Question on wheel size and suspension options

DNY · January 26, 2006

Got a question regarding wheel size and suspention option for me '05 Sierra Crew Cab Z71. Some things changed recently and I am now using my truck for work. The problem I am having is that fairly frequntly I am carrying loads that are getting close to the capacity for this vehicle and am having a few issues. One is that my tires are starting to wear out quick and in weird patterns. Secondly, the back end of my truck sags down a couple inches on occation and the handleing deminishins quite a bit. My questions is are the any simple solutions for these problems that will not tap my bank account too bad. For example will getting larger tires and some sort of load balancers help? Any input as to what options would be helpful for me would be appreciated.

fmjhp594 · January 26, 2006

load leveling air bags are quick and easy. for my truck they are only about $80 for a rear set. I have to manually air them up myself, but that is ok by me. takes maybe 2-3 minutes a side to air up from empty so its not that long and i deflate them when i'm not using them so I keep my soft ride. I only use them to help when I use my horse trailer or haul a pallet of concrete or shingles. they can add up to 2500 lbs more carrying capacity, but I wouldnt put that much in my little 1500.

a different approach would be helper springs. they are just one more 'weird' leaf spring that you add to the top of your leaf pack. they are a little harder to put in though and sometimes i've been told by people with them, can stiffen the ride too much when your empty. but you can add 800-1200 more pounds of carrying capacity. they cost about $300 a set if i remember right.

I was in the same boat as you, having to use it for work and my ranch more than i wanted too. I went with the air bags.

DNY · January 27, 2006

Thanks for the reply. I had considered air bags but the need to air up and down woudl be pretty frequnet for me, and a lot of time would be in the middle of the day away from home and my air compressor.

Helper springs might be the answer for me. Maybe coupled with some sort of adjustable shock like Rancho 9000's might work well with them. That way I can adjust them to the low setting when I am empty and firm them up when I have a load. Some wider tires may help with the handleing part too. Any idea as to what the largerst size tire or wheel I can go with without having to lift or have rubbing issues?

fmjhp594 · January 27, 2006

On stock rims 285/75R16 fit great, they are a very popular tire upgrade. When I get some money I plan on upgrading my tires to those right away. I currently have 265/75R16, put I could use that 1" or so of added ground clearance. I have seen 1 or 2 trucks in town, and read here about just a few people running 295/75R16. But that is probably not a good size to go with on stock rims, if you are carrying loads a lot of the time. If you got a wider rim then they would work just great.

On the air bag idea, you can add an on-board compressor for about $200 more. It is a really small unit that is hard wired in and located out of the way under the bed. All you do is press a button and it is pretty quick to air them up. When you are using the bags the pressures is about 40-60 PSI. I just like knowing that I can go back to my stock ride when ever I want and not be stuck with a really stiff ride that you might be stuck with when you have helper leafs. But look around and ask lots of people.

As to the adjustable shocks, search here on the fourm about that. My impression on them, from the fourm, no personal expirence, is that they are kinda over rated. In lots of the posts, the guys stated that they got them for the same reason why you want them, but they never actually spend the time to adjust them. They set them once when they got them and off they went. A few of the guys here on the fourms say that next time they are going to go with the non-adjustable ones and save some money. But realize that is just what I have read from here and a few other places.