Has anyone put air shocks on their vehicle?

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When I put the trailer on the the hitch, the rear end sinks due to the weight. Has anyone added air shocks to their Suburban? Did you use a different solution?
 
Let me know how it works for you. I am seriously considering doing the same thing. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work. Beats wrestling out leaf springs.
 
How heavy are your trailers? Did you consider weight distribution hitches? You could probably get a nice hitch set up for the same price and be a lot safer. Remember, if the more you lower the rear with weight, the more that front end comes up especially when stopping. I pull a 5K lb travel traler with my 99 half ton. I had an extra leaf added to the rear (300 bucks parts and labor, find shop that just does springs. was in and out in a half hour) because the trailer would bottom out the suburban without the distribution hitch. Because I am on the lazy side and was tired of messing around with the hitch just to move the trailer around the yard, I had the leafs installed. It made a world of difference but I would never go on the road with out setting up the distribution hitch. Just and idea hope it helps. Good luck.
 
Just my two cents worth, I strongly agree with the weight distribution hitch. Was pulling a camper without one for awhile, then finally got it. Night and day difference. I honestly did not excpect a very big difference but it was huge. A heck of a lot safer and probably easier on the old burb as well. Worth every penny.
 
OK. Just had the Monroe Max Air shocks installed. Can fill up to 120 lbs which equates to about 1200 lbs at the tongue.

I have used weight distribution systems when I was hauling an RV type trailer but I've never seen a WD system used to haul a boat, especially if the intent was to launch it...

Anyway, I pulled the boat out and at 80lbs. of air pressure, the rear end did not squat nearly as much. I think at 90-100lbs, it would be perfect but I didn't want to fill it with the load on because I did not know if that would damage the shocks.

I'll report next time I haul the boat out.

The air fill nipple was placed just under the bumper for easy access. I'll add a picture once I figure out how to do that...

Islander asked how heavy my load was. The answer is, it depends. The trailer is 1500lbs, the boat and motor is about 5800 lbs, gear, junk, etc., about 400 lbs. The big variable is fuel. She holds 173 gallons, so at 8lbs a gallon, if full, its another 1300 lbs. So, it could be around 9,000 lbs give or take.
 
Be carefull, I do believe your hitch tells you 500lb tongue max and 1000lb max with weight distribution. Air shocks are not like the w/d system. Your rear axle is the fulcrum point. With out w/d the lower you make the rear, the higher the front comes up. By airing up your shocks you are most likely raising up your front end even more. This is important in braking and steering. If you have to get on your brakes, that 9000lb ish load is going right down on your tongue and lifting your front even more!!! With w/d your chasis and trailer ultimately become one and makes for better braking and control. Lauching a boat should not be an issue because the ramp goes down and the w/d will allow that to happen. It is going up hill where the w/d can be an issue. One time I forgot to release the tensioners backing in my driveway. It is a slight incline off the street and the rear end lifted high enough I got stuck. I had to put it in 4 wheel to help push the rear wheels out of the low spot then remembered not to use the tensioners in the driveway. Good luck.
 
You have a half ton? if so check your book. I have a 99 half ton, the rear is only rated to 7300lbs towing.
 
I think it's a 3/4 ton. It's got the 454 with the TH400 tranny.
 
ISLANDER914 said:
Be carefull, I do believe your hitch tells you 500lb tongue max and 1000lb max with weight distribution. Air shocks are not like the w/d system. Your rear axle is the fulcrum point. With out w/d the lower you make the rear, the higher the front comes up. By airing up your shocks you are most likely raising up your front end even more. This is important in braking and steering. If you have to get on your brakes, that 9000lb ish load is going right down on your tongue and lifting your front even more!!! With w/d your chasis and trailer ultimately become one and makes for better braking and control. Lauching a boat should not be an issue because the ramp goes down and the w/d will allow that to happen. It is going up hill where the w/d can be an issue. One time I forgot to release the tensioners backing in my driveway. It is a slight incline off the street and the rear end lifted high enough I got stuck. I had to put it in 4 wheel to help push the rear wheels out of the low spot then remembered not to use the tensioners in the driveway. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Yes, good advice. I do recall having to remove the side bars from the WD system when backing my Toyhauler into the camp site.
 
Here are the pics of the air shock install.

Oops. No pics. Will try again.
 
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