Rear suspension: new springs or bump stops?

[Muckle]

I replaced the front springs with All Dogs Front Lift Coil Springs a couple months ago - very happy with those results. The added weight from steel rock sliders and steel skid plates had caused a bit of sag and I was feeling the front bottoming out often, prior to the switch to All Dogs in the front.

With nothing in the bed and not towing, the rake is nearly gone, as you can see from the picture of the truck in front of Lowes.

However, when I am camping with a loaded bed and towing my teardrop trailer, the rear is sagging a bit (close-up picture, although slightly exaggerated as the truck is not level). I can feel the rear hitting the bump stops often in this scenario.

So I am considering doing the All Dogs Rear Lift Coil Springs ($230). Then I got to reading about the Sumo Springs (500lb capacity at $415 and 1,000lb capacity at $445) and also the classic Timbren bump stops.

The question is: pros/cons of new springs vs. bump stops? It seems like it's one or the other...I shouldn't need both, correct?

Here's what I see as the pros for each:

• All Dogs Springs
  • Rear will be lifted all the time, regardless of if I'm towing or not. It'll re-establish the rake. Ride will be improved while towing.
• New bump stops
  • Likely less (if any) lift when not towing/loaded down, but will improve ride while towing.

Am I missing anything? What else should I be thinking about?

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[jbaiv1999]

I have the all-dogs front and rear springs. I think the front springs are great but the rear seamed to have lifted the truck up nearly 2 inches instead of the 1 1/2 they advertised. It is pretty stiff in the rear but I knew that was a risk since they don’t advertise their spring rates. Unless you constantly have extra weight in the bed of the truck I wouldn’t recommend getting the rear springs from all-dogs. It takes about 200ish pounds of extra weight to get a smooth ride out of their rear springs.
I think something like the Sumo springs would be a better option for towing or just actual air bags but I know that can be pricey. If you tow a larger trailer that is approaching 5k pounds I wouldn’t recommend getting definitely look into getting a weight distributing hitch. That will definitely help spread the load out across the whole vehicle instead of just the rear.

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

I replaced the front springs with All Dogs Front Lift Coil Springs a couple months ago - very happy with those results. The added weight from steel rock sliders and steel skid plates had caused a bit of sag and I was feeling the front bottoming out often, prior to the switch to All Dogs in the front.

With nothing in the bed and not towing, the rake is nearly gone, as you can see from the picture of the truck in front of Lowes.

However, when I am camping with a loaded bed and towing my teardrop trailer, the rear is sagging a bit (close-up picture, although slightly exaggerated as the truck is not level). I can feel the rear hitting the bump stops often in this scenario.

So I am considering doing the All Dogs Rear Lift Coil Springs ($230). Then I got to reading about the Sumo Springs (500lb capacity at $415 and 1,000lb capacity at $445) and also the classic Timbren bump stops.

The question is: pros/cons of new springs vs. bump stops? It seems like it's one or the other...I shouldn't need both, correct?

Here's what I see as the pros for each:

• All Dogs Springs
  • Rear will be lifted all the time, regardless of if I'm towing or not. It'll re-establish the rake. Ride will be improved while towing.
• New bump stops
  • Likely less (if any) lift when not towing/loaded down, but will improve ride while towing.

Am I missing anything? What else should I be thinking about?

2 1/2 " king coil over suspension lift kit with new end links and dobson 819 rear springs 1000 lb over. The Dobson Springs are around $300 a pair at R4T and they have a varying weight.
Beyond happy with my setup..

 

[capttim]

I just installed Firestone air shocks on my otherwise stock trailhunter

We often tow an overlander trailer. The total bed load and hitch load can vary between 700 -1300 pounds based on gear we carry or don’t carry. This has been a good solution for my use. I considered Timbren but because of varying load went to air shocks and happy with choice
Good luck

 

[Ron]

I find my Timbrens to be a much better bump stop than what come stock but it cant be compared to a good aftermarket spring/shock setup. Timbrens are good enough for me.

The weight distribution hitch vastly improves trailer handling and safety.

If i towed more often i might consider air bags. My previous truck had them.

My real offroader is a side by side. The custom springs and shocks made a world of difference.

 

[tkrum015]

I just installed Firestone air shocks on my otherwise stock trailhunter

We often tow an overlander trailer. The total bed load and hitch load can vary between 700 -1300 pounds based on gear we carry or don’t carry. This has been a good solution for my use. I considered Timbren but because of varying load went to air shocks and happy with choice
Good luck

Are these frame air bags or air shocks? So you adjust the shocks for your load? How is the ride with an empty load and what pressure, Just enough to get it to set level or slight rack?l

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