What do you do about sag?

[Kelly]

I have a 2001 Astro that sags some when I tow.  I used to have a Palomino that weighed a little under 2000 lbs fully loaded.  With the van loaded it dropped the van a couple inches.  I just used a hitch with a 4" rise to compensate, since the trailer wasn't over 2000 lbs.  See the attached picture (and no ~ the children don't ride there when we move!)

Now I'm in the market for a new-to-me PU and have to decide what to do about the sag.  The PUs I've looked at so far all weigh in at a little more than 2000 lbs dry.  Near as I can figure my options are adding a leaf, rubber springs, air bags or heavy duty shocks to the rear suspension or using a WDH.

I have my eye on a Jayco ~ which I know can't use WDH.  Neither could the old Pal.  I'm not sold on any particular trailer.  I just want to make sure we are safe going down the road.  I'm a single mom with 4 kids ~ the fewer problems, the better!

Here's where I need help ~ am I right on my options?  Any out there that I haven't heard about?

What do you use?  What do you see as the pros and cons?  I've never used a WDH before ... are they easy to use?  How heavy?  

Enlighten me ..... PLEASE!  

[Jeffrey]

My advice would be to let the kids ride inside the van.
Might not help with sag, but it would be safer!

[mike4947]

As my father was an "Astro Nut". He owned three of them and I was designated to set them up for towing and maintain them; here's what I found out.

#1 GM is correct on needing ":something" if the tongue weight goes over 200 pounds. The rear suspension is too soft.
#2 The rear axle rating is much higher than the springs lead you to believe and while a WD hitch is the best solution, if the trailer won't take one there are other options.
#3 Best "other option" I found was Air/Lift suplimential air springs. No effect when not towing (although they were nice for those times you need a large load in the back of the Astro/Safari) You could adjust the air to meet any load.
#4 Along with the soft rear springs you have the lousy OEM tires. The P grade tires that come with the Astro/Safari are not up to the task of towing. Folks familiar with towing with one of these will tell you about the Hula effect. It's sway, but it doesn't come from the trailer but from the rear tires. The best solution is to replace the P grade tires with LT grade (light truck) of the same size. Stops the Hula in it's tracks. Increasing the air pressure to the rateed limit helps but won't fully correct for the Hula Effect.
#5 Although I've never used them A lot of folks swear by Timbren Rubber lift supports. Basically a a farily solid rubber bladder that mounts on the axle but doesn't contact until load is placed on the rear of the vehicle. They say it doesn't effect unloaded driving/ride and only drops the rear about an inch before they take over.

[Nick]

Kelly,

If your looking at a new Jayco, the surge break is no longer standard so you could use WD.  If your getting an older one you can have it converted to electric brakes for around $500.
 
I have the same problem with sag on my Exploder but havnt done anything about it yet.

[mike4947]

If you don't own a Coleman/Fleetwood PU it's best to consult the trailer manufacturer on whether or not you can use a WD type hitch. Most PU's other than the Coleman/Fleetwood's fo not allow for using a WD hitch.

[vjm1639]

I've found I've had much more problems with both "sag" and "sway" the older I get!  

[OC Campers]

Kelly, we tow a big Westlake with our 98 Astro (weighs apprx 3,500 lbs) and don't have a whole lot of sag.  I have to admit the rear end is lower when we are hauling a lot of stuff but on short weekend it isn't too bad.  We do use a Reese 400 single bar hitch setup that is fairly easy to use.  We had a mini 350 and it was unbelievably hard to use.  As a female, there was no way I could man-handle those bars on the friction pads.  I think I could get the single bar on myself.

Jacqui

[Kelly]

.
#3 Best "other option" I found was Air/Lift suplimential air springs. No effect when not towing (although they were nice for those times you need a large load in the back of the Astro/Safari) You could adjust the air to meet any load.

[/color]

Thanks Mike ...

I was told today that there isn't a system like this for the AWD models, only the RWDs.  Don't know if it's true or not ... still researching.  (Although it was from a very reliable source.)

Any input?

Thanks for all the information ~ Keep it coming!!  please

[HersheyGirl]

My Dodge Caravan would sag when I towed. My Dodge Caravan would also bottom out on my driveway if I had anything in the back. Now, on my new Dodge Caravan I had the same problem. So my good friend tlhdoc, suggested that I get some Timbren springs and try those. So, with the help of another PUT camping friend, I installed the new springs and hoped for the best. My Caravan does not bottom out anymore, and it doesn't even sag when I have hitched up the camper. This was a fairly easy and cheap (about 150 dollars) solution to my sag problem, now if only it could be this easy for my other sagging rear.....
I also got more leaf springs for the sag in my Chevy G 20, cost was 250 dollars, but it worked great and I no longer have that sway on the rear end.  I also have LT tires on that van.  It tows great, like there is nothin' there.
Good Luck.

[tlhdoc]

I had Timbren Rubber Springs on my 1999 Windstar and they worked great.  Easy to put on too.  Just remove the rubber stops on your axel and install the Timbrens in their place.

[mike4947]

Thanks Mike ...
 
I was told today that there isn't a system like this for the AWD models, only the RWDs. Don't know if it's true or not ... still researching. (Although it was from a very reliable source.)
 
Any input?
 
Thanks for all the information ~ Keep it coming!! please
 

Kelly all of dad's were RWD's so I never had to deal with an AWD, just kept replacing front end parts, rotten ball joints and tie rod ends. LOL But I'd contact the folks at http://www.airliftcompany.com/ and ask them. Nobody's going to know better than they do.

[Kelly]

Thanks for the link, Mike!!  Off to do more research ....

[copcarguy]

The first thing I do when I get a new vehicle is toss the wimpy rear shocks and install a set of Monroe LoadLevelers in the back. They have an aux coil spring and stop "the sag". Check out:
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/cgi-bin/shocks/mon_loadlevel.html and they're $97 for the pair for your truck. I have used this company many, many times and they're first-rate!
 

 
When I towed with my Crown Vic and Ranger they both sagged and these shocks cured the problem. I bet they'll help you as well. The Crown Vic used to sag about 3 inches and the Ranger was waaay worse - it would drop about 5 inches! Once I installed these, they both would not drop more than one inch. Also, unless there is weight in the rear, these are just "normal" shocks. Once they have weight applied is when the coil spring helps out.

[mike4947]

But, just like air shocks the extra stress is directed to the shock mounts not though the normal load bearing points of the suspensions.

[PopupSgt]

Kelly,
As you know I have the airlift airsprings.  I purchased mine from //www.trucksprings.com, they had the best price on the net when I purchased mine.  I really like the airsprings and they solved the issue with the back of my Safari sagging when we owned the Jayco 14SO.  Now that we don't have this camper anymore we don't tow a camper anymore, but otoh we have used the bags many times to lift the rear up when hauling items in the van. [/b]