Any Wesley Chapel, Fl members who are pretty knowledgeable?

[Sentry]

Just curious if there are any members here who are in or near Wesley Chapel, Fl.. Who are pretty knowledgeable on Tahoe's?

Currently, I am thinking I need to replace my Leaf Springs and shocks.

Would like to get a better idea of which types of shocks and leaf springs to get before I do so. Mine has a 4" body lift, and I have seen where I can get leaf springs to lift the vehicle a few inches.
Why am I looking at these leaf springs? It may help my situation with my trailer.

I have been watching videos on YouTube to get a better idea in what all is involved in changing out leaf springs and shocks. I does not look terribly difficult...

Tools I have to lift the vehicle are 2 Jack stands, I sill need to get a hydrolic jack. Do I need a 3 Ton? or can I go with less?

Do I need more jack stands? Anything else I may need? Creeper perhaps would be good.

I do have a nice work space...

 

[_Dylan_]

I would look at an airbag kit or maybe a weight distributing hitch. Sunlit will probably chime in about the airbag kit. I think firestone makes it and it's around $300. You can pump up the bags when you want to carry more weight.

I don't know how much a new springs will help with towing. The stock springs were designed to be very soft. That's where I think an airbag kit could help you. Adding another leaf to the spring pack will help also.

As far as tools, 3 ton is fine. You'll need 2 jackstands and obviously the right size wrenches. You might need a grinder/reciprocating saw. I have had trouble before with removing leaf spring bolts. They can be rusted solid in the bushings.

 

[SunlitComet]

how does you vehicle look unloaded and load and with your trailer attached. complete side, front and rear view pics if possible. need year door # and driveling type as well as weight on trailer to make the best recommendations.

 

[Sentry]

Sorry if I was misleading... its not the trailer weight I am concerned with... Where the trailer is concerned, is with raising the rear end up more to level out the trailer...

I recall my back end being higher when I first purchased the truck. Now, after having loaded the back of the truck with a cut up oak tree a couple of times, plus hauling a cheapo 4X8 Trailer loaded with the same oak tree... I think I flattened them out in doing so...

Only recently, bringing home a load of garden stones did I realize that my bumper was low to the ground. IIRC it was lower than a cinder block standing on end. After I unloaded the garden blocks, it raised up about 8 inches or so.

I don't know if the pics will help, but the one where its silver is pretty much when I first got it. I also added one with the empty trailer attached, which looks like it brought it down some. But the trailer isn't that heavy empty... Meaning it shouldn't do that that easily...

 

[Sentry]

Just for the sake of experimentation, I loaded the trailer on to the truck pulled it out of its cave and then took a couple of more pics.

I am aware I can get an adapter to correct the problem with leveling out the trailer. But anytime I put a couple of hundred pounds in the truck itself it drops about 8 inches... I don't think that is normal... Is it?

I was thinking if I were to do a lift through the leafs, I may be able to raise the hitch, but no matter what I will still have to get an adapter pintle. So I'm not going to worry about doing that... Ill just get normal leafs, but I do want something better than stock leafs.

 

[Sentry]

Here is a pic of the leafs

 

[Sentry]

how does you vehicle look unloaded and load and with your trailer attached. complete side, front and rear view pics if possible. need year door # and driveling type as well as weight on trailer to make the best recommendations.

Sorry didnt get front and rear view.. Try to do before sun goes down. Truck itself loaded... Not easy to load a couple hundred pounds in there without a lot of work. Perhaps, Ill be able to do so tomorrow...

4DR
1999

Drive Line? 2WD?

Weight of trailer 1200 lbs and can haul 1500 lbs (3/4 ton)

 

[_Dylan_]

the height of the trailer tongue doesn't help your problem at all. You load the truck up and the trailer points farther down. You are transferring too much weight onto the tongue with the trailer at that angle.

I would try to raise the hitch or lower the tongue first.

 

[Sentry]

the height of the trailer tongue doesn't help your problem at all. You load the truck up and the trailer points farther down. You are transferring too much weight onto the tongue with the trailer at that angle.

I would try to raise the hitch or lower the tongue first.

True....

Research I have done so far, I will be purchasing another axle for the trailer and adding tires and wheels the same as the truck. That will level the trailer about 2 more inches. Then the adapted hitch with the bolt on pintle will level it off and perhaps even tilt it back a tad. None the less I will be able to raise and lower the pintle mount as needed.

Just need the funds to make it happen in the mean time. Worst case, Ill figure out how to put the leaf springs in the trailer under the axle.

