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Max Tow vs. Z71 off Road ??

wrc7732

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wrc7732 Enthusiast

wrc7732

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The leaf packs on the max towing suspension are heavier duty. They are stiffer springs to accommodate for more weight. Count the leafs in the pack on your truck then count the leafs on a max tow. I am not positive but there may be an extra spring on those also.

 

 

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Thanks. Mine only have 3 I think. Compared to my dads 2500 that has 5. Geez.

 

Probably going to take the plunge this week and hope I get the right ones.

 

Will post up once I've sorted it all out.

 

 

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wrc7732 Enthusiast

wrc7732

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Ordered my Max Tow Package Springs and new u-bolts today. Hopefully they won't take too long to come in.

 

 

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wrc7732 Enthusiast

wrc7732

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So for all who are awaiting the update to this thread [emoji1], here we go.

 

The "max towing" springs arrived arrived, and the only discernible difference between them and my z71 springs is the bottom leaf is approximately 2" longer. Spring thickness and curvature are otherwise exactly the same.

 

I don't pretend to be familiar with the math involved in calculating what that extra 2" on the bottom spring is capable of changing, so I proceeded with installation.

 

I don't think this will come as a big surprise to anyone, but it appears to have made absolutely no difference to load carrying capacity. Measured before and after with trailer tongue and weight distributing hitch installed, and got almost exactly the same front and rear. Very disappointed as I was expecting an additional leaf, of thicker leafs, or something.

 

For anyone who's looking for a solution to squat well within your trucks GVWR, may I suggest you take the $300 that I just threw away and go another direction (air bags, helper springs, add-a-leaf, etc.).

 

Not sure what I'm going to do now. Maybe look at air bags. Debating a home grown add-a-leaf out of the springs I just removed.

 

As I often say, not surprised, just disappointed. [emoji20]

 

 

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BlackZ71Silverado Senior Enthusiast

BlackZ71Silverado

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No matter what you do to you truck, your load carrying capacity is what it is from the factory. There is no way to increase it legally, your stuck with the factory numbers as long as you have that truck.

The only way to increase towing/haul capacity is to trade it for an HD.

 

 

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Panik Enthusiast

Panik

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No matter what you do to you truck, your load carrying capacity is what it is from the factory. There is no way to increase it legally, your stuck with the factory numbers as long as you have that truck.

The only way to increase towing/haul capacity is to trade it for an HD.

 

 

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I don't think he was referring to increasing the load capacity beyond the factory rating. I think its more about dealing with the squat within the load rating.

 

For anyone who's looking for a solution to squat well within your trucks GVWR, may I suggest you take the $300 that I just threw away and go another direction (air bags, helper springs, add-a-leaf, etc.).

 

Not sure what I'm going to do now. Maybe look at air bags. Debating a home grown add-a-leaf out of the springs I just removed.

 

As I often say, not surprised, just disappointed. [emoji20]

 

 

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Sorry to hear that the extra springs didn't help you that much! Try a set of airbags. I have a Z71 and I installed a set of Load Lifter 5000's and have been very happy with them! For me, the experience of towing heavy with them vs without them has been night and day and I consider them money very well spent. The only issue I have had is that they require a minimum of 10psi. It's just enough that with my truck it allows the leaf springs to occasionally shift slightly creating a little bit of that clunking noise. I'll likely try a set of leaf shackles at some point.

wrc7732 Enthusiast

wrc7732

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I don't think he was referring to increasing the load capacity beyond the factory rating. I think its more about dealing with the squat within the load rating.

 

 

Sorry to hear that the extra springs didn't help you that much! Try a set of airbags. I have a Z71 and I installed a set of Load Lifter 5000's and have been very happy with them! For me, the experience of towing heavy with them vs without them has been night and day and I consider them money very well spent. The only issue I have had is that they require a minimum of 10psi. It's just enough that with my truck it allows the leaf springs to occasionally shift slightly creating a little bit of that clunking noise. I'll likely try a set of leaf shackles at some point.

You're absolutely right. I was dealing with just about .75" of squat in the rear compared to the front, when loaded up with my travel trailer. And that's with me driving, and nothing in the bed. Easily still had 500lbs or so or GVWR capacity left, and was squatting.

 

Funny you should mention air bags.

 

I picked up a set and installed them Monday night. Should have just done that to begins with, but oh well. I'm very happy with them. Mine require 5PSI min., but I'm running about 10.

 

I'll be hooking up my TT for the first time tomorrow afternoon and hauling it to my Bro's house, about 3 hrs away. Hoping to see that night and day difference you're referring to.

 

Unloaded, it's astonishing how much height difference the air bags can inflict upon the rear of the truck. I think around 6" of travel. If all goes well this weekend, I'll be looking to add a compressor to the kit, to allow me to play with the pressures more easily.

 

 

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Panik Enthusiast

Panik

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I'm definitely adding a compressor and on board gauge at some point. Right now I've got the fill lines run up the rear most stake pockets and out through the round holes in the bed walls. I may experiment with dropping the pressure down a bit from 10psi. The set I have came with internal jounce bumpers so supposedly you can run with no air if something were to happen.

 

I towed a solid 8K the other week after I installed the airbags. I had towed the same load previously and the difference was very apparent. Much more solid feeling. Close but not quite the same solid feeling as towing with an older 2500. I measured the bed height prior to hooking up the trailer and had to put ~45psi into each bag to return the bed to within a half inch of the original ride height.

 

**General Disclaimer - Yes, I am aware I should have been using a weight distributing hitch for the weight involved.

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