springs witch should bolt right on, buy some aftermarket springs with the proper arc you need, have your old set or a junk yard set rearked( this is actually a cheaper way to go in cirtain parts of the country). Finally, using a load destibuting hich system by reese or some other well known hich maker is also a excellent and safe idea but you may still need some coil over shocks to compensate for the old age of your leaf springs. Hope this helps....JJ

Thanks jumpingjack66 Have the Load hitch, Probally go with coil overs and 3/4 Leafs Thanks again

[jumpingjack66]

Glad i could help. I see your from AZ, i grew up there and left in 91 I hear the interstates are still bumper to bumper...JJ

[Cam7]

Originally Posted by jumpingjack66

Glad i could help. I see your from AZ, i grew up there and left in 91 I hear the interstates are still bumper to bumper...JJ

I would have answered earlier i had problems with the forum change, couldnt find this thread. Im in Ohio right now. Going Back to AZ after the new year. Traffic in the Phoenix area anywhere in the Valley is a mess unless u drive at 3 in the Morning, no matter how many Freeways they add . I will be relocating To the Kingman area where the traffic is not as bad for now any ways.

[skipr]

Originally Posted by jumpingjack66

Glad i could help. I see your from AZ, i grew up there and left in 91 I hear the interstates are still bumper to bumper...JJ

You guys try Los Angeles / Orange county freeways and your bumper to bumper traffic in AZ. may not seem so bad. It's rush hour, every hour of every day. You really start to get bad thoughts in your head (sitting there for hours in non-moving traffic) like a MA1 tank would be nice right now or a bull dozer or something else that will kill these commuters and there cars.