What do you do about sag?

[Kelly]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!  Seems I've made a bit of a rookie blunder ~ go figure!!

A good friend pointed out last night that the trailer didn't quite level in the picture!  He was right. (Thanks, Gary!)  I'm so embarassed!     With the old TV and PU I very carefully measured the height of the PU hitch and made sure the ball on the TV matched.  Forgot that step when I hitched up to this van  :banghead:   Silly me.

So ~ for now I am not going to anything, but wait til I have a trailer to measure and get the proper rise/drop in my TV hitch.   Then, if I have sag issues ... I'll reread this thread!  

[mike4947]

Kelly, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but changing the drawbar won't make the rear of the Astro come up any. If it sags when the trailer is hooked up, no matter what the drawbar height, it sags. Correcting the sag is the answer.

If you've figured the height correctly, then bringing the Astro back up is the way to go.

[Sup]

Kelly,   Probably one of the most simplest fixes and one of the less expensive would be a descent pair of air shocks in the back. You might check at carx or midas. Lots of places that do shocks will do those, then you can raise the air pressure when you get ready to go camping and lower it when your done. This will give you the Lift you need while towing and then not effect your cushy ride when your not  With a popup, I doubt that you need a weight dist. hitch. Your astro should do fine with these shocks.  Have fun! Walt

[Kelly]

This will give you the Lift you need while towing and then not effect your cushy ride when your not  With a popup, I doubt that you need a weight dist. hitch. Your astro should do fine with these shocks.  Have fun! Walt

Cushy ride?!  How come no one told me I had a cushy ride?     LOL

Thanks, Walt and welcome to PUT!  Good to have you here.

[mike4947]

Sorry Walt, but air shocks on an Astro are a bad solution. Not only do they transfer all the rear end weight to the shock mounts which are not designed to carry the weight, but the base pressure needed in air shocks does stiffen the Astro/Safari ride as well as lift the unloaded van.
 
Been there, done that. I can tell you from personal experience that repairing a rear shock mount ain't cheap and the ride quality (? LOL) does suffer from air shocks.

[griffsmom]

Hey Kelly!

 
I can't help you with your question.  In fact, I have absolutlely no idea what everyone is talking about in this thread, but I just wanted to say CONGRATS on getting another PU!!!!  I know you've been tenting it again for a bit now while waiting to be able to get another camper, and I am so happy that the time has arrived for you and the kids!!!  Yea!!!!!  :-() :# :S

[Kelly]

Down Girl!!   :J
It's not a done deal yet!  LOL  
(Will you do it again when I actually have a PU in the driveway?   )

Just getting myself prepared.

Not to worry ~ It is going to happen ... hopefully soon.  
How does Pismo in 2006 sound?  

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[ForestCreature]

Sorry Walt, but air shocks on an Astro are a bad solution. Not only do they transfer all the rear end weight to the shock mounts which are not designed to carry the weight, but the base pressure needed in air shocks does stiffen the Astro/Safari ride as well as lift the unloaded van.

I've been following this thread and find it interesting , what are you suggesting? that Kelly put  an Airlift system on her Leaf springs?  
 Kellys 2001 AWD Astro has Fiberglass Leaf Springs,  the Air lift is not available for her van for safety reasons. It appears that option is out of the picture.

[griffsmom]

Down Girl!! :J

It's not a done deal yet! LOL
(Will you do it again when I actually have a PU in the driveway? )

Absolutely!!!  

 

Just getting myself prepared.
 
Not to worry ~ It is going to happen ... hopefully soon.
How does Pismo in 2006 sound?
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Not as good as Pismo 2005, but we'll take 2006 over never!!!! :sombraro:

[kenn209]

Hi Kelly

I too have the same problem and have been searching the forums for an answer. I got a reply on another forum (RV.NET) about using super springs. THey help your existing leaf springs. They are kind of pricey (around $240). This is his post

"I have a Dakota mid-size truck which sags quite a bit when I drop on my heavy Palomino. Only half the truck's towing capacity but the truck is engineered more for ride than hauling. I came across helper springs that were shown at SEMA that have rollers on the ends. This causes them to self adjust to weight meaning they don't impact the ride when unloaded but adjust themselves into position when the weight is hooked on. I am not mechanically inclined but all it took to install was about 30 minutes, a big squeeze clamp from Lowes and two wrenches. They are called SuperSprings. My truck went from almost dragging the the fully cranked up dolly wheel to staying perfectly level without ever having to adjust air or anythng else. Pleasantly surprised."

Check it out. And does anyone on this forumuse these supersprings?

Kenn209

[mike4947]

I've been following this thread and find it interesting , what are you suggesting? that Kelly put an Airlift system on her Leaf springs?
Kellys 2001 AWD Astro has Fiberglass Leaf Springs, the Air lift is not available for her van for safety reasons. It appears that option is out of the picture.

That's why I suggested she contact the folks at Air/Lift. If anyone would know if they could be used it would be them or if they found a way to use them.
Same with the "Super Springs" I'd contact their manufacturer before buying them as well.
We raced a Corvette years ago with the "composite" cross leaf spring and had fits with that one also.

[griffsmom]

Hey Kelly!
 
 
I can't help you with your question.

Hey Kelly,
 
Actually, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was wrong.  I DO know something about sag.  How I deal with it is to tighten my bra straps a bit more and give thanks that the good Lord blessed me with a husband with only one good eye.  
 
Hope that helps.

[Popups4Rent]

Ok now, my small mind needs some information:confused: The http://www.airliftcompany.com site has an Astro kit for all steel spring models through 2004, how do you know if you have steel springs, or something else? Look for rust? They also have a kit for a mono-leaf suspension, is this the fiberglass? I have been considering purchasing a self leveling air kit after the last payment is made.
 
 
7 people and a loaded trailer make for a low back end, but the LT tires keep it from wobbling.

[SkipP]

Ok now, my small mind needs some information:confused: The http://www.airliftcompany.com site has an Astro kit for all steel spring models through 2004, how do you know if you have steel springs, or something else? Look for rust?
 

Thats a good question! Give them a once-over with a magnet? That should give you a pretty difinitive answer unless the composite springs also have some steel in them.
 
Just goes to prove.... with vehicles, nothing is simple!

[Kelly]

That's why I suggested she contact the folks at Air/Lift. If anyone would know if they could be used it would be them or if they found a way to use them.
Same with the "Super Springs" I'd contact their manufacturer before buying them as well.
We raced a Corvette years ago with the "composite" cross leaf spring and had fits with that one also.

I emailed TruckSprings and they said "As long as your Astro Van does not have fiberglass leaf springs, the kit should work."  (According to the SuperSprings website ~ you can't use their product on the fiberglass leaf springs either).   I also talked to the guy who works on my van ~ I must have half the people I know trying to puzzle this out!

He called his source for all things underbody and was told that the only rear suspension application of this nature available for an AWD Astro is air shocks.  Near as we can figure out ~ the RWD model is made with the multi-leaf steel suspension and the AWD model is made with the fiberglass (composite).

Popups4Rent ~ you should be okay.  Near as I remember you have the RWD model.  Right?

Jeeeeeeeeez, Skip.  Do you have any idea how dirty and WET it gets under a car in Minnesota in February.  Damn magnet didn't stick to anything.  Remind me not to wear white next time I try that stunt!  LMAO

So, I'm back to the original plan.  Find a trailer, make sure all is level and the hitch heights match between TV and PU and IF I'm still sagging, then I'll probably have to go with the air shocks ...

Oh, and Lori?  I find if you just get rid of the stupid things and give in to the sag, life is much easier!        :p  [/FONT]