Advice please - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mhicks · 05-05-2009, 08:06 AM

I bought me a boat last year and it's pretty heavy. I have a '73 stepside and it squats pretty good when the boat is hooked up. I was wondering what would be the best thing to do to my truck that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I don't know if I should go with air shocks or some kind of heavy duty shocks.

**N2TRUX** · 05-05-2009, 08:50 AM

I highly recommend air helper bags. They can be had in many "bolt on" configurations. These will allow you to add additional towing capacity and not have an adverse effect on your ride when not in use.

I have had them on several trucks in the past and was very pleased with the results.

mhicks · 05-05-2009, 09:00 AM

What kind of price am I looking at for a setup like that? Where can they be bought?

**N2TRUX** · 05-05-2009, 09:15 AM

Check with our forum vendors, or do a search on Air Lift brand. That's the first name that I know for this type of system.

It's been several years since I ran one, so I know prices have changed. While it will be a bit more expenive than air shocks, the ride is well worth it.

**scotts62** · 05-05-2009, 10:25 PM

My boss has that setup on his new chevy and he loves it. It works really well.

AceX · 05-06-2009, 01:00 AM

Helper bags are definitely the best way to go. Air shocks will help alot. I'm not sure if the 1/2 ton in '73 was available with an over-load spring.

fixit-p · 05-06-2009, 01:35 AM

Any idea what the boat weighs gross and tounge it's hard to tell from the pic but the first impression I had was that's alot of boat for a single axle trailer but it could just be the angle.

AceX · 05-06-2009, 02:35 AM

Looking at the size of the boat in comparison to the truck, its within the limits of a single axle trailer, but not by a whole lot. Probably less than 300lbs.

Just an observation, that axle is fairly far back, that puts alot more weight on the tongue, which may be why you see so much "sag" in the rear.

mhicks · 05-06-2009, 09:36 AM

I don't know the tongue weight. I got all of the paperwork with it and can check. I it is not in there I could weigh it.
Thanks for the help guys, I will look into it a little more and post the weight so everybody will know what your looking at.
Does anybody have a picture of what you have in mind. I am not sure what it is that is being discussed.
Thanks

fixit-p · 05-06-2009, 11:14 AM

Here's a pic of the helper airspring I'm sure several of the site vendors would carry it. How do the springs the trailer look are they bottomed out?

mhicks · 05-06-2009, 11:28 AM

Ho do the springs on the truck look?

05-05-2009, 08:06 AM	#1
mhicks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Weatherford,Tx Posts: 747	Advice please I bought me a boat last year and it's pretty heavy. I have a '73 stepside and it squats pretty good when the boat is hooked up. I was wondering what would be the best thing to do to my truck that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I don't know if I should go with air shocks or some kind of heavy duty shocks. Attached Images

05-05-2009, 08:50 AM	#2
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: Advice please I highly recommend air helper bags. They can be had in many "bolt on" configurations. These will allow you to add additional towing capacity and not have an adverse effect on your ride when not in use. I have had them on several trucks in the past and was very pleased with the results. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" Last edited by N2TRUX; 05-05-2009 at 08:51 AM.

05-05-2009, 09:00 AM	#3
mhicks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Weatherford,Tx Posts: 747	Re: Advice please What kind of price am I looking at for a setup like that? Where can they be bought?

05-05-2009, 09:15 AM	#4
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: Advice please Check with our forum vendors, or do a search on Air Lift brand. That's the first name that I know for this type of system. It's been several years since I ran one, so I know prices have changed. While it will be a bit more expenive than air shocks, the ride is well worth it. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

05-05-2009, 10:25 PM	#5
scotts62 One day... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tuttle, Ok Posts: 9,243	Re: Advice please My boss has that setup on his new chevy and he loves it. It works really well. __________________ Scott 93 crew cab build Project 62

05-06-2009, 01:00 AM	#6
AceX >130dB Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,130	Re: Advice please Helper bags are definitely the best way to go. Air shocks will help alot. I'm not sure if the 1/2 ton in '73 was available with an over-load spring. __________________ Living Life @ 130dB LED Tail Light Conversion; How-to Friend. Father. Brother. RIP El Jay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLICK HERE and for less than $0.07 a day, you too can help support and build a better forum.

05-06-2009, 01:35 AM	#7
fixit-p Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Yay Area CA Posts: 2,329	Re: Advice please Any idea what the boat weighs gross and tounge it's hard to tell from the pic but the first impression I had was that's alot of boat for a single axle trailer but it could just be the angle.

05-06-2009, 02:35 AM	#8
AceX >130dB Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,130	Re: Advice please Looking at the size of the boat in comparison to the truck, its within the limits of a single axle trailer, but not by a whole lot. Probably less than 300lbs. Just an observation, that axle is fairly far back, that puts alot more weight on the tongue, which may be why you see so much "sag" in the rear. __________________ Living Life @ 130dB LED Tail Light Conversion; How-to Friend. Father. Brother. RIP El Jay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLICK HERE and for less than $0.07 a day, you too can help support and build a better forum.

05-06-2009, 09:36 AM	#9
mhicks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Weatherford,Tx Posts: 747	Re: Advice please I don't know the tongue weight. I got all of the paperwork with it and can check. I it is not in there I could weigh it. Thanks for the help guys, I will look into it a little more and post the weight so everybody will know what your looking at. Does anybody have a picture of what you have in mind. I am not sure what it is that is being discussed. Thanks

05-06-2009, 11:14 AM	#10
fixit-p Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Yay Area CA Posts: 2,329	Re: Advice please Here's a pic of the helper airspring I'm sure several of the site vendors would carry it. How do the springs the trailer look are they bottomed out? Attached Images Last edited by fixit-p; 05-06-2009 at 11:16 AM.

05-06-2009, 11:28 AM	#11
mhicks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Weatherford,Tx Posts: 747	Re: Advice please Ho do the springs on the truck look?



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