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Post by flipflop on Feb 8, 2013 15:47:51 GMT -5
I tow a 3500lb boat around with my Monty and can't complain, except that the rear suspension bottoms out. I have about $150 to spend and was thinking of buying a set of Old Man Emu rear shocks and keeping the stock springs. You think this will help any? Welcome suggestions.
2000 MS XLS RWD 3.0L 140k miles *Trannz Cooler
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Post by monty98 on Feb 8, 2013 19:11:50 GMT -5
Get the rs9000 adjustable ones by Rancho. I think Edward can chime in on those. ;D
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Post by doarmihai on Feb 8, 2013 22:57:27 GMT -5
i have firestone airbags in the coils...for about 90 bucks
i can't see how shocks help you not to bottom your coils..i pull same weight ...the problem that the tong weight is to big for those old stock coils...
you could get the coils heavy duty from om emu
my 2 cents opinion
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Post by monty98 on Feb 9, 2013 2:18:25 GMT -5
Exactly my thoughts on the coil upgrade, but since the OP was mentioning old man emu shocks, I thought I would recommend the better choice for variable loads since the Ranchos have a wide range of options.
It also depends what kind of bottoming out were talking about here. ANY vehicle can bottom out with bad shock control empty even. I know, I've driven the monty shock-less around the neighbor hood once, went over a big bump and "bottomed" out the rear so to speak. If you're hitting bumps and cornering and the suspension is maxing out, then better quality and/or adjustable shocks are your answer. If you load up the trailer and the truck bottoms out....well then you have way to much weight on the tongue, or your coils are really that bad well, what I meant say was that like doarmihai said, the coils could use some help.
Like I'm saying, though, I don't think that's the case based on what I've experienced.
But honestly? There should not be more than 500 lbs on that rear hitch. Which is roughly the equivalent of two pretty beefy guys sitting in the back seat.
And current trailer calculations of 10% on the tongue (3500 x .10 = 350 lbs) put the weight that should be on the tongue only 350 lbs.
(anybody else care to chime in if I made any mistakes)
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Post by flipflop on Feb 9, 2013 9:19:10 GMT -5
Yes, ideally I would want to get new coils and shocks. I do like the airbag idea. Any good links on which ones to buy and how to install them? Never had any experience with bags.
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Post by doarmihai on Feb 9, 2013 23:48:27 GMT -5
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Post by monty98 on Feb 10, 2013 9:57:57 GMT -5
Cool, does that need an air compressor or do you just pump them up yourself? |
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Post by flipflop on Feb 19, 2013 13:51:54 GMT -5
What do you think of these? Appears you do not have to remove suspension components. One of my problems is that the rear suspension compresses way too much when I lower my boat onto the hitch. Trying to offset this. I believe these should help. Thanks for the info. Product is made by Air Lift. www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6955 |
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Post by ES_97Sport on Feb 19, 2013 18:16:06 GMT -5
I tow a 3500lb boat around with my Monty and can't complain, except that the rear suspension bottoms out. I have about $150 to spend and was thinking of buying a set of Old Man Emu rear shocks and keeping the stock springs. You think this will help any? Welcome suggestions. 2000 MS XLS RWD 3.0L 140k miles *Trannz Cooler I have a 2003 3.5L Limited AWD, but I've driven the 2000 XLS 3.0L. What you're dealing with is spring rate issue, not shocks. Shocks are NOT springs - they do not carry load. Adding 500lbs on the hitch - I can imagine it bottoms out. Mine bottoms out with a couple suitcases and some recovery gear in the cargo area.  There are two things you can do ... 1) get better rate springs, or ... 2) get air bags and keep the stock springs #2 is not my personal preference, and probably isn't the cheapest solution. Coils aren't that expensive and don't' require a ton of plumbing and a compressor. BUT, air bags are a non-permanent solution. You can adjust them for a load and then turn them back down for normal driving. I don't like air bags because I've seen and heard of too many leaks at inopportune times. You will still need shocks. The stock shocks are crappy. Always have been back to '97. Actually, monty98, I wouldn't recommend the RS9000s for this.  ;D The OME shocks would do fine. RS9000s are overkill unless you're doing modifications to the suspension - for off road - or you need to tune for some other reason. Personally, I always loved the OMEs on my '97 on the highway. I just didn't care for them off road because of high pressure gas charge. Edward www.4x4extremesports.com |
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Post by flipflop on Feb 20, 2013 13:05:24 GMT -5
Thanks Edward. (and all) You always share a great deal. So I priced out some OME Heavy Duty shocks and springs and its about $400 to re-do the rear. This would be really cool and I could crank the torsions bars some and have a cool looking truck. Are Heavy Duty shocks overkill? This would also go well with my 265/75/16 tires.
On the other hand, I could buy some KYB shocks and manually inflatable air bags for $80 and $90, respectively, for a total of $170. This would keep me in budget and help my issue.
I will consider my options.
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Post by doarmihai on Feb 20, 2013 13:27:07 GMT -5
Cool, does that need an air compressor or do you just pump them up yourself? they come with pvc line and normal tire valves, and you can pump manual you can run them in series or paralel the main thing is that they don't need allot of pressure, max 5psi but even when no pressure on, they still work at some level, because no air is coming out of them in the case where springs compress so i keep mine with no pressure in when not hauling, and still give me a better weight rating, and when i haul i will pump 2 times with the hand pump in each bag |
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Post by flipflop on Feb 20, 2013 14:29:11 GMT -5
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Post by ES_97Sport on Feb 20, 2013 15:41:09 GMT -5
Thanks Edward. (and all) You always share a great deal. So I priced out some OME Heavy Duty shocks and springs and its about $400 to re-do the rear. This would be really cool and I could crank the torsions bars some and have a cool looking truck. Are Heavy Duty shocks overkill? This would also go well with my 265/75/16 tires. On the other hand, I could buy some KYB shocks and manually inflatable air bags for $80 and $90, respectively, for a total of $170. This would keep me in budget and help my issue. I will consider my options. The OME shocks that come with their lift kit is what I've always used. Good shocks. Make sure that you replace all four with the same shocks. Mismatched shocks are like mismatched springs - they'll screw with the handling and and braking characteristics. Not in a good way.  Edward www.4x4extremesports.com |
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Post by doarmihai on Feb 20, 2013 20:06:24 GMT -5
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Post by flipflop on Mar 19, 2013 17:30:56 GMT -5
Went with the Airlift 1000. Took about an hour and a half. Filled to about 7 psi. Would have loved to of gone the OME route, but decided to see how these worked first. $85 isn't too bad to test it out. Rear of truck was raised a few inches with no load. Attached two more pictures on second page. Attachments:
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;D The OME shocks would do fine. RS9000s are overkill unless you're doing modifications to the suspension - for off road - or you need to tune for some other reason. Personally, I always loved the OMEs on my '97 on the highway. I just didn't care for them off road because of high pressure gas charge.
