Towing Upgrades - NHT Shocks, Mirrors, Air springs etc

FL335i · June 26, 2017

The background (if you want to read it):

Back in '14 I had to buy a truck in a hurry for work and NHT max tow packages were not even available yet, so I did the best I could do which was the 3.42 gearing, G80 and trailering equipment.
So my '14 has 67k miles on it and the only thing I want or 'am missing' if I were to buy a truck right now is the NHT tow package and the maybe the newer 8spd which I'm not 100% sold on yet being it's so new, I'm sure in a few years it will be massaged out. Aside from those two items my truck is perfect. Lately I toyed with the idea of buying a new '17 with these options and I rather just deal with my truck for another few years and save my money. Especially with the '19's around the corner and a second kid on the way. I'm on track to pay my truck off 2+ years early. And I do not want to buy a '19.... maybe a '22 or '23. No more first years for this cat. I bought a '07 335i BMW and got screwed as it was the first year for it and BMW starting putting oil coolers on ALL of them in '08, so I had to put it on myself. So, I have another solid 5+ years with this truck. This weekend I towed my '85 G-body Grand Prix on a HD 1,800 Lb utility trailer for 100-120 miles on the highway. Total they weighed about 5,200 Lbs. Truck did awesome driving with the cruise on 70 and even upwards of 77 when having to pass some vehicles. My Tekonsha P3 brake controller worked great. The only two things that I felt were lacking were 1- from 70mph on flat highway floored I could use more power. 2- The rear end sagged quite a bit with a properly loaded trailer and only about 500-600 Lbs of tongue weight.

The proposed Upgrades:

1- Air lift springs. Instead of swapping the rear leafs out to NHT leafs, I'm looking at doing air springs. This would be cheaper, easier, provide on-board air and a softer ride when unloaded. Something like this. https://www.airliftcompany.com/ These can also be taken off the truck in a few years and transferred over to my new truck (or at least most of the kit) or sold.

2- Rear NHT Shocks. Easy and cheap. Should swap right out from what I can tell. I noticed loaded down with only 5,200 Lbs the rear shocks could be a little bit stiffer.

3- Front NHT Shocks. Again, my truck is racking up miles and I can easily swap these out and the cost is not that bad being part of the replacement is warranted by normal wear and tear of the OE's.

4- NHT Radiator. I'm aware of the TSB/PDI campaign out there about cracked radiators due to Tstat cycling. My '14 fits the bill, but I've inspected mine very well and cannot see any damage. So I have another 2yrs on that warranty coverage. Debating just biting the bullet and replacing the Tstat and upgrading the radiator myself or seeing if I can find a dealer that will let me pay the difference for the upgraded NHT radiator if and when the stock radiator goes.

5- Tow mirrors. I can do everything myself except program the PCM. This would cost me about $500-600 from what I've been watching. I thought by now the OE take-offs would come down a bit on Ebay... but not much. The non-tow mirrors stink. I really want this one done.

You guys can see my signature for the mods already on the truck. I'm setup to go long term with it. Thoughts on if it's worth spending this kind of money on a 3yr old truck....

aseibel · June 26, 2017

my opinion- you don't need to do all that just to tow a car hauler. If the #500 tongue weight is your biggest problem, I would recommend adding a leaf. I put a helwig helper spring on mine and I'm a big fan of those, super easy and fast, just stiffens up the rear end a little. I drive around with some sand bags in the winter to counter my plow weight. I leave them in even when not plowing and my truck sits "level" when loaded. I have nearly the same truck as you.

Again, I don't know what else you haul, or how frequently, but upgrading the front suspension and mirrors, don't seem to be necessary for what you mentioned. The mirrors, are solely your preference, but unless you have a box trailer that is wider than 6', I don't think they are necessary. I've pulled a 6' wide cargo trailer with stock mirrors and felt like I could see adequately. If you tow bigger, heavier trailers than the car hauler, then, yeah those upgrades may make more sense.

It's all up to you, nobody on an internet forum can make the decision for you, only share our thoughts. Will you enjoy having adjustable airbags? probably. If you can justify the cost, I say go for it. But I would feel comfortable using my truck for what you described without those mods.

shane.lawrence.311 · June 26, 2017

The background (if you want to read it):

Back in '14 I had to buy a truck in a hurry for work and NHT max tow packages were not even available yet, so I did the best I could do which was the 3.42 gearing, G80 and trailering equipment.

