How To Prevent Rear Sag on a 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 Pulling a Horse Trailer
Question:
I have a two-horse bumper pull trailer and a 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 hp 4 wheel drive. I have been trailering for the 4 years with no problems. Recently, I took my trailer in to get serviced and was told that my truck was carrying too low. It was suggested that I i get new springs for the truck and ii a new hitch that would allow the ball to be 20-21 inches high. Currently the ball is 17 inches high. Since then, someone else has said that I can invert my hitch to raise the ball and that I could install timbrens to prevent the truck from coming too low. I want to do the right thing but I do not want to throw money away as I dont have a lot. What do you suggest I do first? Right now the trailer looks level and the truck does not appear to be sinking in the back. I am confushed. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
asked by: Elaine C
Expert Reply:
Inverting the ball mount is the first step in getting the trailer level. But if the trailer is level when you have it hooked up to the truck and fully loaded, there is no need to invert the ball mount.
Over time a truck rear-suspension leaf-spring will wear and need to be replaced, the more you tow and the heavier the load the faster this will happen. The closer you are to your truck towing weight capacities the faster this happens. Over time, when the leaf-springs wear they stretch out and become flatter, so you can remove your spring and compare it to a new spring and see how far you have stretched.
The Timbren Suspension Enhancement Systems (SES) would probably be a good thing for your towing set up. People towing larger trailers with consistent payloads or horse trailers with 2 or 3 horses on a 1/2 ton pick-up see a lot of benefits with these kits. They are rubber springs that typically bolt to the vehicle frame above the axle next to the leaf springs. When the truck is loaded down with a large payload or a significant tongue weight trailer the Timbren SES spread the load onto two more contact points. They prevent bottoming-out, provide better suspension response in turns and will help a truck that sags with a heavier load. Our customers that have used these kits have nothing but positive feedback and comments on them. The correct part for your truck is part # TGMRCK15S and I will provide a link to it below.
Please note that a Timbren SES will not help if your suspension is failing. The leaf springs need to be replaced, adding a Timbren SES will not compensate for it. They are a supplement, not a replacement.
Products Referenced in This Question
Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System
- Vehicle Suspension
- Rear Axle Suspension Enhancement
- Jounce-Style Springs
- Extra Heavy Duty
- Timbren
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