Needing help on setup

[Govols83]

Lol this place is wild. Anyone else who has ran the setup that 8ball did want to chime in? I know a guy from Nebraska was on the original post when I was searching maybe did.

 

[8ball_99]

Lol this place is wild. Anyone else who has ran the setup that 8ball did want to chime in? I know a guy from Nebraska was on the original post when I was searching maybe did.

Sorry Govols83, AXE gets a certain kind of way sometimes. He's had some long debates with a few people on here. Muted a couple times ect. The guy from Ohio he mentioned spent 3 pages trying to explain to him that pressure goes up in a bag when you compress it. I haven't seen that guy since. Maybe you should try the same bag setup he has on his 1500 But by all means try what ever you want. The big debate I guess is I prefer to run my bags open when unloaded (cradles) To me it rides better then always having 5psi or more in them. By all means its just my opinion. But I did try it a few different ways in my 1500. The HD ZR2 kit comes with cradles. Which is what got AXE going on this topic .

 

[AXE]

Sorry Govols83, AXE gets a certain kind of way sometimes. He's had some long debates with a few people on here. Muted a couple times ect. The guy from Ohio he mentioned spent 3 pages trying to explain to him that pressure goes up in a bag when you compress it. I haven't seen that guy since. Maybe you should try the same bag setup he has on his 1500 But by all means try what ever you want. The big debate I guess is I prefer to run my bags open when unloaded (cradles) To me it rides better then always having 5psi or more in them. By all means its just my opinion. But I did try it a few different ways in my 1500. The HD ZR2 kit comes with cradles. Which is what got AXE going on this topic .

Me saying anything about saucers has nothing to do with the 2500HD ZR2 kit that came out 2 years too late to matter. Nor does 5 psi static matter. Me and several others sorted that out eons ago and have logged a lot of miles to prove it out.

Saucers simply aren't needed, unless you have a lifted truck and the 2500HD ZR2 isn't really lifted much, it just sits tall on the frame.

Anyway, like I've stated this is a very elementary process. There are many kits that can be adapted to work on the ZR2s, cause they are nearly the same as other trucks with different shocks and slightly higher ride height.

Step 1 take measurements for your setup and determine any modifications you intend to make that will change ride height.

Step 2 identify kits that are available that meat the overall height from axle base plate to frame, including the bag, bag plates, mounts, saucers. Then call the manufacturer or vendor to confirm the measurements anf make the order. I think when static the bags should be compressed just a bit, so a kit that is 0.5 to 1 inch longer in height is a good starting point.

Step 3 install and test. If you used standard base plates and think you are maxed out on length when bags extended then you can always add a spacer or saucer to adjust.

Step 4 select a good weight distribution hitch if your towing a high profile camper that is 6k lbs or better, especially if it loads up to close to max.

Step 5 always load your trailer and take it across the scales to verify gross and axle weights. Then drive it and adjust your load or hitch setup as necessary to be safe.

 

[AXE]

This might hurt to hear for anyone that already bought a 1500 ZR2, but they make relatively poor tow rigs and i would never buy one knowing i was gonna tow much over 3-4k lbs on a regular basis. The suspension is just way too soft. Which is why it makes such a great daily driver and offroad beast.

You would be much better off buying a standard 1500 and outfitting it with a 2-4 inch lifft and running Fox 2.0 or comparable shocks. You would find that it has a lot more readily avaliable accessories (air bags) and you can build a great truck that will be more dual purpose for offroafing and towing.

 

[8ball_99]

Trailboss bags will bolt right up to a ZR2. Its the same suspension other then the shocks. But if you want to run cradles, you need the shorter brackets that come with the standard kit to make room for the cradles. The TB bags are longer and softer, so they work better on the taller ZR2 or TB. Lots of guys on the Facebook groups run TB bags on a ZR2. Which is why I started with them. It made big bumps harsh to me. Especially with any air in the bags. Cradles with no air helped, but still not as good as no bags. 3rd try was short brackets, TB bags and cradles. Bags open when not towing. This made the truck ride like it did before the bags.

There is a few guys on Facebook running the same setup I had. One guy even had some custom brackets cut for his cradles. I know because we texted back and forth, lol. ZR2 pulls fine, especially with bags. Same truck at a TB, just has different shocks. It's not a 3/4 ton by any means, but I pulled a 37' camper down from TN to AL and it did it fine, lol

 

[MrScottly]

I pulled a 37' camper down from TN to AL and it did it fine, lol

 

[AXE]

Trailboss bags will bolt right up to a ZR2. Its the same suspension other then the shocks. But if you want to run cradles, you need the shorter brackets that come with the standard kit to make room for the cradles. The TB bags are longer and softer, so they work better on the taller ZR2 or TB. Lots of guys on the Facebook groups run TB bags on a ZR2. Which is why I started with them. It made big bumps harsh to me. Especially with any air in the bags. Cradles with no air helped, but still not as good as no bags. 3rd try was short brackets, TB bags and cradles. Bags open when not towing. This made the truck ride like it did before the bags.

