Long drives with couple hundred pounds in bed

[Stlrfan152]

So i recently got a 21 overland gladiator. I like the way it drives on the highway unloaded, but when i have my packouts in the back it feels less stable. Not looking to add a lift because i dont want to lose mpgs. Im sure with people adding racks and tents to there jeeps there is a way to make it drive a little better. Thanks for any info.

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[Gvsukids]

So i recently got a 21 overland gladiator. I like the way it drives on the highway unloaded, but when i have my packouts in the back it feels less stable. Not looking to add a lift because i dont want to lose mpgs. Im sure with people adding racks and tents to there jeeps there is a way to make it drive a little better. Thanks for any info.

Is your weight enough to lower the rear end, thus lifting your front end and making the steering squirrelly?

 

[JerseyMark]

I think air bags for your rear springs might work. I personally haven't used them, but I have seen other threads about them.

 

[Stlrfan152]

Is your weight enough to lower the rear end, thus lifting your front end and making the steering squirrelly?

No the truck squats a little bit, but isnt too bad. It kinda feels like an old buick over bumps with weight. It waves around. I was thinking of trying some good shocks, but not sure if the springs are the problem.

 

[Stlrfan152]

I think air bags for your rear springs might work. I personally haven't used them, but I have seen other threads about them.

I didnt know they made them for these, ill have to look into that.

 

[chorky]

No the truck squats a little bit, but isnt too bad. It kinda feels like an old buick over bumps with weight. It waves around. I was thinking of trying some good shocks, but not sure if the springs are the problem.

Well it depends. A few more questions you need to ask yourself. 1) is this the most weight you realistically will be loaded with? Are you sure you don't want a lift? What is your use case 90% of the time? etc....

Replacing your shocks with a higher quality option will likely solve your problem. I felt the 'wavy' feeling with my Rubicon being loaded down to max GVW and it was pretty bad. With a AEV dual sport lift that provides heavier rated springs and shocks, the feel is very 'sporty' like it should have bene from the factory to begin with.

If you ware interested in lifts, there are plenty of relatively low cost options. You don't need a Clayton or MetalCloak lift to have excellent performance. So I suggest asking yourself some hard and thoughtful questions before making any decisions. I did not do this with my TJ 10 years ago and ended up spending nearly 10K on a suspension that is not at all what fits 'me'. Now, I spent about 4K on a suspension setup for the JT that is just about perfect.

 

[Kevin_D]

I regularly drive with several hundred pounds in the back, often thousands of miles. I always place the heaviest cases at the front, and I haven’t noticed much, if any, change in handling.
Once I get upwards of 1,000 lbs (or more,) she does get a little drifty…

Kevin

 

[Benbean66]

I didnt know they made them for these, ill have to look into that.

I have a set of bags from Timber Grove and I swear by them. Any time I tow or have any amount of weight in the bed, I add a few lbs of air to the bags. This restores handling, and keeps my headlights pointed at the ground, not in the trees. I am also on 3" of lift w/ 35's, so I feel I have the best of both worlds. Off road capability, and decent hauling/towing ability.

 

[Gvsukids]

I didnt know they made them for these, ill have to look into that.

I have a pair and I haven't opened the box.
https://www.amazon.com/Air-Lift-608...-2-5963-669-4&vehicleName=2020+Jeep+Gladiator

 

[Stlrfan152]

Well it depends. A few more questions you need to ask yourself. 1) is this the most weight you realistically will be loaded with? Are you sure you don't want a lift? What is your use case 90% of the time? etc....

Replacing your shocks with a higher quality option will likely solve your problem. I felt the 'wavy' feeling with my Rubicon being loaded down to max GVW and it was pretty bad. With a AEV dual sport lift that provides heavier rated springs and shocks, the feel is very 'sporty' like it should have bene from the factory to begin with.

If you ware interested in lifts, there are plenty of relatively low cost options. You don't need a Clayton or MetalCloak lift to have excellent performance. So I suggest asking yourself some hard and thoughtful questions before making any decisions. I did not do this with my TJ 10 years ago and ended up spending nearly 10K on a suspension that is not at all what fits 'me'. Now, I spent about 4K on a suspension setup for the JT that is just about perfect.

Ive been leaning towards shocks. Currently i use it for work, i drive between 800 to 1400 miles a week. The tools are in my car most of the time i drive, so i want to get it driving better with the weight. I will probably lift down the road, but only if i get a second car again. It isnt terrible loaded it just drives nicer unloaded obviously.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Shocks. The shocks on these aren't great.
I run air bags in my rear springs for when I tow to handle or prevent rear sag, and for when hauling hundreds of pounds.
I feel they help a tad because I ran independent air lines - they aren't connected to each other.

I really don't know why lifts even come into this at all, not one bit. Why do people advocate "a lift will fix that". No. It won't. A lift will raise the center of gravity and an Overland isn't as wide as the others like Mojave or Rubicon or the max tow Sport. A lift could be a negative with a loaded Overland version. People need to address the problem, not throw a lift at it.
Not everyone wants or needs a lift. It may introduce other issues.
I won't lift mine because I don't want the instability of the higher center of gravity on a truck with a narrow wheelbase.



IMO, start with better shocks.
Air bags help prevent sag, keep things more even.
If you decide you need better or different springs, then simply swap the REAR springs! You don't need a lift to fix spring issues. Just SPRINGS.

