Okay guys, Here goes:

I have a CST 6-8 lift with all new components up front including uni-ball uppers, Dual Fox w/reservoirs on my 2005 Cheby dually

In the back I have blocks and single Fox shocks. 315 75r 16s on American Racing D-8s.

I could be happier with the ride. It bucks a lot more than stock on our famous concrete-slab-southern-california-freeways. In fact I think I lost a filling somewhere on I-10 between Fontana and Rialto!

I want to make some adjustments to the rear suspension but I don't exactly know what. Maybe remove a leaf or 2 and install some air bags. New springs and airbags?

The thing is I haul a 40 foot fifth wheel maybe 10-15 times per year a couplahundred miles each way to Glamis and I want to be safe.

Questions are: Is this a feasable idea? Anyone done this? Other options I am unaware of? Should I mess with the springs? Will air bags handle the weight? if so, what brands? which shop? Price I should expect to pay? I already have a compressor onboard for my stealth train horns;) .

I really could use any and all input from you seasoned been-there, done-that folks.

Thanks in advance

Steve

its fesasable to do, will hold the weight with no troubles, bags will get you a better ride if not mounted ontop of the axles but behind or infront on the rears, even though over the axle isnt all that bad, littel better than with springs. Cali has a ton of shops tht do it I would check with devious customs or call gibson exhaust and ask who did the big red crewcab truck.

Nice truck!!

I'm having the same prob with my truck and trailer set-up. Trailer is a 2006 FS 2300 super light Weekend Warrior. Empty it weighs 6300 LBS which is nothing for my truck. I haven't loaded it yet since it's not desert season but I have taken it camping as well as trying to diagnose the overheat problem (but thats a whole nutha thread).

Anyways I installed bags way before I bought the trailer in anticipation of the trailer..make sence? Even with the bags nearly empty (maybe 5psi) my truck still rides like crap, but like you said, "only on the concrete freeways" One possible fix is a hitch with an air-bag suspension incorporated on it. Have you seen those? they are pretty sick. Air ride makes them check um out, I've heard they make a pretty big difference. They also look really trick. let me know what you think.

And yes you can install bags on your lifted bubble butt. Use a spacer on top of your bump stop to mount your top plate

http://www.airridehitch.com/

Biterman,

Nice truck. I live just down the hill from ya and I know what you're saying about the 10 FWY, the 91 is even worse. I researched this quite a bit and there are a few options:

1. The easiest way to do it is to call Scott at Deaver Springs in Santa Ana (714) 542-3703. He can build you a custom set of rear leaf springs that will ride a tone better. These are the guys that build 95% of the the springs used by the off-road racers. They use thinner leaves and more of them to get a much smoother ride. You do lose some load capacity so you will need to add air bags. I'm on my 3rd set of Deavers and I love them. On my last truck for the air bags I used AirLift Heavy Duty(5000lb capacity) bags mounted above the axle. Easy install, $220 bucks, I ran the guage inside with a compressor, 2 gal tank, and could air up and down on the fly. Here's a pic of the bags installed:
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/5495bags-med.jpg

With the lift you have to run a spacer under the bag. I tow a 26ft WW and it has about a 1000lb tounge weight when loaded. I would run about 55-60 psi in the bags and it would level right back up and towed like a dream. Air down when not towing and it rode better than stock, not great but a lot better. On the new truck, I got another set of Deavers and I'm going to try mounting the bags on a lower link/traction bar connected to the fram and the bottom of the rear axle. This should help control axle wrap and give me a little more articulation on the rear axle.

2. The second option is to install a complete rear airbag assembly that replaces the leaf springs completely, similar to a semi. Here's a pic of an extreme version but you could do a smaller set-up:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/bombguy/airbaglift1.bmp


I'm pretty sure SoCal Supertrucks did one not too long ago. They ride super smooth, can carry all the weight you want, but they have limited articulation of the rear axle. Oh yeah big bucks$$$$$ too.

The problem we face in SoCal is that the lentgh of the freeway expansion joints is just right to create a resonate frequency flex in our trucks frame. Our wheel base along with the "flex" GM has built in to the frames of our trucks(supposedly makes them last longer, fewer rattles etc) all add up to a very bouncy ride.

On my last truck I even added extra cross braces and frame stiffeners, it helped but wasn't worth the effort.

Sorry for the rant, hope this helps.

Chris

):h nice work Chris. That second picture made me laugh so hard Pepsi sprayed out if my mouth.

Chris,

You rock!! I knew there would be some "experts out there that have done what I need to do.

How much are the Deavers (ballpark) ?



Biterman,

Nice truck. I live just down the hill from ya and I know what you're saying about the 10 FWY, the 91 is even worse. I researched this quite a bit and there are a few options:

1. The easiest way to do it is to call Scott at Deaver Springs in Santa Ana (714) 542-3703. He can build you a custom set of rear leaf springs that will ride a tone better. These are the guys that build 95% of the the springs used by the off-road racers. They use thinner leaves and more of them to get a much smoother ride. You do lose some load capacity so you will need to add air bags. I'm on my 3rd set of Deavers and I love them. On my last truck for the air bags I used AirLift Heavy Duty(5000lb capacity) bags mounted above the axle. Easy install, $220 bucks, I ran the guage inside with a compressor, 2 gal tank, and could air up and down on the fly. Here's a pic of the bags installed:
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/5495bags-med.jpg

With the lift you have to run a spacer under the bag. I tow a 26ft WW and it has about a 1000lb tounge weight when loaded. I would run about 55-60 psi in the bags and it would level right back up and towed like a dream. Air down when not towing and it rode better than stock, not great but a lot better. On the new truck, I got another set of Deavers and I'm going to try mounting the bags on a lower link/traction bar connected to the fram and the bottom of the rear axle. This should help control axle wrap and give me a little more articulation on the rear axle.

2. The second option is to install a complete rear airbag assembly that replaces the leaf springs completely, similar to a semi. Here's a pic of an extreme version but you could do a smaller set-up:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/bombguy/airbaglift1.bmp


I'm pretty sure SoCal Supertrucks did one not too long ago. They ride super smooth, can carry all the weight you want, but they have limited articulation of the rear axle. Oh yeah big bucks$$$$$ too.

The problem we face in SoCal is that the lentgh of the freeway expansion joints is just right to create a resonate frequency flex in our trucks frame. Our wheel base along with the "flex" GM has built in to the frames of our trucks(supposedly makes them last longer, fewer rattles etc) all add up to a very bouncy ride.

On my last truck I even added extra cross braces and frame stiffeners, it helped but wasn't worth the effort.

Sorry for the rant, hope this helps.

Chris

Try the Kelderman 4 link airbag setup. You remove the leaf springs. Truck rides great.

I got the Deavers direct and paid around $500 or so. Had to drive down to Santa Ana to pick them up but the building Deaver is in is like 100 years old or something, it's an old blacksmith shop, even has the old belts and pulleys running in the rafters. Anyway I thought it was cool.

Chris

):h nice work Chris. That second picture made me laugh so hard Pepsi sprayed out if my mouth.

Yeah more "show" than "go" for sure.-:t