There is a few guys on Facebook running the same setup I had. One guy even had some custom brackets cut for his cradles. I know because we texted back and forth, lol. ZR2 pulls fine, especially with bags. Same truck at a TB, just has different shocks. It's not a 3/4 ton by any means, but I pulled a 37' camper down from TN to AL and it did it fine, lol
View attachment 23684

The Pac Brake kit is set up the right way. With the right mounts so you don't have to mix and match. That's why I said get the right kit and bolt it up. This shit has been done a billion times before. There's nothing to it, unless you make it difficult.

His truck is never going to ride like stock cause he's putting on heavier springs and bags. A few psi in the bags isn't gonna make a shit bit of difference cause it'll all be on the new springs and thats the ride you'll have.

Again, he's not doing what you did. He stated that clearly in the first post. That's why its important to do your own measurements and planning when doing custom work.

 

[AXE]

Scotty the ChiNese Botty has his meme game dialed up and working hard in this thread now. I see he's a Bullwinkle fan......impressive little 70s bot he is.

 

[Govols83]

The Pac Brake kit is set up the right way. With the right mounts so you don't have to mix and match. That's why I said get the right kit and bolt it up. This shit has been done a billion times before. There's nothing to it, unless you make it difficult.

His truck is never going to ride like stock cause he's putting on heavier springs and bags. A few psi in the bags isn't gonna make a shit bit of difference cause it'll all be on the new springs and thats the ride you'll have.

Again, he's not doing what you did. He stated that clearly in the first post. That's why its important to do your own measurements and planning when doing custom work.

The Deaver springs will actually make the truck ride better. Which is why I don't really want to ride on a bag to cancel out that nicer ride when unloaded. Which is why I'm going to do the cradles and the shorter brackets. I'm only going to be towing this camper maybe 5 or 6 times a year.

 

[Govols83]

Trailboss bags will bolt right up to a ZR2. Its the same suspension other then the shocks. But if you want to run cradles, you need the shorter brackets that come with the standard kit to make room for the cradles. The TB bags are longer and softer, so they work better on the taller ZR2 or TB. Lots of guys on the Facebook groups run TB bags on a ZR2. Which is why I started with them. It made big bumps harsh to me. Especially with any air in the bags. Cradles with no air helped, but still not as good as no bags. 3rd try was short brackets, TB bags and cradles. Bags open when not towing. This made the truck ride like it did before the bags.

There is a few guys on Facebook running the same setup I had. One guy even had some custom brackets cut for his cradles. I know because we texted back and forth, lol. ZR2 pulls fine, especially with bags. Same truck at a TB, just has different shocks. It's not a 3/4 ton by any means, but I pulled a 37' camper down from TN to AL and it did it fine, lol
View attachment 23684

I like those brackets!!

 

[AXE]

The Deaver springs will actually make the truck ride better. Which is why I don't really want to ride on a bag to cancel out that nicer ride when unloaded. Which is why I'm going to do the cradles and the shorter brackets. I'm only going to be towing this camper maybe 5 or 6 times a year.

Why haven't you installed them already so we can find out?

Remember to check your tire ratings, load the trailer correctly, adjust the brakes, get a proper WD hitch, and run it across the scales. It's just as easy to end up tits up in a ditch on trip 1 as it is on trip 5 or 6.

 

[Govols83]

Why haven't you installed them already so we can find out?

Remember to check your tire ratings, load the trailer correctly, adjust the brakes, get a proper WD hitch, and run it across the scales. It's just as easy to end up tits up in a ditch on trip 1 as it is on trip 5 or 6.

Luckily the guy who sold us the camper threw in a nice WD hitch and sway bars. Yeah I definitely don't want to become a youtube video lol. My truck didn't squat nearly as much as I thought it might when we brought it home, but I'm still doing the bags just for peace of mind and why make things harder right?

 

[AXE]

Luckily the guy who sold us the camper threw in a nice WD hitch and sway bars. Yeah I definitely don't want to become a youtube video lol. My truck didn't squat nearly as much as I thought it might when we brought it home, but I'm still doing the bags just for peace of mind and why make things harder right?

I've only towed my 16 foot flatbed/sxs (4500 lbs) and boat (5500 lbs). I thought it squatted too much with them and it seemed to get pushed around a bit. I'm used to towing with 2500HDs, so it'll never seem the same.

Also I'm running 295 Toyo RT Trail tires that are load range E rated for 4k each and higher pressure. The stock tires might be ok, but if you get that trailer loaded up its gonna get very heavy (that trailer will exceed the weight of the truck). Your tires will build a lot of pressure due to heat when towing. Heat kills tires, thats why I always go up to Load Range E. Cause you can start off at higher pressure and the carcass flexes less, so tire is more stable.