2014 1500 Sag in rear

[Plumber101010]

I have a 2014 1500 8’ bed single cab.  It has a commercial aluminum topper and a bit of weight for a plumbing company truck.  Sewer machines, parts and tools I would guess at least 1000 pounds but with topper say 1500 min. At times with water heater 2000. Guesstimate.  It doesn’t really sag as it is, just a tad, but there’s some up-and-down movement in the rear.

 

If I hook up a trailer then there is a noticeable sag and it’s obviously lower.

 

I guess I’m old-school and I immediately thought about just adding a leaf.  Seems that in today’s world no mechanics really want to mess with that stating how involved it can be and here I am thinking it was a simple project!

 

They are trying to lead me towards airbags and all that other junk that I just don’t see investing the money in on a truck with 100,000 and maybe has a year worth of service left.

 

I’m not looking for the best option, I would just like to know what the absolute cheapest option is for me to get the back raised up and supported.

 

Is a helper spring cheaper than add a leaf?

 

Thanks 

[1SLOW1500]

Cheapest option is a small lift block. It will ride the same just sit high without trailer and level with. Other options are leaf brackets. This will bolt the overload leaf to the other leafs. But as it adds stiffness the ride will suffer.
Other options cost money like helper bag.

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[Donstar]

Brings back memories!  I grew up working in my dad's plumbing and heating business and we worked those old 1950/60's 1/2 tons pretty hard!   A proper spring and axle shop should have no problem adding to or replacing your rear springs. I had this done to my last truck and wouldn't hesitate to do it again if the need arises.   I would also suggest that you lighten the load on your truck and use your trailer for the heavier items.  It is easy to exceed the payload of these trucks but they can tow a substantial weight!

[amxguy1970]

I got these for my brothers truck. He runs a pool business and runs around with around 700-900lbs in the bed daily. He was happy with them. They didn't ruin the unloaded ride as they pick up a little later and are adjustable. They were just over $100 buck a year or two ago. 

 

https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/ez-990-hellwig-medium-duty-helper-springs?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy6LzofLV5QIVkcDACh0PZQpsEAAYASAAEgKrRPD_BwE

 

Tyler

[Plumber101010]

3 hours ago, 1SLOW1500 said:

Cheapest option is a small lift block. It will ride the same just sit high without trailer and level with. Other options are leaf brackets. This will bolt the overload leaf to the other leafs. But as it adds stiffness the ride will suffer.
Other options cost money like helper bag.

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I’m not familiar with the brackets but a lift block won’t really add any capacity will it? I mean yes I want to lift but I wanted to be able to hold some additional weight as well.
 

[Plumber101010]

2 hours ago, amxguy1970 said:

I got these for my brothers truck. He runs a pool business and runs around with around 700-900lbs in the bed daily. He was happy with them. They didn't ruin the unloaded ride as they pick up a little later and are adjustable. They were just over $100 buck a year or two ago. 

 

https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/ez-990-hellwig-medium-duty-helper-springs?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy6LzofLV5QIVkcDACh0PZQpsEAAYASAAEgKrRPD_BwE

 

Tyler

Those look like possibly the perfect solution.  So they won’t even kick in until the load is applied correct?

[1SLOW1500]

I’m not familiar with the brackets but a lift block won’t really add any capacity will it? I mean yes I want to lift but I wanted to be able to hold some additional weight as well.
 

Oh I thought you just wanted to resolve the sag when you have the pipe stuff in there and cheap. Block is the cheapest. The leaf brackets are u shaped clamps that just bolt the overload to the other leafs.
If you want more more spring there are many add a spring(leaf). But it is hit or miss on quality,ride,and if it works.
Air bag is the best answer. You can max the bag and be lifted and stiff then if you don't like it get out and let some air out. Then it is where you like remember the pressure. When tools and pipes are out let the bag down and you are back to stock. They make bolt in kits but it is the higher end of cost.

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[amxguy1970]

1 hour ago, Plumber101010 said:

Those look like possibly the perfect solution.  So they won’t even kick in until the load is applied correct?