So my '14 has 67k miles on it and the only thing I want or 'am missing' if I were to buy a truck right now is the NHT tow package and the maybe the newer 8spd which I'm not 100% sold on yet being it's so new, I'm sure in a few years it will be massaged out. Aside from those two items my truck is perfect. Lately I toyed with the idea of buying a new '17 with these options and I rather just deal with my truck for another few years and save my money. Especially with the '19's around the corner and a second kid on the way. I'm on track to pay my truck off 2+ years early. And I do not want to buy a '19.... maybe a '22 or '23. No more first years for this cat. I bought a '07 335i BMW and got screwed as it was the first year for it and BMW starting putting oil coolers on ALL of them in '08, so I had to put it on myself. So, I have another solid 5+ years with this truck. This weekend I towed my '85 G-body Grand Prix on a HD 1,800 Lb utility trailer for 100-120 miles on the highway. Total they weighed about 5,200 Lbs. Truck did awesome driving with the cruise on 70 and even upwards of 77 when having to pass some vehicles. My Tekonsha P3 brake controller worked great. The only two things that I felt were lacking were 1- from 70mph on flat highway floored I could use more power. 2- The rear end sagged quite a bit with a properly loaded trailer and only about 500-600 Lbs of tongue weight.

The proposed Upgrades:

1- Air lift springs. Instead of swapping the rear leafs out to NHT leafs, I'm looking at doing air springs. This would be cheaper, easier, provide on-board air and a softer ride when unloaded. Something like this. https://www.airliftcompany.com/ These can also be taken off the truck in a few years and transferred over to my new truck (or at least most of the kit) or sold.

2- Rear NHT Shocks. Easy and cheap. Should swap right out from what I can tell. I noticed loaded down with only 5,200 Lbs the rear shocks could be a little bit stiffer.

3- Front NHT Shocks. Again, my truck is racking up miles and I can easily swap these out and the cost is not that bad being part of the replacement is warranted by normal wear and tear of the OE's.

4- NHT Radiator. I'm aware of the TSB/PDI campaign out there about cracked radiators due to Tstat cycling. My '14 fits the bill, but I've inspected mine very well and cannot see any damage. So I have another 2yrs on that warranty coverage. Debating just biting the bullet and replacing the Tstat and upgrading the radiator myself or seeing if I can find a dealer that will let me pay the difference for the upgraded NHT radiator if and when the stock radiator goes.

5- Tow mirrors. I can do everything myself except program the PCM. This would cost me about $500-600 from what I've been watching. I thought by now the OE take-offs would come down a bit on Ebay... but not much. The non-tow mirrors stink. I really want this one done.

You guys can see my signature for the mods already on the truck. I'm setup to go long term with it. Thoughts on if it's worth spending this kind of money on a 3yr old truck....

I have an NHT equipped truck and the factory shocks are not stiffer...If anything they're softer to compensate for the rough ride of the leaf springs. I did a Bilstein shock upgrade (5100's) on my truck and it tows and soaks up the bumps like a dream however the big potholes (unloaded) are a little rough. I also did airbags and they do ok...They'd perform better pulling a 5th wheel. The tow mirrors are awesome and I recommend getting those. I believe you can swap wire harnesses out without having to reprogram your PCM or HMI module, though I'm not the expert on those I have read extensively about others doing the swap.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Donstar · June 26, 2017

Sometimes an upgrade or two will save us a lot of money in the long term! However, I would not spend the money to upgrade your truck's towing ability if you are staying so far under your rated towing ability. Your truck is already well equipped to tow. Save your cash and/or pay off your truck sooner or on other projects!

FL335i · June 26, 2017

All good input views. Much appreciated. reading this thread makes me want to scratch the NHT shocks and radiator. I've never warmed the truck up. I tow for work some. Construction equipment and such. Looking at my list, the top two mods i would actually benefit from are the mirrors and air bags. As for the power, I guess I could switch to E85 fuel. I've used it before and the truck was a beast on it. Never towed with it though. E85 is popping up at Racetracs all over Tampa.

Mark Diedrich · June 26, 2017

Tough call, I think you can handle the loads how your are currently set up fairly decent, but your not overly happy with everything because you know that there is something nicer out there....?

Nht package gives you the rear end that you prefer for towing, which should help with some of your passing at highway speed, but a 6.2 or diesel would also..... Where do you draw the line in the Sand as to which mods to do?

I don't think you will get your money back out of the extras when you do finally sell it....

If your pulling regularly, and want to spend the money on mirrors go for it.

But those that don't ever pull, probably won't want those mirrors in the future when you sell it.

Rkaroll953 · June 26, 2017

air springs make a huge difference. from when i got the truck i knew it had the power and capability to tow some good wheight, the half tons squat bad the air springs made a huge improvemnet

Krusty · June 26, 2017

All good input views. Much appreciated. reading this thread makes me want to scratch the NHT shocks and radiator. I've never warmed the truck up. I tow for work some. Construction equipment and such. Looking at my list, the top two mods i would actually benefit from are the mirrors and air bags. As for the power, I guess I could switch to E85 fuel. I've used it before and the truck was a beast on it. Never towed with it though. E85 is popping up at Racetracs all over Tampa.

