Improving suspension with no lift.

[Fcmalie]

I have a Mojave and tow a decent sized trailer, not looking to go above 35" tires, and don't want to raise the CoG more than the RTT already has.

With that being said, I have added a decent amount of weight to the truck to gear up for camping and am curious on options for shocks and springs without adding height.

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[Snake Eyes]

Look into Sumo Springs. You can put them into trucks and trailers.

 

[dcmdon]

What is your goal here?

Are you happy with how it rides and drives now, without the trailer? Just want to be able to tow more with less squat?

If that's the case, then air bags are the answer.

If you are happy with how it rides and drives but just want to get back to the original ride height with the camper, then spring spacers are the answer.

If you think it's too soft or wallowy, then you need to look at new shocks or springs.

I've got a Mojave with 35s on it. I also have a topper on it. The topper didn't make the back go down much, I guess it just got rid of the rake the truck normally had. Either way, I don't feel a need to do anything to the suspension at this point.

If I wanted to tow more than what I currently tow, which maxes out at about 2500 lbs, I'd get bags.

 

[Fcmalie]

What is your goal here?

Are you happy with how it rides and drives now, without the trailer? Just want to be able to tow more with less squat?

If that's the case, then air bags are the answer.

If you are happy with how it rides and drives but just want to get back to the original ride height with the camper, then spring spacers are the answer.

If you think it's too soft or wallowy, then you need to look at new shocks or springs.

I've got a Mojave with 35s on it. I also have a topper on it. The topper didn't make the back go down much, I guess it just got rid of the rake the truck normally had. Either way, I don't feel a need to do anything to the suspension at this point.

If I wanted to tow more than what I currently tow, which maxes out at about 2500 lbs, I'd get bags.

Have airbags, I might want to just upgrade to heavier duty ones. I regularly tow around 5,000lbs. Gets a little bouncy at times with the trailer and figured shocks and springs might be in order, but haven't seen much around that is for 0 lift.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Have airbags, I might want to just upgrade to heavier duty ones. I regularly tow around 5,000lbs. Gets a little bouncy at times with the trailer and figured shocks and springs might be in order, but haven't seen much around that is for 0 lift.

Bouncy is the key word…. The Mojave has pretty decent shocks- but they were designed with a broad paintbrush perspective. I am not sure where you are at- but may want to consider talking to a shock specialist to have the valving re-done. I think you are still going to end up with a happy median resolution though… its going to ride great unloaded, great with a trailer- or “ok” for both….
Not that your trailer is very big- a distribution hitch might help too- (I’m going to re-read, I didn’t see if you were already using this or not…)


I have always used the bar style…. (Because we have had it….). But I like the idea of the chain system. Maybe someone who has used the chain and bar system can chime in and drop their $0.02

https://andersenhitches.com/product/weight-distribution-hitch/

 

[Fcmalie]

Bouncy is the key word…. The Mojave has pretty decent shocks- but they were designed with a broad paintbrush perspective. I am not sure where you are at- but may want to consider talking to a shock specialist to have the valving re-done. I think you are still going to end up with a happy median resolution though… its going to ride great unloaded, great with a trailer- or “ok” for both….
Not that your trailer is very big- a distribution hitch might help too- (I’m going to re-read, I didn’t see if you were already using this or not…)


I have always used the bar style…. (Because we have had it….). But I like the idea of the chain system. Maybe someone who has used the chain and bar system can chime in and drop their $0.02

https://andersenhitches.com/product/weight-distribution-hitch/

I am not using a WDH currently because the manufacturer didn't recommend one with the current fully articulating hitch. It is definitely in a range that it is drivable, maybe I just need to switch out to the higher rated airbags.

 

[dcmdon]

Bouncy is the key word…. The Mojave has pretty decent shocks- but they were designed with a broad paintbrush perspective.

https://andersenhitches.com/product/weight-distribution-hitch/

Not quite. The shocks are valved with a given spring rate in mind.

suspension tuning 202 is that if you increase spring rate or preload, then you need more rebound damping to keep things working right.

By adding the airbags, the OP has increased the effective spring rate. So he is now under-damped with respect to rebound damping.

I would personally just live with the bounce while towing.

Unless you want to be over damped when the bags are not inflated.

Bottom line really is that in an unloaded state it's hard to beat the ride compromise in the Mojave. Unless you want to degrade that, you are better off just living with bags and a bit of bounce when you have them inflated.

Or, you could spend the big bucks for remote adjustable shocks.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Have airbags, I might want to just upgrade to heavier duty ones. I regularly tow around 5,000lbs. Gets a little bouncy at times with the trailer and figured shocks and springs might be in order, but haven't seen much around that is for 0 lift.

