Coil Sumo Spring

[98tsiawd]

http://shop.supersprings.com/p/coil-sumosprings-css-1195

Has anyone run something like this and what are your thoughts? I'm asking b/c I run airite 1000 bags in the rear of my unit and with my trailer hooked up and 35 psi in the bags, the truck still squats a bit so I'm wondering if something like the sumo spring would help with the squatting. (Total trailer weight with car on it is roughly 4000lbs)

 

[The_Roadie]

Interesting product. Never been discussed here or on the other forums I hang out at. It's a modern version of the little rubber coil stiffeners they used to sell at JC Whitney to counteract sagging coils. THose were criminally risky to put in, and this product is only a little bit better.

Basically, the risk is that you stiffen a section of the coil, but (since you never get something for nothing) the stress goes to the NON-stiffened coils. And they are stressed to the point of taking a set and you end up being no better off.

In your case, just troubleshoot and solve the root cause of your problem, which I'm thinking is excessive tongue weight. You need to figure out a way to actually weigh the tongue weight (using a load cell made for the purpose, or take two bathroom scales and spread the load over the two of them using some wood structure). The tongue weight doesn't need to be more than 10% of the weight of the trailer, and on a car trailer it's easy to put the load too far forward. You may need to back the car onto the trailer to get it right.

Other countermeasures available to you are stiffer and progressive coils (especially the cheap takeoffs you can find on Ebay from Z71 Tahoe/Avalanche trucks) if you don't mind changing your Airlift bags and ending up with a bit of lift when you're not towing. Also - I bought a set of Timbren bump stops - also made especially for that you have going on. I would not be putting anything in the coils like the Sumo. Google for Timbren.

 

[jonbo2002]

with 4000lbs I'd be using my weight distribution hitch, then you just have to set it up for an even squat

 

[The_Roadie]

Man, I forgot to mention that. Above 250 or 300 pounds hitch weight you're REQUIRED to be using a WDH. Thanks!

 

[jonbo2002]

Man, I forgot to mention that. Above 250 or 300 pounds hitch weight you're REQUIRED to be using a WDH. Thanks!

wow lol 1 for me to about 100 times you helped me out :wootwoot:

 

[98tsiawd]

thanks for the info guys, I think I'll stay away from these guys.

Roadie I think I'll try your idea of backing the car on the trailer. I'm going to take some measurement of why ride height with no trailer attached to having the trailer attached with the car facing forward then rear facing to see how much sag there is. With my car facing forward there isn’t a lot of sag but I would like to get my truck as level as possible. Unfortunately I don’t have 2 bathroom scales, if I were to take everything to the local truck commercial scale is there a way to measure tongue weight?

Thanks for the help

 

[C-ya]

Unfortunately I don’t have 2 bathroom scales, if I were to take everything to the local truck commercial scale is there a way to measure tongue weight?

Thanks for the help

Yes, most of the scales are segmented. Put the wheels on one segment and put the tongue on another. You'll have to unhook and pull forward and get a printout of all the segments, which I think they do anyway. I'm guessing your trailer has a tongue jack, so just put some wood down and jack it up enough to get the truck out and pull forward, then lower it back to the original ride height.

 

[The_Roadie]

You can buy a second bathroom scale for what it will cost you for one visit at the commercial scales. And then you can fiddle and fart to your heart's content to adjust the tongue weight exactly.

Besides, I don't think truck scales have the precision you need. +/- 100 pounds isn't good enough.

 

[98tsiawd]

Thanks for the help, I'm going to pick up a scale tomorrow, I definately need to weight the tongue as I tried to back my car on but the car is too low and it scrapes the front bumper pretty good. I need to make sure I'm not over weight on the tongue. I did measure how much sag there is and my truck sits 7/8 of an inch lower then stock

 

[jonbo2002]

7/8 isn't much. I sat a full inch maybe more in the front and back with my weight distribution hitch and the travel trailer on.

 

[The_Roadie]

If you can measure the sag accurately, then you have a sort-of scale built in. Since you know your own weight, measure the sag when you're standing on the hitch. Do the math.