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Tator

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I'm going to be purchasing a boat soon and i don't want any sag in the back when towing. I will be maxing out the tow rating for sure. What aftermarket shocks or HD leaf springs does the group recommend.
I would prefer NOT to get the rake back when I'm not towing.
thanks
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kevman65

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First of all, the JT doesn't use leaf springs.

Secondly, shocks don't carry the weight, coil springs do.

Now, you can get some air bags that get mounted inside the coil springs. Completely deflate them, fold them up, work them into the springs, run the air lines. Instructions are included in the kit.

Some places are starting to come out with HD coil springs for the JT, you just have to wade through all the BS to find them.
 
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Tator

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First of all, the JT doesn't use leaf springs.

Secondly, shocks don't carry the weight, coil springs do.

Now, you can get some air bags that get mounted inside the coil springs. Completely deflate them, fold them up, work them into the springs, run the air lines. Instructions are included in the kit.

Some places are starting to come out with HD coil springs for the JT, you just have to wade through all the BS to find them.
Thanks Kevman
 

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Mike25

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Here’s my 22 ft ski boat with my rubicon, before I added the airlift bags. Haven’t hooked up boat since the air bag install. It didn’t sag to bad without the airbags.

AE43C9E1-9108-46A8-A6CE-F7CFF8720695.jpeg
 
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Here’s my 22 ft ski boat with my rubicon, before I added the airlift bags. Haven’t hooked up boat since the air bag install. It didn’t sag to bad without the airbags.

Jeep Gladiator towing boat AE43C9E1-9108-46A8-A6CE-F7CFF8720695
Thanks mike. Nice boat! I’m looking at getting a 23ft tidewater. What size tires are you running? I think I don’t have as much clearance on the back as you do.
 

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In the pic, I’m running the factory rubicon 285. I now have 37/13.50s with a three inch lift and airbags in the back. We love the boat. Bought it new in 08. Cost more than my rubicon way back then.
 

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Wait… you want zero sag while knowing you’re right at the max weight rating?

What’s the tongue weight of the boat? Even a few hundred pounds will sag just a bit, it’s supposed to.

Air bags or stiffer springs might work, but unless you are towing a few hundred times a year for hundreds of miles it might be over kill - especially if just for aesthetics while towing.
 

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I tow a 20 foot boat and I have 35-in tires with a two and a half inch Clayton lift. My boat probably weighs close to 4, 500 pounds. I really don't notice any sagging.
 

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Thanks everyone for the insight. My tongue weight will be around 350. I will be trailering it a lot but not long distances. I can be in the the water in 20 mins. The most will be 100 miles when i to south Florida to run to Bimini.
Guess I prob don’t need the airbags.
 

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You wont need the air bags, 2020 Sport S max tow I pull a 22 ft Mako CC 150 Merc 3 batteries 60 Gal of gas around 5000 pounds. Pulls fine no squat. I have not made the Bimini run in a few years. I need to make the run this summer.
 

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Just finished my first toe, 3200 lb flats boat. 18.5 ft, 150 Suzuki outboard. No sagging at all on my Mojave. How much does your boat weigh?
Jeep Gladiator towing boat CF990206-AF62-4EE9-9CCF-51D70DF0800D
 

dcmdon

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You can't not have sag when its loaded and not have rake when its unloaded unless you use something adjustable like bags.

Air them up when you tow, air them down when you aren't.

Of course we are talking ONLY about aesthetics. If you can live with a bit of sag in the back when the boat is on, it doesn't really make a difference in how it tows.

If you will be "maxing out the tow capacity", then a weight distributing hitch would probably help. You are in FL so its a safe bet you won't be towing over mountains, so you should be OK at close to rated tow weight.

Shocks have nothing to do with the height of the suspension.
 
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Tator

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Just finished my first toe, 3200 lb flats boat. 18.5 ft, 150 Suzuki outboard. No sagging at all on my Mojave. How much does your boat weigh?
Jeep Gladiator towing boat CF990206-AF62-4EE9-9CCF-51D70DF0800D
It’s going to be right at 5000
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