ThereWillBeSpuds
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2019
- Messages
- 648
I know this really has nothing to do with saddle hunting, but I know some of y'all are capable folks and I can trust that you don't have skin in the game re: selling me one product or another.
I tow a 12 foot cargo trailer every Saturday with my "new" 1996 f-150 4x4. I don't know exactly what the tongue weight is (don't really have a way to measure it either.) but its definitely making the rear of my truck sag pretty bad.
I looked at weight distributing hitches, but some of them say to only back in a straight line or to disconnect the weight distributing springs for backing, and I back my trailer 3 times every single time I hook it up, and not in no straight line neither. So I kinda think they aren't what I need.
SO, I guess that makes my options:
1. helper springs
2. some kind of airbag system
3. donor leaf springs from some heavier truck, like from a scrap yard?
I don't really want to raise the unloaded ride height, and the ride quality is already pretty harsh so I am hesitant to put even stiffer rear suspension on it. I am not having any trouble towing the trailer in town, which is what I do every week, but I dunno if I would have steering or braking issues at higher speeds and I may want to take the show on the road some time soon.
Do any of y'all have experience with progressive helper springs? Do they harshen the ride quality much?
Are air bags going to be too much fiddle-factor? I hook my trailer up in the dark every Saturday morning and dont really want to be messing with an air compressor or a bike pump to alter my suspension at 6:30 am.
I know that the scrapyard leaf springs will likely be the cheapest option, but could also be more work, especially if the mounting brackets arent identical to my own. Its a business expense so I am not scared of spending a few hundred dollars to make sure I am towing safely and without undue wear on my truck.
What do yall think I should do? And new-new truck isn't an option, nor is rearranging the weight in the trailer, as its pretty much stuffed, front and rear.
I tow a 12 foot cargo trailer every Saturday with my "new" 1996 f-150 4x4. I don't know exactly what the tongue weight is (don't really have a way to measure it either.) but its definitely making the rear of my truck sag pretty bad.
I looked at weight distributing hitches, but some of them say to only back in a straight line or to disconnect the weight distributing springs for backing, and I back my trailer 3 times every single time I hook it up, and not in no straight line neither. So I kinda think they aren't what I need.
SO, I guess that makes my options:
1. helper springs
2. some kind of airbag system
3. donor leaf springs from some heavier truck, like from a scrap yard?
I don't really want to raise the unloaded ride height, and the ride quality is already pretty harsh so I am hesitant to put even stiffer rear suspension on it. I am not having any trouble towing the trailer in town, which is what I do every week, but I dunno if I would have steering or braking issues at higher speeds and I may want to take the show on the road some time soon.
Do any of y'all have experience with progressive helper springs? Do they harshen the ride quality much?
Are air bags going to be too much fiddle-factor? I hook my trailer up in the dark every Saturday morning and dont really want to be messing with an air compressor or a bike pump to alter my suspension at 6:30 am.
I know that the scrapyard leaf springs will likely be the cheapest option, but could also be more work, especially if the mounting brackets arent identical to my own. Its a business expense so I am not scared of spending a few hundred dollars to make sure I am towing safely and without undue wear on my truck.
What do yall think I should do? And new-new truck isn't an option, nor is rearranging the weight in the trailer, as its pretty much stuffed, front and rear.