If I remember correctly when I did the research on them (it was a few years ago) you adjust them to the pick up point. So unloaded the ride shouldn't change much at all then once some weight is added it picks up the new spring. Larger bumps it will engage the spring when unloaded and firm it up some but many reviews liked it. My brother didn't notice any real change around town, nothing like going to HD springs, he had his stock ride. They were also pretty easy to install too, basic back yard mechanic easy if you have a jack and jack stands with basic tools. 

 

Tyler

[Plumber101010]

1 hour ago, 1SLOW1500 said:

Oh I thought you just wanted to resolve the sag when you have the pipe stuff in there and cheap. Block is the cheapest. The leaf brackets are u shaped clamps that just bolt the overload to the other leafs.
If you want more more spring there are many add a spring(leaf). But it is hit or miss on quality,ride,and if it works.
Air bag is the best answer. You can max the bag and be lifted and stiff then if you don't like it get out and let some air out. Then it is where you like remember the pressure. When tools and pipes are out let the bag down and you are back to stock. They make bolt in kits but it is the higher end of cost.

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That’s not the route I want to go but yeah it would be nice, but not in my particular case.  I just want to cheapest option

[Donstar]

58 minutes ago, Plumber101010 said:

That’s not the route I want to go but yeah it would be nice, but not in my particular case.  I just want to cheapest option

1SLOW1500 gave you a cheap fix as well as a quality fix.  Both were excellent suggestions. No matter what you do, you will not increase the capacity of your truck.  There are many options to improve the ride within your truck's payload capacity.  Google for the location of a spring and axle shop located in your area.  Give them a visit and you will gain the information you need to make the most informed decision.  The visit won't cost you anything and I assure you that you will be much wiser and happier as a result!

[Plumber101010]

12 hours ago, Donstar said:

1SLOW1500 gave you a cheap fix as well as a quality fix.  Both were excellent suggestions. No matter what you do, you will not increase the capacity of your truck.  There are many options to improve the ride within your truck's payload capacity.  Google for the location of a spring and axle shop located in your area.  Give them a visit and you will gain the information you need to make the most informed decision.  The visit won't cost you anything and I assure you that you will be much wiser and happier as a result!

 

Yes, I can read, and did as well his replies, in addition to many others who suggested what I did and different from him, but HEY, thanks for playing, we have some parting gifts for you! LOL. 

 

I wasn’t referring to his first 2 suggestions, I was referring to the airbag suggestion and the airbag ONLY, as I specifically addressed that option in my opening post and stated it was a route I did not want to go. Others definitely agreed with me.

 

I also addressed the fact that I was unfamiliar with the brackets, but that WAS something I would definitely look into, but that the block did not add any additional capacity, as I was looking for.

 

I ALSO addressed calling around to two dozen plus shops and nobody does it and the only one that does (axle shop) wants $650!!!

 

I ALSO did NOT say I was interested in “improving” my ride, which I am not the least bit concerned with at all.

 

1SLOW1500 and I are 2 grown man and I don’t think he took any offense at all and I also replied specifically to ALL  his suggestions and addressed each one of his options.

 

So why did you feel the need to defend him when there was no argument between us, state that I should “simply” go see some shops when I’ve already stated the issue I’m having with that, and how to get a more comfortable ride when I didn’t say that’s what I was looking for?

 

I’m thinking maybe you just quickly glanced over everything and saw the typical question about how to get rid of SAG and presumed something that was not true, because if you had read the entire post you would’ve seen there was a little bit more to it then that.

 

In short I could care less about the aesthetics of the vehicle or the ride. The truck doesn’t have much life left in it so I’m looking for the cheapest option possible.  The block would just address the looks of the truck but wouldn’t actually give me any more capacity and 1SLOW1500 already addressed that and said he had misunderstood.

 

Sorry to come off as a jerk but I really despise it when somebody hops on like you did and starts pointing things out to me as if I was dumb, stupid and blind,  and that’s exactly how your post came off to me!  

 

If you’re unaware of it then I’m letting you know your post reads like this: “Why are you still here? Are you stupid? You already got your answers, what part of that do you not understand? Who are YOU to dispute ANY info you received, because ya know, you’re just a stupid idiot, a monkey with a wrench that doesn’t have a clue about anything.  Go with what you‘re TOLD!!!  I don’t know why you are here anyway, all you had to do was call an axle shop and ALL of your problems would’ve been solved!!!”