I already flipped the lunette on the trailer

 

[SunlitComet]

well the springs are worn. and the trailer has to much weight in front of its axle. and because of the pintle and height of trailer a weight distribution setup wont work either. so if this is the trailer you will primarily use you have three options. replace the leaf spring and drop the trailers height to match the suv and switch to a ball hitch to use weight distribution device. replace the leaf springs and install Firestone ride rite kit when unload the air bags would only have 5 psi in them for safety and reliability concerns. or just use the ride rite kit to hold the vehicle level when loaded and unloaded you would have to adjust the pressure in each bag each time a height adjustment is needed. this process can be automated at an extra cost to to auto level. the last two options will not change the fact that your front end is still gonna lift some and in some road conditions that can effect your braking and steering ability. as long as trailer has that much weight in front of its axle it is going to weigh you down and worse when loaded only effect the front end control of suv even more.

 

[Sentry]

well the springs are worn. and the trailer has to much weight in front of its axle. and because of the pintle and height of trailer a weight distribution setup wont work either. so if this is the trailer you will primarily use you have three options. replace the leaf spring and drop the trailers height to match the suv and switch to a ball hitch to use weight distribution device. replace the leaf springs and install Firestone ride rite kit when unload the air bags would only have 5 psi in them for safety and reliability concerns. or just use the ride rite kit to hold the vehicle level when loaded and unloaded you would have to adjust the pressure in each bag each time a height adjustment is needed. this process can be automated at an extra cost to to auto level. the last two options will not change the fact that your front end is still gonna lift some and in some road conditions that can effect your braking and steering ability. as long as trailer has that much weight in front of its axle it is going to weigh you down and worse when loaded only effect the front end control of suv even more.

Ok, first.
What a weight distribution device?

Got it....
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-...itches/towing-weight-distribution-systems.htm

 

[Sentry]

well the springs are worn. and the trailer has to much weight in front of its axle. and because of the pintle and height of trailer a weight distribution setup wont work either. so if this is the trailer you will primarily use you have three options. replace the leaf spring and drop the trailers height to match the suv and switch to a ball hitch to use weight distribution device. replace the leaf springs and install Firestone ride rite kit when unload the air bags would only have 5 psi in them for safety and reliability concerns. or just use the ride rite kit to hold the vehicle level when loaded and unloaded you would have to adjust the pressure in each bag each time a height adjustment is needed. this process can be automated at an extra cost to to auto level. the last two options will not change the fact that your front end is still gonna lift some and in some road conditions that can effect your braking and steering ability. as long as trailer has that much weight in front of its axle it is going to weigh you down and worse when loaded only effect the front end control of suv even more.

So as far as the simple part. Getting the truck back to a running condition. I can't do much with the trailer at the moment as its not even registered yet.

Change out the Leaf Springs: Brands/ Types to look at? Just wanting better than stock. Little more tough.

Shocks: Brands? Try to keep it under a hundred if we can... My money tree died.

I am car dumb, I can figure out how to take it apart and put it back together. Just don't know what to look at...

I'll figure out the trailer stuff later.

---------- Post added at 03:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:30 PM ----------[/S]

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Suspension/Timbren/A35RD545.html

Thinking about these for the trailer... This may solve the problem with the trailer height.

 

[SunlitComet]

i am still trying to find a good outlet for leaf springs nationwide other then a dealer but no luck so far. in the meantime i use the firestone kit.

with 250 lbs in the empty air bags rear seat and cargo

empty air bags:

air bags at 50psi:

---------- Post added at 09:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:19 PM ----------

oh and it is ****** and probably extends my shock fully as well. as for you link that is a good idea for height but you will not solve the weight distribution over the trailer axle or vehicle. i would work on leveling or lifting the vehicle first. and if you just stay pintle you could maybe get by with just a one a bit high if the tilting of trailer bothers you.

 

[Sentry]

Is JC Whitney a good place to look for leaf springs and shocks? I know they have been around for a long time ago as my father used to order from them. But I think they were one of few at the time.
Now. We have the internet...

 

[SunlitComet]

i would try there source of leaf springs but shocks you can get anywhere. find shock at local laces that offer a return if not satisfied with a specific model.

 

[Sentry]

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7399

I'm going to go with these springs for now... If I come to a point where I can afford it, Ill look at others and replace...

 

[SunlitComet]

keep us informed on your experience with purchase.

 

[Sentry]

OK, here is what I decided to do at this point. Yesterday, I purchased a 2.5 ton hydro jack and a convertible creeper (I needed one). Next Ill purchase the shocks, Ill be going with Blisten's.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index....cted_year=1999

Ill be getting second one down, I think. The "heavy duty" has me concerned its not for my truck... Frustrating. None the less its one of few I have found that is not intended for a lifted vehicle...
Since I am on that subject. The body lift should not matter in reference the shocks should it? They attach to the frame correct?

Next, Ill purchase shocks and springs for the rear of the truck. Still trying to figure out if my shackles are stock or not... I wasn't in a good mood last I looked at the truck and didn't measure them.

 

[SunlitComet]

shock do not attach to body structure.

 

[Sentry]

shock do not attach to body structure.

Thank you