Squatting under load

6.2Midnight · March 19, 2017

I used my truck to haul my friends jeep the other day. It was the first time I have hauled with my new truck, I was surprised at how must the ass end squatted, I would say about 2 inches.

The trailer is a dual axle, low height, open deck 2,000lb trailer, The Jeep is a 2016 Jeep Patriot, so not real heavy... Like everyone else, I want the truck to ride as normal as possible when not towing, but not squat, or ride stiff when towing, what is out there?

If it is a air ride, I want a on-board compressor.

I have searched on here, I went back 4 pages, but did not find what i was looking for...

crankman · March 19, 2017

Got a pic of how it was loaded? Sometimes it helps to back a vehicle on the trailer instead of head first. Keeps that heavy engine off your tongue. 2 inch really doesn't sound to bad if it was pulled all the way forward. I see alot of trailers loaded like that and it can sqat you a bit. But to help you on the air bag question yes we put firestone airbags on my sons 6.2 and it cleared that squat problem. He doesn't use the compressor we just put a T fitting and it fills them equal.

J-man67 · March 19, 2017

It was just too much tongue weight. I just towed 10k (total) with mine in a 14' tandem axle enclosed trailer. I loaded everything just right to keep my tongue weight down. Trailer sat level and truck wasn't sagging. Towed well. This isn't my first time, just most recent. I tow and haul with my truck regularly. Love this truck! Mine is a 15' 5.3 max tow so I do have a little more stiffness in the rear leafs.

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6.2Midnight · March 19, 2017

crankman,

I understand what you are saying about the direction of loading, but sometimes you may not have a choice on how it gets loaded. The ride back went very smooth, no sway, nothing like that, but the truck squatted enough to make my hitch bottom out a couple times on some inclines...

What kit did your son buy, I have used AirLift in the past on a car, with a on-board compressor. I'd rather go that route, just so I don't have to stop someplace and put in air. I am a little disappointed, the towing was one of the reasons i traded my 2003 Av, for this truck, and it squats damn near the same?

barry G · March 19, 2017

air bag or hellwig type helpers.

you could exceed the front and swap rear springs entirely.. but that is rough on an empty ride.

Clown truck in the front, 200 ton springs not flexing in the back.

Hellwig went genius with this subject many decades ago. Always a favorite for me. Retains the half ton ride empty..gets tougher as you load.

Air bags can do the playing with pressures.

I also haul a vehicle, it is like a toy back there. Ride just gets tougher, close to the same height empty...back to oem ride.

6.2Midnight · March 19, 2017

It was just too much tongue weight. I just towed 10k (total) with mine in a 14' tandem axle enclosed trailer. I loaded everything just right to keep my tongue weight down. Trailer sat level and truck wasn't sagging. Towed well. This isn't my first time, just most recent. I tow and haul with my truck regularly. Love this truck! Mine is a 15' 5.3 max tow so I do have a little more stiffness in the rear leafs.

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I highly doubt it was the tongue weight, the jeep almost center front to back of the trailer, I would however believe the difference of our builds from factory, though...

I forgot to mention in the original post, the trailer was level...

6.2Midnight · March 19, 2017

air bag or hellwig type helpers.

you could exceed the front and swap rear springs entirely.. but that is rough on an empty ride.

Clown truck in the front, 200 ton springs not flexing in the back.

Hellwig went genius with this subject many decades ago. Always a favorite for me. Retains the half ton ride empty..gets tougher as you load.

Air bags can do the playing with pressures.

I also haul a vehicle, it is like a toy back there. Ride just gets tougher, close to the same height empty...back to oem ride.

which application?

J-man67 · March 19, 2017

Hmm. Not sure. The max tow handles 200lbs more payload, so maybe that is the difference, but you were only towing about 5500lbs. Not certain as I'm no professional but could be a # of factors.

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crankman · March 19, 2017

He used Firestone Airbags they seem to be very durable, been in there since 2011. Does your 6.2 have the NHT package? It gives you a heavier spring pack in the back.

6.2Midnight · March 19, 2017

Hmm. Not sure. The max tow handles 200lbs more payload, so maybe that is the difference, but you were only towing about 5500lbs. Not certain as I'm no professional but could be a # of factors.

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I understand what you are saying. I agree, I was well within the towing limits of the truck, so why squat so much? Doesn't seem right...

He used Firestone Airbags they seem to be very durable, been in there since 2011. Does your 6.2 have the NHT package? It gives you a heavier spring pack in the back.

NHT package?

crankman · March 19, 2017

Just a thought I loaded a tractor one day on a 20ft car hauler and just the slightest adjustment moving it forward or backward a couple inches made a significant difference on the squat on the 2011 truck.