Sierra elevation max tow package rear springs

Roman Merkushen · December 31, 2022

First post here, and have to say a happy owner of the 2022 elevation with baby diesel. Great truck and luv the drivability of it.

I bought it to tow my boat which is approx 9k lbs with trailer. The truck tows it perfectly fine, but the rear is sagging a bit. I am measuring 2.25 inch drop. I was wondering if anyone has done research to potentially swap out the rear springs on the standard elevation to a max tow leaf spring set? My understanding those are designed to carry more weight thus increasing the tow capacity. There are other things like different gears etc that at in the tow package that I am not going to tackle yet. But eventually will regear to 3.73 once the warranty period is up. Please post the part numbers for the rear springs if you have done similar swap. Thanks!

dieselfan1 · December 31, 2022

You can't increase towing capacity. It is what it is. Get some airbags.

Roman Merkushen · December 31, 2022

17 minutes ago, dieselfan1 said:

You can't increase towing capacity. It is what it is. Get some airbags.

Not looking to increase towing capacity, but get rid of the sag. Don’t want to get involved with airbags. Adding a leaf is not an option, don’t want to raise the rear. Want to see if anyone did a swap using a max tow spring set.

newdude · December 31, 2022

2 hours ago, Roman Merkushen said:

First post here, and have to say a happy owner of the 2022 elevation with baby diesel. Great truck and luv the drivability of it.

I bought it to tow my boat which is approx 9k lbs with trailer. The truck tows it perfectly fine, but the rear is sagging a bit. I am measuring 2.25 inch drop. I was wondering if anyone has done research to potentially swap out the rear springs on the standard elevation to a max tow leaf spring set? My understanding those are designed to carry more weight thus increasing the tow capacity. There are other things like different gears etc that at in the tow package that I am not going to tackle yet. But eventually will regear to 3.73 once the warranty period is up. Please post the part numbers for the rear springs if you have done similar swap. Thanks!

What's the tongue weight of the trailer with the boat?

Max tow springs and shocks won't gain you much of anything. Max Trailer is more the gearing and higher capacity radiator.

It seems you've got a weight issue. Too much tongue possibly if you are dropping that much.

Edited December 31, 2022 by newdude

diyer2 · December 31, 2022

9K 2500 IMO

Roman Merkushen · January 1, 2023

22 hours ago, newdude said:

What's the tongue weight of the trailer with the boat?

Max tow springs and shocks won't gain you much of anything. Max Trailer is more the gearing and higher capacity radiator.

It seems you've got a weight issue. Too much tongue possibly if you are dropping that much.

yep will be checking that next. Are you saying max tow springs are not much different?

Roman Merkushen · January 1, 2023

21 hours ago, diyer2 said:

9K 2500 IMO

3500 minimum.. I have been towing various toys for over 20 years. Having towed 9k 1200 miles with 1500 diesel, I would say that it is capable to pull a whole lot more. The most stable 1/2 ton platform I ever towed with. Having said that, If I upgrade my boat in the future, 2500 would be my choice.

AJMBLAZER · January 1, 2023

On 12/31/2022 at 10:22 AM, Roman Merkushen said:

Not looking to increase towing capacity, but get rid of the sag. Don’t want to get involved with airbags. Adding a leaf is not an option, don’t want to raise the rear. Want to see if anyone did a swap using a max tow spring set.

Thought about any of the Timken or SIS load bearing bump stops?

seamus2154 · January 2, 2023

On 12/31/2022 at 11:52 AM, newdude said:

What's the tongue weight of the trailer with the boat?

Max tow springs and shocks won't gain you much of anything. Max Trailer is more the gearing and higher capacity radiator.

It seems you've got a weight issue. Too much tongue possibly if you are dropping that much.

I have the same truck, in a '21 Denali CC. It does not take much for these to sag. I only tow 5500 lbs with 600 lbs of Tongue weight. Its down more than any normal truck. This is a common complaint. The truck does have sway control and the special shocks as its designed this way. Tows great. But I have to adjust my hitch to level the trailer so I dont load up the front two tires as they will run hotter than the rears. Noticed that in our fantastic towing app and TPMS sensors in the trailer tires. Its understandable to want the max leaf springs. Will be a better fix than airbags.