Just an FYI - Towed my camp trailer first time with my new-ish NHT last week, and she sits perfectly level with about the same trailer weight you just towed, and 700 lbs tongue weight scaled at the local gravel pit. I measured at each fender to check. No equalizer hitch.

The rock load below from the same gravel pit was tongue heavy and did make it squat a little.

Short of buying a 6.2L Max tow as I did........... Bilstien shocks (and if needed an equalizer hitch) and towing mirrors would be my choices.......... I assume you have seen the towing mirror thread.......

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/198157-2014-2017-dl8-dl3-towing-mirror-upgrade-mirrors-explained/

powerhaulic · June 26, 2017

$40 and the shipping gets you my new rear NHT shocks.

I installed 5100 Bilsteins at about 700mi

FL335i · June 27, 2017

Krusty- Your pic above is exactly how my truck was sitting with the car hauler. Next time I haul the car or something big I'm going to make a point to do it on E85. See how that feels. Sounds like aside from the airbags.... I can live with everything else. So it's Airbags or new truck. No calculator needed for that one. Worst case it's mirrors and air bags. Still no calculator needed.

Rear Bilstein shocks. How to they behave vs the OE's? softer, stiffer? both? Loaded, unloaded.

Krusty · June 27, 2017

Krusty- Your pic above is exactly how my truck was sitting with the car hauler. Next time I haul the car or something big I'm going to make a point to do it on E85. See how that feels. Sounds like aside from the airbags.... I can live with everything else. So it's Airbags or new truck. No calculator needed for that one. Worst case it's mirrors and air bags. Still no calculator needed.

Rear Bilstein shocks. How to they behave vs the OE's? softer, stiffer? both? Loaded, unloaded.

If you read up on E85 - it has LESS energy than gas - it takes 1.5 gallons to equal the energy of 1 gallon of gas....

Well on my 2500 Bilsteins took away the sideways bounce over railroad tracks etc. Without making the ride any stiffer - they just keep your tires more planted.

I would go equalizer hitch rather than airbags - distribute the weight as needed.

aseibel · June 27, 2017

If you read up on E85 - it has LESS energy than gas - it takes 1.5 gallons to equal the energy of 1 gallon of gas....

yea, I don't know why you think you will see huge power gains with E85. There is less energy in a gallon of Ethanol than there is in gasoline.

maybe you mean a different octane level. If your engine is not specifically tuned for for it, you won't see any noticeable difference running higher octane than regular unleaded either.

FreeAmerican · June 27, 2017

I went through the same problem. Towing a 30 ft ultra light (loaded 7200 lb) trailer. what I did...

First off at 5k lb you need a weight equalizing hitch.

SumoSprings should help with the sag and not hurt the ride quality. Timbrens are good too but some trucks stiffen up a little in the ride quality.

NHT also has beefy anti-roll bar, go with Hellweg.

If you truck is Z71 with the Ranco shocks, get anything better.

Search around on the tow mirrors, there is a chart you look up what mirrors you have and it tells you what harness you need, I did not need any reprogramming.

For power you have an exhaust already, that might give you a little. I added a performance filter and Airraid Jr (just the intake pipe. That perked up mine a good bit

Run 93 octane. Running 87 you will get spark retard under load esp in heat. E85 will give you more HP but your mpg will drop 1/4 or so. And with the small tanks we are stuck with, its a pain.

In the end I upgraded to a 2500

nitro882 · June 27, 2017

If it were me i would do air bags to deal with the squat and if you want more "power" the place you will really find it is replacing the gears. You need more mechanical advantage and gearing will get you there.

IMHO 3.42's blow for towing anything especially on the freeway. You would be much better served with 3.73's

FL335i · June 27, 2017

^3.73's were part of the NHT max trailer pack back in '14 when the 6spd was out and they were not available at the time i was purchasing. Every dealer told me no dice, not even a special order at this time. I would love 3.73's. But that's an expensive upgrade. I've setup a lot of axles myself. Again, if I make the list of what I can upgrade or want.... look at the cost, headaches and the fact it's uninsured if the truck were stolen or wrecked I might as well buy a new truck that is fully insured and has the bigger rear axle etc. I 'm living with what I have until '22. The '17 3.5L Ecoboost with the 10spd has my attention. 460 Lb/Ft of torque. I know people that are selling their 2011 +/- F250 diesels for them. See what the '19 GM has. I'm not losing sleep. Thanks for all the input guys. very good stuff that makes you think.