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JZ
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How to I make my 3/4 ton Silverado ride better on dirt roads
Put King shocks on last year. Air down from 60 to 30-35. Huge difference.
Everything else is stock. What else should I think about doing?
[Edited on 5-11-2018 by JZ]
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basautter
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I went with Bilsteins, but do not know that they are better than Kings. So far, so good. I do go as low as 22 PSI depending on how much weight I am
carrying. That makes a huge difference in ride, but probably shortens tire life. 
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thebajarunner
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GO faster!!
Faster you go, the smoother the ride
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JZ
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Quote: Originally posted by basautter  | | I went with Bilsteins, but do not know that they are better than Kings. So far, so good. I do go as low as 22 PSI depending on how much weight I am
carrying. That makes a huge difference in ride, but probably shortens tire life. |
E load tires? What's your highway PSI?
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Maderita
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A pickup has stiff springs over the rear axle. 3/4 ton springs are even more problematic. The rear end is light and bounces around on dirt roads. That
also reduces traction, especially on washboards. Extra weight in the bed will help. Maybe try lashing a few hundred pounds of sandbags in the rear of
the bed.
How is your stopping power on dirt roads? ABS makes some vehicles dangerously difficult to stop. Seems that my 1-ton van takes 2x to 3x the distance
under some off-road conditions. Pulling the ABS fuse solves that.
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mtgoat666
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A full size PU is supposed to be rough, thats why it can carry a load.
If you wanted an SUV-like ride, you shoulda bought an suv
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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TMW
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How much money do you want to spend?
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JZ
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Nothing crazy. It rides pretty good now.
Just wondering if there is low hanging fruit to make it better.
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TMW
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| Quote: Originally posted by Maderita | A pickup has stiff springs over the rear axle. 3/4 ton springs are even more problematic. The rear end is light and bounces around on dirt roads. That
also reduces traction, especially on washboards. Extra weight in the bed will help. Maybe try lashing a few hundred pounds of sandbags in the rear of
the bed.
How is your stopping power on dirt roads? ABS makes some vehicles dangerously difficult to stop. Seems that my 1-ton van takes 2x to 3x the distance
under some off-road conditions. Pulling the ABS fuse solves that. |
GM trucks and SUVs are easy to disconnect the ABS system unless GM has changed their brake systems in the last few years. There is a 10 amp fuse on
the drivers side panel and a 60 amp fuse in the engine compartment. Either will disconnect the ABS system, however it is best to pull the 60 amp fuse
because the 10 amp controls the portioning valve. Both the brake and ABS warning lights will be on, I don't recall if one or both flash. You'll also
get a warning buzzer/bell that will turn off after a while.
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TMW
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JZ do you have torsion bars or coil springs in the front? Also you could try dropping the air to 25 lbs. What size tires do you have?
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bajabuddha
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Buy a whoopee-cushion. Makes the ride more pleasant and fun to listen to as well, especially on the potholes (pun intended). 
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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fishbuck
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The is a kit. At one end the spring, a new bracket is installed that has a polymer spring The polymer is sandwitched between brackets. One bracket
bolts to the frame, the other to the spring. It adds softness to the ride and actually adds about and inch to the travel. When the soft ride hits it's
stop the leaf kicks in.
I well put them on my F350 eventually.
The freeway chop kills me in this thing. It should take out that kind of stuff in the dirt too.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by TMW | | JZ do you have torsion bars or coil springs in the front? Also you could try dropping the air to 25 lbs. What size tires do you have?
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Torsion. It's a 2015 Silverado 2500HD.
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JZ
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Some ppl have said upgraded UCAs will help improve travel.
Someone educate me.
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Fernweh
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| Quote: Originally posted by TMW | | JZ do you have torsion bars or coil springs in the front? Also you could try dropping the air to 25 lbs. What size tires do you have?
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Buy smallest wheels and get the largest tires, now you can drop the air, and have a smooth safe ride.
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msteve1014
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https://norcaltruck.com/chevy-gmc-2011-sulastic-shackles
This may be what fishbuck was trying to say.
I have heard good things.
I have thought about it but $400 is a bit much.
Let some more air out, it's free.
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JZ
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Truck runs beautifully down the highway. Very smooth.
[Edited on 5-12-2018 by JZ]
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Timinator
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What ever you do don't put Rancho shocks on it. The stock shocks will give you best ride. I like the idea of the soft lift cushions mentioned by
Fishbuck, that does sound like your best option, other than going faster and faster down the roads. Again, don't put Rancho's on anything. They have
ZERO rebound control and they should have been sued to oblivion years ago. Their multiple control shocks are multiple ways to have a crappy ride.
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PaulW
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | Put King shocks on last year. Air down from 60 to 30-35. Huge difference.
Everything else is stock. What else should I think about doing?
[Edited on 5-11-2018 by JZ] |
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You are already at the low tire pressures. With Kings re-valving is probably the next choice. Lower spring rate may not be a wise choice due to lower
load capacity, but if you don't need the design load the softer springs would help.
My last rig I went with lower spring rates hydraulic bumps and shocks re-valved to softer setting. Made me happy. Very expensive and I had to have a
pro off road shop figure it out.
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bajatrailrider
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| Quote: Originally posted by Timinator | What ever you do don't put Rancho shocks on it. The stock shocks will give you best ride. I like the idea of the soft lift cushions mentioned by
Fishbuck, that does sound like your best option, other than going faster and faster down the roads. Again, don't put Rancho's on anything. They have
ZERO rebound control and they should have been sued to oblivion years ago. Their multiple control shocks are multiple ways to have a crappy ride.
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Stock shocks you are kidding of course.
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