Suspension Tech General discussion of suspension for the Ford Ranger.

Adding payload capacity without raising, or stiffing?

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Old May 21, 2009
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Blackonblackfx4's Avatar
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Icon5 Adding payload capacity without raising, or stiffing?

My truck sits down back when I throw my sled in it or try anything to much for it like towing something big. I'd like to beaf of the leafs just a little but I dont want my ride any rougher than it alretty is with my T bars maxed and shackles.

so I came across this Hellwig Helper Spring, there's a couple different ones, but this one bolts on top of the leafs on the back and provides up to 550 more lb's.


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Car Part Wholesale - Auto Parts and Accessories Catalog - Hellwig Helper Spring 550 - For 2003 Ford Ranger





has anyone ever ran one of these? or know if its going to affect my ride ?



canadian $ is high today so i'd like to order this asap, if you guys think its good!
 
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Old May 21, 2009
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air ride is the way to go. Would be just as easy though to toss in an add-a-leaf.
 
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Old May 21, 2009
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Originally Posted by pace51
air ride is the way to go. Would be just as easy though to toss in an add-a-leaf.
x2 on the air ride.
you can pump it up when hauling and keep a stock ride when not
 
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Old May 21, 2009
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but this is only $57 and just goes on the back half of the leafs.

you guys dont think it'd work good?
 
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Old May 21, 2009
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You can try it but from the pic I wouldn't hold your breath.

You really want to do it right go to the local spring shop and have them make you a 3in spring pack for the ride height you want and load rate you want. In all honesty you could do that for under $200 and get rid of them shackels.

Attaining lift from shackles just isn't real safe or smart then trying to haul heavy loads with them just makes it that much worse.

So my my advice is go get some springs made it's cheap and easy.
 
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Old May 21, 2009
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lol i know new shocks stopped my squat
 
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Old May 21, 2009
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Blackonblackfx4's Avatar
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Originally Posted by Ace
lol i know new shocks stopped my squat
even with a big long sled adding alot of weight in the back. or a quad and boat

I think my main problem is I have to much weight in the very back of my box when i cary stuff like my sled. thats why i think this would be a cheap fix. and its not like a cary often at all with my truck or record loads with it.

Its just now and then I'll put a sled in it, a quad. pull a 1625 tournament boat or the flat deck with 2 quads on it. thats it, no holliday trailers!
 
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Old May 21, 2009
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Well I normally carry 2-3 quads every weekend. It squats a little but not worth it to spend any money on fixing it. Even with my Grizzly in the back it is not terrible.

A sled I can see maybe but IMO I would worry about it
 
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Old May 21, 2009
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Blackonblackfx4's Avatar
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Originally Posted by chainfire
Well I normally carry 2-3 quads every weekend. It squats a little but not worth it to spend any money on fixing it. Even with my Grizzly in the back it is not terrible.

A sled I can see maybe but IMO I would worry about it

well my crossfire sticks out like at least a foot past the tailgate, so it adds a Ton of weight the the back of the box.

do you guys think it will make my ride much rougher?
 
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Old May 21, 2009
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Yea I am gonna look into some air shocks, for when I have the four wheeler back there with some camping crap. I've had them before and liked them, just pump em up when you have a heavy load.
 
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Old May 22, 2009
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I tried those helpers on the front of my snow plow truck.They didn't help at all.
If you're going to add helpers they need to be the ones that mount to the center of the leaf pack and hit stops that are bolted to the frame when the mains flatten out.
 
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Old May 22, 2009
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RedOctober's Avatar
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New custom made springs, or some spring assisted shocks..

I have no experience with helper leafs...
 
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Old May 22, 2009
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air bags will do the trick.
 
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Old May 22, 2009
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Originally Posted by zabeard
air bags will do the trick.
+1 Installed them on a couple of trucks, work great without sacrificing ride quality.
 
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Old May 22, 2009
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I've had them on a previous Ranger & didn't like them. They stiffened the ride too much, and worst of all, they would move on the spring pack over time. I had to periodically loosen them and move them back into position.
 
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