I tow a car hauler with car - combined weight about 5,000 pounds, 500 pounds tongue weight.
I have the original rear springs under my Overland with air bags. The air bags not only help control squat, but keep it less bouncy when towing.
I've not noticed any extra bounce when towing. Maybe it's the combination?
But then I tow dual axles - that right there makes a difference. With a single axle trailer you will have bounce because the single axle is a fulcrum. A weight distributing hitch can kill the bounce with a single axle.

 

[Blade1668]

I have always used the bar style…. (Because we have had it….). But I like the idea of the chain system. Maybe someone who has used the chain and bar system can chime in and drop their $0.02

https://andersenhitches.com/product/weight-distribution-hitch/

Well that's the sway and weight distribution hitch I have for my Scamp T.T. a start with the bad it puts quite a load and can wear heavily on trailer ball hitch socket. The good in my experience tracks great and transfer load to front axle easy to adjust. It came with a big aluminum socket 1/2 drive to adjust. "I might have towed at maybe 80-85 MPH" without noticing the 16ft Scamp behind my LJ. It really helped with swaying especially with fairly soft suspension on my LJ. At times without or adjusted with less transfer of weight it could be a white knuckle event being passed by large SUV's /cargo trucks or high winds. I've had it for about 12 years now.

All of my trailers are single axles, and I will agree with ShadowsPapa on differences of single and double axle trailers. I can "feel " different in the way they handle just due tongue weight and axle position on trailer. My new utility trailer is very tongue heavy as probably 65% bias forward of axle. Not very much bounce or swaying that I've noticed. My Scamp can act like bucking bronco on certain roads.

 

[CrazyCooter]

Bouncy is the key word…. The Mojave has pretty decent shocks- but they were designed with a broad paintbrush perspective. I am not sure where you are at- but may want to consider talking to a shock specialist to have the valving re-done. I think you are still going to end up with a happy median resolution though… its going to ride great unloaded, great with a trailer- or “ok” for both….
Not that your trailer is very big- a distribution hitch might help too- (I’m going to re-read, I didn’t see if you were already using this or not…)


I have always used the bar style…. (Because we have had it….). But I like the idea of the chain system. Maybe someone who has used the chain and bar system can chime in and drop their $0.02

https://andersenhitches.com/product/weight-distribution-hitch/

I use the Andersen and have used many different types/brands of dist hitches. I like it, but it is a little hard on the ball and coupler though. I fold a square of waxed paper and tuck it in the coupler for a clean lube.

I could agree with adding some simple air bags as mine have served me well and held up to tons of off road abuse and hauling loads probably larger that the JT should.

Skip the Sumos, Timbrens, or any other block load leveler. They will only limit your travel. I assume if you drive a Mojave, you go off road at times?

 

[dcmdon]

I am not using a WDH currently because the manufacturer didn't recommend one with the current fully articulating hitch. It is definitely in a range that it is drivable, maybe I just need to switch out to the higher rated airbags.

How important is it that you have an articulating hitch? Is this a trailer you plan to drive off road?

 

[dcmdon]

accutune off-road does custom valved Fox shocks. They sell at MSRP, which is more than most discounters, but offer "free" custom tuning.

You might want to talk to them. If you decide to go that way, they could build something that replicates the stock Mojave rear shocks except with more rebound damping.

 

[brianinca]

I use a WDH for our travel trailer, but I added Sumo Springs for managing the pintle hitch for our Jeep trailer (~3.5-4K loaded). Works out well.

I've Firestone bags on the shelf, haven't felt the need yet.

I am not using a WDH currently because the manufacturer didn't recommend one with the current fully articulating hitch. It is definitely in a range that it is drivable, maybe I just need to switch out to the higher rated airbags.

 

[dcmdon]

Above I asked the OP if he drove off road with his trailer. I'm asking this because a full articulating hitch is pretty much the exact opposite of a WD hitch.

I'm not an expert but it would seem to me that you can't combine a WDH with full articulation. A quick google of "weight distributing articulating hitch" gets no hits. So I think I'm right.

 

[wthayer69]

What is the load rating on your tires? I tow a teardroop trailer that weighs roughly 2200 lbs fully loaded. I noticed the squishy feeling when towing with the stock C range tires. I recently added a 3/4" spring spacer in the rear for the sag and upgraded to E load range 33x12.50 Nitto Ridge Grapplers on 8.5" wheels. The Mojave seems solidly planted on the road and no squishy feeling or bouncing. Maybe my experience can help. Good luck

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