jethroish

Looking at new 3500, I am trying to figure out all the rear leaf springs.
I currently have a SRW with the factory air bags. Leaf spring are 2 full and 1 half. Looked at a SRW without air bags it has 3 full leafs. Looking at the DRW, (not positive here) they have 4 full springs plus overload or maybe it was 3 full plus overload?
I pull a 12K lbs gooseneck horse trailer with my current 3500 SRW short box with air. If I set "ALT TRAILER HGT" (turn off air bags) it squats too much.
My thought is that I will be fine without at the air on a new SRW because of the heavier leaf springs. Correct or is my thinking flawed?
May not matter as I am looking at a 2018 3500 crew cab, DRW 8' box.

CoastalDav

I have a 16 with the heavy tow package. Truck is Rated for a 30000 lb Trailer.
If you use the 20% rule for pin weight, that would equal 6,000 lbs.

My truck has 3 heavies together and two above and one below with Pads.
My trailer has about 4600 lbs of pin weight and never engaged the springs above or below when on the hitch and does not level the truck in the rear.

I installed the Firestone Air Bags with Compressor and in cab controls for both the air bags and air hitch. Really did not need the air bags. Oh well, trying to find out what the leaf suspension looks like on the 3500 with the big tow package and the air suspension. Can’t find anything around here to look at and calling big dealer in Orlando results in no answer. Gonna have to take a ride.

So that’s why they have the suspension they do. I’m gonna be changing my suspension as soon as I can figure it out what I need to do.

Dave

jethroish

Dave,
So your trailer does not squat the back of the truck? You have a dually?

CoastalDav

Nope. It’s one inch to high in the front and have 5” above the bedrail. Suppose to be 6”. Can’t lower the hitch anymore, being an air hitch, it would bottom out being to low for the vertical shocks to work with the air bags.

Dave

BarryG

on my 17 3500 crew cab longed 4x4 srw no rear air my 10k trailer does not level out the truck.

CoastalDav

Forgot to answer your question. It is a Dually. Just to let you known, when the trailer is on the truck, I only loose 40 lbs on the front axle. Carrying about 4200 lbs on each trailer wheels and tires.

If you go back to the dealer, have a look at the rear leaf setup. A pic would be great.

If you buy the Dually, run 50 psi in the rears. Your rear tires will last much longer and won’t wear them out in the middle way early.

Dave

jethroish

Really not sure which way to go now. My current setup is SRW short box with factory airbags. When I hitch up the gooseneck, the rear end squats some. Not too much but enough that at night it blinds oncoming traffic. The airbags remedy that. BUT, with the truck leveled by the air, the trailer sits slightly nose high.
I am now concerned that my trailer on a dually would be even more nose high and possibly not have correct clearance with truck bed rails. Empty weight is 7500# and I am pushing 12000# loaded.
I have considered flipping the axles on the trailer, but then I am concerned about the rear of the trailer height for the horses to get in. No ramp.
Decisions Decisions

CoastalDav

I think the DRW 3500 will work with lighter suspension and being able to adjust as needed. You’ll have less sway in the rear with 4 Tires Back there. My trailer is a heavy one. Lots of pin. Your pin should fall in line with the average 37 ft fifth wheel. You’ll forget you have a trailer back there.

Thanks for the replies.

Dave