1 load gravel 1 Rick firewood and my ride quality has suffered

Gofas · December 6, 2015

Each winter I make a few firewood runs along with picking up and spreading a few loads of gravel after our winter rains.

Well I've already used my new truck for this and regret it. Unless it can be fixed at some point. Noticed rear leaf spring kinda out of place by 1/2 inch.

I hauled 1/2 yard of 3/4 drain rock about 2 miles and quarter cord of wood on separate occasions.each around 1300 to 1500#

Since hauling when driving I feel the force of hwy bumps into the steering wheel.

Will I be able to get my Cadillac ride back with new parts at some point?

What parts did I compromise to make the ride harsh?

I read the door jam payload number and it said max 1700#

So with this in mind I told the skid steer operated to pour a little less than 1/2 yards. His bucket held 1/2 yard. Edited (not 1/12 yards just a half yard.)

And the firewood split into several runs. Only stacked half way up the sides of bed.

I like using my truck like a truck, but want that smooth ride when hauling my wife kids and dogs the rest of the time.

am I asking too much, or do I have to start using trailer to preserve ride quality?

And again how can I get that cadilic ride back?

Love my truck to Death!

muddkatt · December 6, 2015

You are wrong on the weight of the rocks, 1.5 yards would weigh in at over 4000 pounds. With that said, I have hauled that much weight for short distances (15 miles or less) on numerous occasions with my 2001 GMC and the truck rode no different afterwards.

Gofas · December 6, 2015

Hmm.

I might have my numbers mixed up. Think the gravel was 1/2 yard. Per load. I better check again.

Gofas · December 6, 2015

Don't get me wrong, the drive is still really good. But did notice that I feel the bumps a bit more. And a jiggle a bit .

And want to know what to expect in repairs parts in the future after hauling heavy loads etc. To get smooth ride again. Having a new truck is nerve wrecking for me I guess..

JRL1164 · December 6, 2015

It maybe your shocks. I've seen shocks go bad after being serverly depressed under heavy loads. I don't know anything about the shocks on these trucks but I know my old '86 K10 I had 3 of the four go bad after hauling 5,500 lbs in the bed for 12 miles... (It was shingles a pallet and a half. Each bundle weighed 77 lbs and a pallet had 48 bundles in it.)

txchevy4ever · December 6, 2015

If you hauled 4000 lbs, you can bet it blew the shocks- almost a certainty.

Gofas · December 7, 2015

No way I would have hauled 4000#.

I told the dude 1700 payload and wanted to keep it under that. So they did have 1/2 yard bucket on bobcat.. I suspect the shocks.

The truck was close to flat , not sagging. If it's just the shocks I'm not stressed. Anything else I dunno....

muddkatt · December 7, 2015

When the truck was loaded, was it on the bump stops in the rear?

I doubt anything is wrong with the shocks, they are "supposed" to be engineered to not bottom out when the truck is sitting on the bump stops.

There has been several post with people having to torque the u-bolts that mount the rear end to the springs. Apparently they should be at 78 ft lb and they are finding they are at 30-40 ft lb. The fact that the leaf springs are not lined up, take it to the dealer and let them handle it.

ewbldavis · December 7, 2015

Maybe a trip to the dealer is in order for warranty inspection or at least a fix on the spring.

Mine has been loaded with firewood, and when you consider the 900#+ tongue weight of my travel trailer (granted, it is distributed via the hitch), I've hauled a considerable load several times without issue or "change".

Gofas · December 8, 2015

Il check in with the dealer and make appointment. Really want get it fixed so it does not rattle truck Apart. Before the weekend of hauling I could not feel little bumps nor those cracks that filled with the tar. Since hauling with it, my kids car seat jiggles back in forth In truck. I feel everything I run across while driving. I've driven it few more days to confirm that I ****ed it up. Or something is a miss now.

I think I screwed up the progression somehow in the leafs. Shocks seem to do the job of not letting truck bounce however they probably compromised .I'll get under there and check for leaks. Any smashed bushings etc. Just curious about the one leaf that looks out of alignment as well.

These are just my assumptions.

Thanks for the replies yall.

ewbldavis · December 8, 2015

I don't think YOU screwed anything up.

Stick to your guns. These are TRUCKS. You pay 40-50K for a truck, better damn well be able to load the thing.

txchevy4ever · December 8, 2015

I don't think YOU screwed anything up.

Stick to your guns. These are TRUCKS. You pay 40-50K for a truck, better damn well be able to load the thing.

Exceeding the specification and capacity is definitely the users fault, if that is what in fact happened.

GsBowtie · December 9, 2015

Exceeding the specification and capacity is definitely the users fault, if that is what in fact happened.

Agreed, but all manufacturers build some margin into that rating. If it was way over, I'd agree, but a few hundred pounds, I'd not think would cause an issue.

I believe the op said a half yard of stone? I don't think that's even 1,000 lbs, is it?

Gofas · December 9, 2015

Hi all.

I called my local Chevy dealer and the service manager meet me right a way that day. We took a ride in the truck.

A very nice young fellow. And as went we drove along and hit a bump and heard it in the dash etc he did not volunteer any thoughts. He wants me to wait until my 5k oil change etc. I said I dunno about that, my truck is going to get loose getting all this beating and banging. So I'll have to make Apointemt and leave the truck. He went on to say how they test it is by driving it compared to a new one off the lot.

He says the leaf springs being a skew was normal as long as it was the bottom one. At least half inch acceptable.

At the end of the ride he went on to say he felt the bilstein shocks would best replacement! Thats what they recomend to customers with trucks.

Oh And he went on to say "that if Chevy feels it due too external forces beyond mechanical means they might not fix period."

So if I go that route I would get same shocks again, so I dunno it's worth trouble.

But I'll do it. Then later perhaps get the shocks upgraded. Luckily I live 3 miles from dealer. Same service center that did the oil changes on my Tacoma. So I know most of them from past visits.

The visit will document that I had an issue if anything else where to arise or anything is broke I don't know about.

Oh, btw the skid steer holds half a yard of gravel

Yard gravel= 2400 to 3000 pounds

So approximately 1200 to 1500 pounds was loaded into my truck.

Ain't to stressed about it. It's just going to take some time to evaluate situation.

Stock light duty shocks, they don't expect someone to load up or haul gravel before 50k lol

ic3man5 · December 10, 2015

bilstein shocks are 100% worth it. $160 bucks + 30 minutes of labor (4 bolts) for the rear and you'll have a better than Cadillac ride, if you thought the stock shocks were good.