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2000 Z71...Rear Spring Upgrade?

RyanbabZ71

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xofmot New Member

xofmot

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Hi Everyone! This is a great site with great posts! I've been a member for about a month now. I been SEARCHING this site and gathering a BUNCH of information. THANKS!

I own a 2000 1500 series Z71 ext. cab/ short bed truck. I bought this new 2 years ago. Since owning the truck it has been very good transportation. I now own and operate a lawncare business. I really don't have the funds to go out and buy another truck that is more of a truck than a car. I would like to "BEEF" up mine. I would like to increase the PAYLOAD (maybe up it another 700 lbs) and I am planning on changing out the front bars for ones of more substance.

My QUESTION is THIS: has anyone out there "UPGRADED" there rear spring pack to a more HEAVY DUTY pack? If so, could you please pass on some info... :)   Thanks again!

RyanbabZ71 Senior Enthusiast

RyanbabZ71

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Hi

 

Welcome to the site glad it has been a help to you

 

A few options i know of offhand but dont not have experience with

 

One would be add a leaf or helper springs.  

The other would be air bags in the rear.  This is probably a better option

 

Hopefully someone can shed some info for you

xofmot New Member

xofmot

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Thanks Ryan!  I'm still not "SOLD" on the AIRBAG set-ups. I'm sure they work, but I think I'm going to go for some add-a-leafs or see if a 2500's  spring pack is a bolt in replacement.

RyanbabZ71 Senior Enthusiast

RyanbabZ71

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another thing

 

A delivery guy that i worked with had a 3/4 ton chevy van.  He needed more towing capacity so he took off his stock leaf springs and took them to a truck place that worked with springs.  They rearched them i believe or added a spring to it.  Well whatever they did it had a 1 ton capacity instead of the 3/4 ton.  I thought about having this done but i did other mods in the mean time.

 

Might also look into that.

Kansas Kid Senior Enthusiast

Kansas Kid

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You can go ahead and put some 3/4 ton springs on your truck, but it isn't legally going to increase your payload.  Sure you will have heavier duty springs, but what will it matter when your tires, brakes, and the rear axle aren't up to par with the springs.  I think with just wanting up go up an additional 700lbs you will be fairly safe, but at the very least you need to upgrade the tires as well.  Make sure you have atleast a load range "D" tire on there.  If you are not wanting to have a stiffer ride, I would highly recommend going the air bag route.  Going to the 3/4 ton springs (if they will fit) and tougher tires will result in a stiffer ride when unloaded.

 

Ryan, why are you wanting to go up to a heavier duty spring?  It will probably make the back end of the pickup sit up in the air compared to the front again...

RyanbabZ71 Senior Enthusiast

RyanbabZ71

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i have thought about the add a leafs.  Rancho has a kit but for the pre 99 trucks which is nice.  Reason i want to increase the payload a little is because summer time i do alot of hauling back and forth to our summer cottage.  We throw a tractor in the back, gear, 3-4 people.  I mean the truck can handle it but i dont know i guess i just want a heavy duty 1/2 ton

Polaris Man Enthusiast

Polaris Man

Posted
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Try Hellwig's progressive overloads. I just helped my buddy put a set on his 2000 Chevy 1500. They were 2500lbs overloads. They were easy to put on, less than an hour, you can adjust them to raise your unloaded ride height if you want. They will help a lot, they would be around 200$ or so. Good Product.

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