 

And honestly, I have ALWAYS been clueless as to why people say you can’t add capacity????  Certainly you can!!!  Adding a leaf WILL indeed enable you to carry some additional weight and payload.  Even the manufacturers themselves will tell you that their products will give you 700 pounds of additional load, or blah blah.

 

 And yes yes yes, I understand the point that everyone’s “trying” to make, that there are other factors involved with axle load, transmission, engine, frame, cargo bed and etc., etc 

 

But that’s just individuals trying to maintain the look of  doing absolutely everything right to the letter of the law, promoting safety and “implying indirectly” in an attempt to scare people into believing the truck will suddenly split in half while carrying your loved ones if you DARE exceed the manufacturers recommendations for payload and if you add an extra 700 pounds the tires will pop and the truck will sink into the asphalt!!!

 

 It’s all a bunch of crap. You know and I know and we all know that there is a VERY large safety margin built into the vehicles and a 2000 pound rated payload capacity  is probably easily equal to double that!!!!

 

People are going to continue overloading their trucks until the end of time and nobody carries around a scale. Might as well add a leaf and make it much safer for them AND ME

 

 

[Donstar]

10 hours ago, Plumber101010 said:

You know and I know and we all know that there is a VERY large safety margin built into the vehicles and a 2000 pound rated payload capacity  is probably easily equal to double that!!!!

 

I'm sorry.  You give a good account of how my post upset you.  This was not my intent.  As an aside, the comment you made about margins is one I would have somewhat agreed with many years ago.  Your truck may manage when overloaded but not necessarily safely.  When overloaded, you also lose the cushion for imperfect conditions.  I once broke a leaf spring carrying a heavy load while going over RR tracks.  Twenty years later, I did the same over a speed bump!  Both times, I knew I was pushing the limits.  The second time is when I learned about "spring and axle"  shops.  We have two within fairly close proximity,  They will fabricate a replacement or additional leaf and set the truck to your desired height with or without a load.  I found their prices to be very reasonable when compared to aftermarket DIY solutions.  Good luck with your search!

[Plumber101010]

7 hours ago, Donstar said:

I'm sorry.  You give a good account of how my post upset you.  This was not my intent.  As an aside, the comment you made about margins is one I would have somewhat agreed with many years ago.  Your truck may manage when overloaded but not necessarily safely.  When overloaded, you also lose the cushion for imperfect conditions.  I once broke a leaf spring carrying a heavy load while going over RR tracks.  Twenty years later, I did the same over a speed bump!  Both times, I knew I was pushing the limits.  The second time is when I learned about "spring and axle"  shops.  We have two within fairly close proximity,  They will fabricate a replacement or additional leaf and set the truck to your desired height with or without a load.  I found their prices to be very reasonable when compared to aftermarket DIY solutions.  Good luck with your search!

I don’t know what is happening to my posts on this website???  I posted a reponse to you and on this thread alone that now makes 3 posts I made, went to thread and SAW my post to verify (something my OCD makes me do) and then hours later it’s gone, poof, like it never happened???

[Plumber101010]

19 hours ago, Donstar said:

I'm sorry.  You give a good account of how my post upset you.  This was not my intent.  As an aside, the comment you made about margins is one I would have somewhat agreed with many years ago.  Your truck may manage when overloaded but not necessarily safely.  When overloaded, you also lose the cushion for imperfect conditions.  I once broke a leaf spring carrying a heavy load while going over RR tracks.  Twenty years later, I did the same over a speed bump!  Both times, I knew I was pushing the limits.  The second time is when I learned about "spring and axle"  shops.  We have two within fairly close proximity,  They will fabricate a replacement or additional leaf and set the truck to your desired height with or without a load.  I found their prices to be very reasonable when compared to aftermarket DIY solutions.  Good luck with your search!

Was waiting to see if that old post came back so I didn’t repeat it, but it disappeared completely!

 

The much shorter version is apology accepted and thank you sir for doing so. It represents a man of character and quality