2023 Tahoe Premier towing issues, no air ride

[15burban]

What's wrong with a little over an inch of sag? There could be more options but the only 2 I see are get a weight distribution hitch or stiffer rear springs. Stiffer springs will obviously make it ride harsher when unloaded.

Personally I wouldn't worry about it unless you're always towing.

 

[Capt Ed]

What's wrong with a little over an inch of sag? There could be more options but the only 2 I see are get a weight distribution hitch or stiffer rear springs. Stiffer springs will obviously make it ride harsher when unloaded.

Personally I wouldn't worry about it unless you're always towing.

I do tow my boat a lot 9 months of the year to fish. In my original post, I remarked my Tahoe suspension seemed too soft and asked for recommendations on stiffening it up. To me, the fact it drops over an inch when connected to trailer is a symptom of a soft suspension.

Since my original post, I've not found anything that will work with the IRS. I do not want a weight distribution hitch nor do I think it should be necessary for an suv with over 8,000lbs towing capacity that's only towing a mere 3400lbs.

It's my bad that I did not research enough and bought one without air suspension.

 

[dbphillips]

It's my bad that I did not research enough and bought one without air suspension.

No, it's totally GM's bad for releasing a tow vehicle to the market with a Max Tow option and not designing the IRS geometry right. Must be one of those cheap recent graduates they hired...

Try these: https://kingshocks.com/i-30503082-25001-391-2021-chevy-tahoe-suburban-2-5-rear-shocks.html?q=

 

[olyelr]

No, it's totally GM's bad for releasing a tow vehicle to the market with a Max Tow option and not designing the IRS geometry right. Must be one of those cheap recent graduates they hired...

Try these: https://kingshocks.com/i-30503082-25001-391-2021-chevy-tahoe-suburban-2-5-rear-shocks.html?q=

Its not the geometry. Its simple physics (using that term loosely lmao). If they want it to ride all nice and fluffy…well it aint gonna tow diddly.

A simple air shock setup like they have used for the last several decades woulda solved the issue.

 

[dbphillips]

Sag

Its not the geometry. Its simple physics (using that term loosely lmao). If they want it to ride all nice and fluffy…well it aint gonna tow diddly.

A simple air shock setup like they have used for the last several decades woulda solved the issue.

Sag isn't a problem if you design the linkage correctly to keep everything in line...

 

[olyelr]

Sag

Sag isn't a problem if you design the linkage correctly to keep everything in line...

Meh, thats pretty much all the springs doing. Soft riding springs are just gonna sag. Not much can be done about that.

 

[Chud85]

Thanks for your reply. My Tahoe has the max trailering package and magnetic ride. It does not have air ride.

Even at my original 480lb. tongue weight, I'm below the 15% upper limit. I've done everything I can to lower tongue weight. I moved boat back on trailer as far as I can and removed what weight I could from the front. I still get about 1 1/4" sag.

As far as I can tell, there are no practical solutions available for the IRR. https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/thr...rket-airbags-for-towing-do-they-exist.132925/

I guess I didn't realize the air ride was not included with the max trailering and max towing package. Why they wouldn't automatically include that when the truck is rated to tow 8800lbs is beyond me but then again I'm not an engineer. However with the air ride i've noticed when I disconnect my dump trailer i have to put an extra block under the tongue to get it unhooked because the truck rises so high...I've always towed with either a 2500 series GMC van, 2500 series or 1500 series pickup so never had these issues. Once the truck is shut off it slowly lowers back to normal height but kindof a pain. Learning curve on my part I suppose...All things considered mine tows well. Good luck and let us know what route you decide to go.

 

[Stbentoak]

No, it's totally GM's bad for releasing a tow vehicle to the market with a Max Tow option and not designing the IRS geometry right. Must be one of those cheap recent graduates they hired...

Try these: https://kingshocks.com/i-30503082-25001-391-2021-chevy-tahoe-suburban-2-5-rear-shocks.html?q=

It will tow it....it just ain't gonna look pretty. You can spend a bunch of extra money on hitch enhancers, WD and the like. But having air ride solves this neatly and perfectly every time. If you tow, it's at least a nice to have if not a need to have. Levels my 5K TriToon out perfectly.

 

[dbphillips]

It will tow it....it just ain't gonna look pretty. You can spend a bunch of extra money on hitch enhancers, WD and the like. But having air ride solves this neatly and perfectly every time. If you tow, it's at least a nice to have if not a need to have. Levels my 5K TriToon out perfectly.

Yeah, I'm sure the air ride is great until you have to repair it. If they had been transparent about the shortcomings of a tow vehicle rated to 8000# and offering a max tow package, I would have ordered it. IF they offered it on RST. Ridiculous that it is High Country only. It's just really poor execution.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

I guess I didn't realize the air ride was not included with the max trailering and max towing package. Why they wouldn't automatically include that when the truck is rated to tow 8800lbs is beyond me but then again I'm not an engineer. However with the air ride i've noticed when I disconnect my dump trailer i have to put an extra block under the tongue to get it unhooked because the truck rises so high...I've always towed with either a 2500 series GMC van, 2500 series or 1500 series pickup so never had these issues. Once the truck is shut off it slowly lowers back to normal height but kindof a pain. Learning curve on my part I suppose...All things considered mine tows well. Good luck and let us know what route you decide to go.

You could manually lower the vehicle when you park to disconnect…

 

[djnice]

If the OP is towing a lot, spring spacers might be an option. It will ride high when unloaded though. You could also do an air strut on the rear like the one posted on page 2 from ebay. You just set it to a tow pressure or a not-towing pressure. It doesn't have to be constantly adjusting or integrated. As far as the air-ride option, I don't like how it rides. Too bouncy.

 

[BacDoc]

If the OP is towing a lot, spring spacers might be an option. It will ride high when unloaded though. You could also do an air strut on the rear like the one posted on page 2 from ebay. You just set it to a tow pressure or a not-towing pressure. It doesn't have to be constantly adjusting or integrated. As far as the air-ride option, I don't like how it rides. Too bouncy.

If you have a Tahoe with air suspension and are towing below max tow weight and proper tongue weight it shouldn’t be “bouncy”. I tow a double axle boat/trailer that is around 6500 lbs with my Tahoe air suspension 6.2l and it’s the smoothest trailer ride I’ve had compared to my previous trucks, all GM V8 2500 equipped but none had air ride. I tow 3-4 times a month and only for 12-15 miles at a time mostly 55mph, highway but there are always idiots, road kill and construction debris to be dodged and maneuvered around.

The 2014 Chevy Express 2500 I had before the Tahoe was 6.0l and 8 speed with max trailer, locking differential and some other options for towing but not air suspension and I always thought that was pretty good ride until I started towing with the Tahoe.

Also the 360 cameras and the trailer app on infotainment screen is pretty slick. I had a light out that I wasn’t aware of and the hook up test let me know exactly which one it was so I got it fixed instead of having a trooper “warn” me lol!