My thinking -
shocks
air bags to keep things at stock height with a load
if you need springs for weight - go with a dual rate like Synergy. They support weight when needed, ride like stock when not hauling. I'd not jump onto stiffer springs. I've been that route.

Are you sure you don't want a lift? What is your use case 90% of the time? etc....

Sorry, but why do people try to push a lift? Not everyone wants or needs one. They introduce other things. I had to laugh - are you a dealer for those companies "are you sure you don't want a lift".
If you asked me that I'd say HELL YES, I'm SURE I don't want a lift! My truck is fine and there's zero and I mean ZERO need for a lift.
I run stock rear springs, air bags for the weight and drop the pressure back to 5 psi when unloaded and swapped springs up front only to handle the weight of my bumper, winch and snow plow.
Why does everyone think people should want a lift?
A LIFT is for off road, or to impress peers with height. No other reason. If you don't off-road often, you don't "need" a lift.

Lifts don't fix things other than clearance or looks.
Shocks and springs - non-lift springs - can resolve almost any load handling issues without a lift.
Maybe put max tow springs under the rear, but better shocks.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I drive an Overland, most of the miles are for work. It is loaded all the time. I keep most of the weight in front of the axle, and try to keep the lighter stuff between the axle and tailgate. There is enough weight that the rake is gone. It does have a soft ride, and I have always liked that. It reminds me of the '73 Buick I drove when I was young.

I'm getting close to 50k miles. I'm planning to replace the stock shocks with some Rubicon take-offs I bought a couple years ago. I have the street tires, and getting ready to replace those with another set of Overland take-offs. I set them to 39psi cold, which shows on the TPMS as 43 up front and 44 in back when on a long highway trip.

 

[Stlrfan152]

I drive an Overland, most of the miles are for work. It is loaded all the time. I keep most of the weight in front of the axle, and try to keep the lighter stuff between the axle and tailgate. There is enough weight that the rake is gone. It does have a soft ride, and I have always liked that. It reminds me of the '73 Buick I drove when I was young.

I'm getting close to 50k miles. I'm planning to replace the stock shocks with some Rubicon take-offs I bought a couple years ago. I have the street tires, and getting ready to replace those with another set of Overland take-offs. I set them to 39psi cold, which shows on the TPMS as 43 up front and 44 in back when on a long highway trip.

Normally id go for a rubicon or mojave, but the amount i drive is also why i went with the overland. I try to put all the weight towards the cab, but some needs to be accessible or id have to pull everything out everyday. The rubicon shocks are nice i had them on my old gladiator.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Normally id go for a rubicon or mojave, but the amount i drive is also why i went with the overland. I try to put all the weight towards the cab, but some needs to be accessible or id have to pull everything out everyday. The rubicon shocks are nice i had them on my old gladiator.

I started out with a Mopar soft tri-fold tonneau cover, but eventually replaced it with a RSI Smartcap. It gives me full access to the bed, and allows me to carry more, but uses up 250 of the 1032 pounds of payload capacity.

 

[chorky]

Shocks. The shocks on these aren't great.
I run air bags in my rear springs for when I tow to handle or prevent rear sag, and for when hauling hundreds of pounds.
I feel they help a tad because I ran independent air lines - they aren't connected to each other.

I really don't know why lifts even come into this at all, not one bit. Why do people advocate "a lift will fix that". No. It won't. A lift will raise the center of gravity and an Overland isn't as wide as the others like Mojave or Rubicon or the max tow Sport. A lift could be a negative with a loaded Overland version. People need to address the problem, not throw a lift at it.
Not everyone wants or needs a lift. It may introduce other issues.
I won't lift mine because I don't want the instability of the higher center of gravity on a truck with a narrow wheelbase.



IMO, start with better shocks.
Air bags help prevent sag, keep things more even.
If you decide you need better or different springs, then simply swap the REAR springs! You don't need a lift to fix spring issues. Just SPRINGS.

My thinking -
shocks
air bags to keep things at stock height with a load
if you need springs for weight - go with a dual rate like Synergy. They support weight when needed, ride like stock when not hauling. I'd not jump onto stiffer springs. I've been that route.



Sorry, but why do people try to push a lift? Not everyone wants or needs one. They introduce other things. I had to laugh - are you a dealer for those companies "are you sure you don't want a lift".
If you asked me that I'd say HELL YES, I'm SURE I don't want a lift! My truck is fine and there's zero and I mean ZERO need for a lift.
I run stock rear springs, air bags for the weight and drop the pressure back to 5 psi when unloaded and swapped springs up front only to handle the weight of my bumper, winch and snow plow.
Why does everyone think people should want a lift?
A LIFT is for off road, or to impress peers with height. No other reason. If you don't off-road often, you don't "need" a lift.

Lifts don't fix things other than clearance or looks.
Shocks and springs - non-lift springs - can resolve almost any load handling issues without a lift.
Maybe put max tow springs under the rear, but better shocks.

Nowhere did I "push" for a lift. I stated it because often times later on people find they want a lift. However, referring back to my original post I stated "Replacing your shocks with a higher quality option will likely solve your problem."

So I didnt' push for a lift. But it is wise to consider options before just jumping at one of many solutions.

Also, in my case, the lift did fix several problems in addition to "just clearance and looks". Theres more than just one way to solve this problem.

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