2WD REAR LEAF SPRING ???? NEED OPINIONS

[CAJUN 93]

my d350 is steadily being setup to be a great puller. its not a toy, race truck, sled puller, etc. it's being optimized to pull those things along with a 5th wheel camper.

ok, getting ready to rebuild front and rear suspension on my truck. fronts no problem. rear i have a ?

my truck has a leaf pack with 6 leaves and 1 flat overload on the bottom. i have a frame i bought that has the same spring pack with a 4 pack of overloads on the top with brackets on the frame to contact them when loaded. thats the spring packs i was gonna use.

i looked under the parts truck and it has a 10 spring pack under it with no overloads. i can jump up and down on the rear bumper and it doesnt move.

now my thinking is the 10 pack with the 4 pack overloads added will give the best load carrying capacity but will probably chip my teeth when running empty. unloaded ride is a cosideration but not as much as loaded stability. i'm still leaning towards the 6+1+4 setup but wanted opinions on which one to run and why.


opinions and experience appreciated
daryl

[Ace]

The problem is it's always a compromise. Softer ride is not gonna carry the weight, and like you said chipped teeth on the other end of the spectrum. You gotta decide what's more important for your application. But I found a good compromise solution.

I had similar issue, but other way 'round. Truck came with Skyjacker springs installed by the PO. Rides pretty decent, and I liked it alot until the first time I got the loaded trailer hooked up. No way that was going to work. Solution: Timbrens. Big honkin' rubber helper springs - more like bump stops. I installed them with removeable spacers so I can ride around unloaded most of the time with just the springs working. Bolt on the Timbren spacers and five minutes later I can haul a ton or more in the bed, no problem.

[KTA]

I would go with the stock 6 spring and get a set of Firestone air-bags. Its the best of both worlds.

[CAJUN 93]

yeah i've had both firestone and airride bags on several other 1-tons and they're great (unless you forget to air them down after removing the load--chipped teeth ).

i was kinda wanting an option that would not involve $$$ outlay at this time. i'll probably go that route in the long run but i've got other things to spend the cash on now (h2o/meth at the moment).

thanks, keep the ideas coming
daryl

[PToombs]

Daryl, I'd go with the 6-4 option. If you have the pack spacing right, you will have the same empty ride, and as you start to load the overload pack will come in.
I'm going to upgrade to Ride-Rite or Firestone bags. The thing I'm doing different is I'm installing a leveling valve from a big truck. That way, ride height stays the same, no matter the load. I have a dual needle air guage. 1 for the tank, 1 for the bags. Should work out good.

[GO OVRIT]

I've got nothing but good things to say about airbags and softer springs. I do have a gasser truck with the 6 springs w/4 overloads too. I run it through rough hunting roads and it rides pretty decent, and still tows well.(Suspension wise...the 440's got nothing on the cummins)

[CAJUN 93]

thanks for the input guys. i'm gonna stick with the 6-4 option. just wanted to make sure my thought process was working.

thanks again
daryl

[SNOOT]

Wow I have a releck in my garage that would have you twisting your well lets leave that for another post.

Anyone remember the rear air bag set-up kindlmann made. Its a single 10" bag mounet center that conected to the outer rear of each spring pack. No air = stock ride.. air in bag lifts the hole back end on air no springs just air and shocks.

I gota get you a picture of this set-up. I have been wanting to install it for a year or soo...

You will have to remove your spare to install it but having a DRW has its atvantages

[KTA]

Kelderman in Iowa made that setup.

[Philip]

SNOOT you mean one of these???

[SNOOT]

SNOOT you mean one of these???

Thats it I have one sitting in my garage...

[SNOOT]

Kelderman in Iowa made that setup.

I am real bad at spelling and wish more people would stamp there products rather then put stickers on them..

[GO OVRIT]

I've got a similar setup also made by Kelderman. It uses 2 bags and has the reciever hitch made in. It bolts to the frame the same as a hitch but with bigger hardware. The spring hangers are cantilevered similar to that single bag setup. With about 20 psi it rides better than stock....at 80psi it rides good witha 45' goosneck, 2 jeeps and a slide in camper.

[Philip]

I would like a kelderman double air bag setup. But my flat bed has two built in tool boxes behind the rear wheels. The double bag setup wouldn't fit under or behind the tool boxes.

[randyswelding]

give detroit sprinigs a call,1-313-963-3839, a rear set goes for about 550 for a 5+1 pack on my 85 but on my cab and chassi its a 9+1 pack and thats about 750. so you could try them, thats who im goin to go threw before shields diesel fest