Roman Merkushen · January 3, 2023

On 1/1/2023 at 7:42 PM, seamus2154 said:

I have the same truck, in a '21 Denali CC. It does not take much for these to sag. I only tow 5500 lbs with 600 lbs of Tongue weight. Its down more than any normal truck. This is a common complaint. The truck does have sway control and the special shocks as its designed this way. Tows great. But I have to adjust my hitch to level the trailer so I dont load up the front two tires as they will run hotter than the rears. Noticed that in our fantastic towing app and TPMS sensors in the trailer tires. Its understandable to want the max leaf springs. Will be a better fix than airbags.

I ll do a little more research on part numbers to see if they are different. Moved the boat back a few inches, that helped with the sag and tows little better. Feels like the actuator is no longer getting stuck.

seamus2154 · January 3, 2023

I did the same with the car, and height of hitch. Once it sags, if trailer in pitched forward or back its loading the front or rear trailer tires. In the trailer app I noticed the front tires were a higher psi and were hotter. Once leveled all was perfect. Something I wouldnt have thought about years ago, and can see how that would be prone to a blowout possibly. Airbags arent an option for the Denali as it has the autoride shocks and a some sensor back there that is in the way. If I go heavier I will need leaf springs. The ride is great though when not loaded.

Edited January 3, 2023 by seamus2154

newdude · January 3, 2023

On 1/1/2023 at 9:53 AM, Roman Merkushen said:

yep will be checking that next. Are you saying max tow springs are not much different?

Correct. The GVWR of a max trailer vs a non max is only 200-300lbs higher. Its still a 3 spring pack, just a slightly stiffer spring rate. That's it. Airbags, add-a-leaf, Timbrens, Sumo Springs or Roadmasters would be the route to take.

1 hour ago, Roman Merkushen said:

Moved the boat back a few inches, that helped with the sag and tows little better. Feels like the actuator is no longer getting stuck.

Which brings me back to too much tongue. 9000lbs trailer might be within the capacity of the tow rating, but tongue should be 10% of the trailer weight, 15% max. That's 900lbs-1350lbs tops. That eats HARD into a 1/2 ton truck payload, even on a max trailer.

The limit here with your boat is the truck. Smaller boat would be better or larger truck.

2500HD would be the ideal truck.

Edited January 3, 2023 by newdude

Roman Merkushen · January 5, 2023

On 1/2/2023 at 9:36 PM, newdude said:

Correct. The GVWR of a max trailer vs a non max is only 200-300lbs higher. Its still a 3 spring pack, just a slightly stiffer spring rate. That's it. Airbags, add-a-leaf, Timbrens, Sumo Springs or Roadmasters would be the route to take.

Which brings me back to too much tongue. 9000lbs trailer might be within the capacity of the tow rating, but tongue should be 10% of the trailer weight, 15% max. That's 900lbs-1350lbs tops. That eats HARD into a 1/2 ton truck payload, even on a max trailer.

The limit here with your boat is the truck. Smaller boat would be better or larger truck.

2500HD would be the ideal truck.

I dont agree that a larger truck is needed. This truck is perfectly capable towing a boat this big. Now if it was a camper, perhaps that would have been a different story. The boat I have is probably most I would tow with the 1/2 ton.

How can I find out the part numbers on the max trailering package rear springs? I have read on numerous sites that they are stiffer. Curious if the parts are in fact different from what I have. Googling GM part numbers catalog is not coming up with anything productive.

newdude · January 7, 2023

On 1/5/2023 at 10:57 AM, Roman Merkushen said:

I dont agree that a larger truck is needed. This truck is perfectly capable towing a boat this big. Now if it was a camper, perhaps that would have been a different story. The boat I have is probably most I would tow with the 1/2 ton.

How can I find out the part numbers on the max trailering package rear springs? I have read on numerous sites that they are stiffer. Curious if the parts are in fact different from what I have. Googling GM part numbers catalog is not coming up with anything productive.

Curious on two things here quick. Up above I asked if you measured the tongue weight of the boat trailer. Have you? What's the # if so?

Second. Can you post a picture of the door trailer tag on your truck inside the driver's door jamb? Should have the max trailer weights, GVWR, GCWR and payload.

ExYukon · January 10, 2023

About the springs..... On another thread here, someone posted a picture of the rear springs on a 2023 1500 (without Max trailering). The springs are a single piece composite unit! I have not seen what the springs are for 2023 with max trailering.