ladder bars???
- Thread starter jimmypage
- Start date
Big Stu
Full Access Member
Fabtech sells ladder bars for your truck, or put some airbags under the rear, for towing that kind of weight it's probably a cheaper and smarter investment. You can adjust the pressure for a huge load or let some of the air out to just cruise around.
irish4x4
Mayor of Margaritaville
With those big lift blocks in the rear, combined with the resistance created by the larger wheel/tire combo you have a ton of leaverage trying to twist your leaf springs in to an "S" and rotating your pinion. Air bags will make a HUGE difference in how your trucks chassis handles with the added weight of the trailer strapped to it, but they offer little in keeping the axle "located" where it belongs. A good set of bars (Fabtech/Superlift/local fab shop) will keep all your torque running in a straight, productive line. 
Have you upgraded the brakes yet? Pulling is fun, Stopping is essential.
Have you upgraded the brakes yet? Pulling is fun, Stopping is essential.
Bolt
Full Access Member
Now how well would it work to install traction/ladder bars, remove some of the leaves in the spring pack, and add air bags to make up for this? Would be ride quality improve significantly?
irish4x4
Mayor of Margaritaville
I think I see where your headed with this. By removing the leaves you will soften up the ride charcteristic of the spring but also reduce payload capacity and lift height. With the bags in place you would have to inflate them enough to compensate for the missing springs and that would stiffen the ride back up. No gain. 'bags are awesome tools, but the small load leveling ones (pic) are not the same as the suspension replacement ones (Kelderman, etc.). Same principal different applications.
Big Stu
Full Access Member
For sure, thanks for the compliments. I didn't notice you were in mesa when i responded, cool to have a fellow arizona guy here.....
Bolt
Full Access Member
I think I see where your headed with this. By removing the leaves you will soften up the ride charcteristic of the spring but also reduce payload capacity and lift height. With the bags in place you would have to inflate them enough to compensate for the missing springs and that would stiffen the ride back up. No gain. 'bags are awesome tools, but the small load leveling ones (pic) are not the same as the suspension replacement ones (Kelderman, etc.). Same principal different applications.
So you don't think that my ride would soften up any? By putting some replacement bags in there my ride on air wouldn't be softer than on flexing steel?
irish4x4
Mayor of Margaritaville
It wont soften it up. It makes it ride differently. The thumbs I put in the last reply are of our 2500 HD shop truck. We pulled a leaf to see if it would offer a more 'comfy ride. It made the truck feel sloppy and looked like a dog dragging its butt across the livingroom floor. We then added the firestone bags and now instead of getting the long body of the leaf spring to absorb the bumps, it has an abrupt pogo stick-ish feel to it. All of this is unloaded of course. As soon as you apply a load the whole argument changes for the positive, but most of us are not towing 4000+ lbs. everyday. In the end load leveling 'bags are a supplement to your springs not a replacement. If your looking for a spring replacement then change out to a fully 'bagged and 'linked set up.
Didnt this thread start off as a ladder bar question?.......... I love 'em. They would work great for your application. And they look awesome too.
Didnt this thread start off as a ladder bar question?.......... I love 'em. They would work great for your application. And they look awesome too.
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