My truck weighs around 6,600 pounds total. The front end is obviously heavier than the back end. When the truck is empty, the back end sits up much higher than the front. When the trailer is loaded onto the ball, the truck sits about level. The bottom leaf spring is a little higher than level and not touching the next one above it. I have hauled bricks, sand etc. in it and have seen where the leaf springs have touched, but I have never overloaded it.
What kind of set up would you recommend for me and where do I purchase it?
Also, is it something I can install myself, or do I need to have it professionally done. Thank you for your comments.
Thanks Andy. I have a '96 Impala SS that has basic cargo coils and I have an '04 3/4 ton Suburban which has the same leaf config as the 2500 (NON HD) series trucks (no overload leaf from what I can tell). The trailer is an '04 25' Safari with a listed hitch weight of 750lbs. I have weighed the tongue and with just the basics, LP gas (2 30#tanks, full), 2 batteries and spare tire. With this, it weighs 670lbs. I figure if I add stuff to the storage areas (approx 130lbs, which could happen) that are north of the axles, I might reasonably be able to get it to 800lbs, maybe even 825-850 depending on what I haul.
So using the 1000# bars on the Suburban with the Safari sounds pretty close, however when I towed the 19' Bambi with the Impala SS w/ 1000lb bars, it sounds to me that I might have been overhitched as the Bambi had a hitch weight of 460lbs.
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
With the overload springs you have on th Suburban, you should use a 550 pound hitch, and no more.
Remember the basics.
Minimum 1 inch bend in the bars, 2 inches is even better.
I don't think you can do that with a 1000 pound bar, unless you raise the Suburban's rear end higher than level.
But, do as you wish, then do the truck scale and then the ride in the back.
That, will answer your questions.
The idea is not to be just sort of OK, but to be as well rigged as you can.
Your not there with 1000 pound bars.
As another example, with a ball park 750 pounds tongue weight, a large car would use a 1000 pound hitch, a 1/2 ton truck a 750 hitch, and a 3/4 to 1 ton truck a 550 pound hitch.
The truck scales, the bend in the bars, the handling of the tow vehicle, and the ride in the back of the trailer, as well as many many research test, "all" support that formula.
For those that may doubt, do the research, but do it all.
Your ultimate findings will match the above, simple formula.
OK...I am curious.
How much money to purchase an extra set of Reese Bars?
Or, how much money to trade a set of 1000 bars for some 750's or 550's?
Anyone got a web link?
I am apparently over hitched with a 2500HD 4x4 Crew Cab Duramax-Allison.
However, I was ok with them on the lighter sprung Yukon I was towing with.
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